Designer Business Card

I like the concept; the varnished image over the matte cardstock is a nice touch. Like the tagline too! My only suggestion would be to find another way to line the text on the back; the centered copy just isn't doing it for me. Possibly left-justify it to balance with the assymetrical layout on the front? Just an idea...

And a little gimmicky if I'm honest.
Not a fan at all.

It looks like a cheap website template that isn't really relevant to the business it's been used for.

how is it gimmicky? how can a business card design look like a website template? this would be a pretty shitty website :/

This idea has been done a lot of times before, I think you should look at alternative directions. The spot varnish is a nice touch though.

I think it looks crisp. I wish I could see it larger, it's kind of hard to see at the size presented here. If there is a bleed, I think it'd be easier to get a feel for it without the border. I like the typeface and the colors. I do agree with robynlynn about the centered copy not really working - it's too symetrical. I think both sides actually could be more dynamic. Overall, I think it's nice. It's a good start.

Nice to see new folks on board. It might just be my monitor, but I'm finding your text very hard to read. That might be an issue to consider.

Others have talked about the overall concept, but I'd like to address the tagline, if I may. My first reaction to it was that it was odd to compare yourself as a designer to something "freshly squeezed." I just don't get how that works for you. What bothers me more, though, is the additional phrase "never from concentrate." Does this mean you never concentrate? Oh, I know it's another cute play on OJ container lingo, but unless you're going to focus your deisgn work exclusively on the orange juice industry, I just don't see this as professional. It's just cutesy. And I know that most clients are more interested in your professionalism than your cutesiness.

The overall design idea is sweet, though -- as others have said, the spot varnish on matte coated stock will look nice. The color choices are fresh.

Which brings me to: If it's "fresh ideas" you offer, why not just say say so?

I think the phrase 'freshly squeezed design, never from concentrate' could be read to mean that you are not putting any thought into your design work. Sounds a bit like something I could imagine Yoda saying.

I agree with some of the other comments that the orange/fruit motif has been used many times before.

Thank you everyone for your comments.

I guess maybe i'm out of the loop cause I guess i've yet to see any fruit related business cards - at least in my area at least.

The whole concept of the fruit was really just a reflection of the paper and the high gloss. It makes the orange looks juicy!

Are all fruits cliche? I of course don't want to use cliche imagery!

The idea behind the 'freshly squeezed design, never from concentrate' - I guess i never looked at it that way. Fresh eyes do wonders. The concept was of course a play off of the orange juice box, but I took it to say that I never use pre-designed templates and everything is "never from concentrate" ie. shitty-wannabe-notgood-juice.

Would "freshly squeezed design" be too cutsey still?

I very much agree about the text not looking so fantastic on the back. I think i just couldn't really find a good way to lay it out any differently, but i'll keep trying.

Thanks for all the comments!

Some of the comments above simply suck and I couldn't resist to signup to comment. It's long - but I hope useful.

Design is infinite choices. So let's narrow down to what 'you' seem to like: color orange, orange fruit to go with your chosen tagline, perhaps a minimalist look yet you want it to pop hence the varnish. Obviously you put time and effort to choose these elements as a way to define your business my comment will stick to these key elements.

1. unless you've already considered these, why not think of what happens to the orange 'after' you freshly squeeze it. Right now, you're saying "I'm creative" but the story being told with the orange is too obvious. What about utilizing the matte/gloss varnish further and don't show the orange and only show drippings from the squeezed orange with seeds and pulp around. Again, I'm narrowing the focus to what 'you' have and chose. There are other ways to tell the story of 'freshly squeezed'.

2. you have gloss/matte varnish - use it. Try just a varnish of the orange and not as a color. Subtle, focus on typography. And remember, you're trying to impress clients first, not other designers. Think of uuu's and aaah's that you may get depending on the sophistication of your clientelle. If you're starting out, this might be low hanging fruit that will get you going. All depends on what your business goals are this year.

3. don't forget the big picture. Have an office? Have other marcom? If you haven't considered all other aspects of using this design with other material, you're wasting time dwelling on just the business card. This exercise will most definitely push your ability with "why didn't I think of that for this business card" when you're onto the web/folder/pamphlet etc. and it will all begin to tie things together.

4. typography: ask yourself why you put the orange on the right side. Now look at the back. Ask yourself these questions and you might reconsider some of the things your doing. Again, let's summarize: you like orange etc. and minimalist. So you want things simple. And, it seems you want there to be a connection from back to front. I 'assume' this as you have your name mirrored on the back. Then, why is the orange on the right and text on the back is centered --> so are you intentionally 'mixing' things up? why? What is the meaning of having the 'e' at the end of your name a secondary color? And from a story perspective, do you want clients to know what you do before they know who you are? It seems that way as your company story comes before your name. Intentional? Do you want clients to call you more than email? Just questions I'd ask myself. If you have answers to these to convince other 'designers' then you're well on your way to putting 'creative director' on the back rather than 'graphic designer'.

5. finishing: instead of varnish, look around for UV gloss on matte laminate, there is much more punch with a glassy feel - speaking of glass, consider showing not the orange itself but the glass orange juicer thing and use the gloss/matte to show it off. Look for yupo or a translucent paper like glama instead of doing the fake seethrough of the name on the back

So, Natalie, remember that a business card is a business card no matter how you do it. First and foremost, it is a tool for your business. Design will tell the story. If you feel a sliced orange with some centered text does it for you, go with it. If any of the above gives you ideas, go for it.

I really like it the way it is but I can see what others are saying.

On the spot varnish, I've seen this really cool technique that we're doing on our printing presses where the spot varnish just looks like water on top -- like droplets. Maybe try that?

Good luck, if you change anything-- repost.