Cool business card designs, Part 3
Ivan | Fri, 2009-05-01 14:49Time for part three of the series about inspirational and creative business cards. Check out what designers came up with for their clients to make a great first impression. And, if you haven't checked already, check out part 1 and part 2 of the series for some truly spectacular business card ideas.
Let's start with a video of a laser cut card. This idea really pushes the limits of what can be achieved with paper.
A bit more creativity and a little less die-cut can also demonstrate well what your client does. In this case the dentist removing cavities.
Makes sure to have an idea, don't just have a punch-out for no real reason.
The message is very important if you're going to bear the extra cost of laser cutting or die-cutting.
You can make the holes big enough so you can put your fingers through to complete the picture, like on this card for Yoga classes.
Err... Allow me not to comment on this one.
This card for a manicurist is a little oversized, but it may even prove to be useful.
The thing with die-cuts is they show on the other side of the card, which is usually an annoyance, but if you're smart you can make good use of it, like on this card made for a company Lion in Oil. This card reads both ways.
I know this idea has been done before for photographers, but still like this one because it makes a good use of the die-cut on both sides.
You really need some solid stock to make this card usable. There is more hole than paper on this one. The idea is great though. It's for an ornithologist (bird watcher) and the punch-out is in the shape of a binocular view.
You can use other more expensive materials if paper doesn't hold well enough. This one for example is made up of thin wood board.
And if wood isn't enough for even more detail go for thin metal sheets.
If you're still hungry after eating soup with that spoon, you can eat this beef jerky card. Perfect if you don't want people calling you after that all important meeting.
Nowadays, you can print any object with ink jet printers that shoot the ink drops through a distance of up to 10cm. Not just peanuts like on this example. You can even print the surface of water in a glass, which is of course not very portable, but still, the possibilities are endless.
For dessert you can meet the guy with the fortune cookie business card. Have a bunch of people with such visiting card on your meeting and you can save on all the snacks. Just serve them water to wash all the cards down.
Don't let your dog stay hungry either. The owner of this business card is a dog trainer, who printed his info on tasty dog treats.
So what else can we use as unusual business cards? Anything really. These are printed tennis balls.
Drumsticks that double up as pencils made for a drumming teacher.
Toys, like these lego figures work just as well.
Pieces of electrical cords for a person working for the Department of Energy. "Here is my business cord sir! — No, there is nothing in my mouth."
Patchwork business card for a gift shop to communicate that everything is hand made.
If confidentiality is your message use this card with a proof of use.
If teamwork is your selling point, use a set of cards for different team members that together make up one image.
Sometimes including a little game is what you need to make your card memorable.
Animated layers for a multimedia artist.
3D glasses for a 3D graphic designer.
A card that grows little plants when placed into water made for a gardener.
Other times refined designs with art paper, embossing, UV varnish or unusual typography is what's required for a good effect.
With all the new technology around us, do we still need to carry physical business cards around? Can't we just rely on people googling us? Well, it may work as long as you have a memorable set of keywords that surely resolve to your domain.
Maybe not like this one.
Prefer twitter? Make sure you twitter the event of giving a card out immediately.
I think there is a future for business cards. Cards with more and more technology.
This concept card includes a ring with a proximity sensor and allows exchange of data when you shake hands with your new contact. This would give a whole new meaning to the handshake that now becomes obsolete among teens.
Another concept with a card that includes a magnetic strip, which simply plugs into a USB adapter which in turn syncs the new data with your Address book.
A cheaper solution is to include a mobile phone readable 2D barcode on your card that allows people to scan in your data quickly and precisely.
Finally a reprogrammable, highly expensive card that is great if your target is old people with poor eyesight. It let's people read the data in huge letters upon pressing the four buttons.
Hard to tell what the business card of the future will be, but we can take Mr Hugh MacLeod's advice who wrote on the back of a business card, as he usually does: "The future belongs to the artists and the Chinese." So, if you're not Chinese you better become the best artist you can be. Hopefully, this post will inspire you to come up with a lot of cool new ideas that you will post for us to see here in the design critique section.
Finally, let me assure, whatever you come up with you can't possibly top this guy.
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Not much else to say. I love these threads.
'I am a patient boy, I wait, I wait, I wait, I wait'
That's very kind of you. :)
These designs are all creative and inspiring. That being said, very few of them are practical, IMO. Love the Google one!
Previous comment was mine... don't know why Safari didn't log me in automatically
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Google is giving away free cards with a Google logo to the first 10.000 people with a Google Profile. Very smart move!
http://www.google.com/profiles/
Hi ivan, i have a pr and marketing company wat type of creative business card could i have?
I'm afraid it takes more more than one sentence. :)
great post, great ideas keep it comin' u creative monkees:-)
Well done, Ivan! Your business cards threads are simply unbeatable :)
I LOVE the dentist's card :DDD Also the 2D barcode card is nice. I like this combination of tradition and technology. Very practicable. Now that you publicized it, lets see when we'll get the first order for printing business cards with barcode :P
Shame on me. We already printed such a card some time ago. I just overlooked the deeper sense of this black "figure" :DDD
Nice. :)
Not in my office!
http://fakesteveballmer.blogspot.com
I am not Steve Ballmer pretending not to be me!
That video at the end = lmao.
I think a lot of these are great, but I also think there is a point that it no longer is a business card and becomes somewhat of a "promotional product". The tennis ball, for example. It's just like when people make hats, pens, coffee mugs, etc. -- just because it has the company name on it, doesn't make it a business card.
Thanks for those. We did a similar thread last month, we had so much fun compiling all of the cards, you can see it here http://www.thegraphicdesignschool.com/blog/ I must agree with Stephanie, we felt that many 'cards' were borderline promo products in our research too. Its all effective... unless your clients actually still use a rolodex.
Love your work!
Oops sorry didnt login, thats us above... anonymous has such creepy connotations.
You're making me wanted to start collecting business cards. I collect a lots of things but I never receive business cards.
I believe the Black Napkin metal business card was created by the guys at PlasmaDesign http://www.plasmadesign.co.uk/metalbusinesscards.htm
That video card will end up in the trash before it ends on my desk. It might be die-cut, embossed, foiled and 3D, but seriously it's about as obnoxious as its owner.
It doesn't belong in a Rolodex... it belongs in the trunk of the used car he's trying to sell!
If you keep your ears open, you'll see better.
Very inspirational! These are really a good one and are really amazing. thnx
German Druckereien http://www.druckbesser.de
Need to know if theres a cool business card that pertains to interior/exterior painting.
I recently found a place in the UK called Carfax that produces cards in a case that perf out.. very cool. Great work. Does anyone know of a US based supplier who could do same thing??
Old business cards that are left over after people leave or you do a re brand can be put to some awesome uses as well. Check out http://www.businesscardhats.com/ for some inspiration
That is completely silly.
"Upload your Hat" ... GREAT!!! This is really creative :)
Great inspirations! I love the one where you can plant it and it grows would be great for any farmer, florist, or even parenting services.
I work at a business card company that specializes in plastic business cards, and to help growth and creativity I started photographing some of our really cool plastic cards.
With the cards I made a site called Cool Creative Business Card Photography
Check it out for various inspirations and ideas for plastic cards.
Thanks for this inspiring post! When is part 4 coming out?
::PlasticPrinters Blog I maintain:: http://plasticprinters.blogspot.com
::My Real Passion/Career:: http://www.insphyreperformance.com
Hi Anthony, nice cards :) I saw one of your videos and the material the cards are made of seems to be much more flexible than the one we use. What material is it? PP?
We print on PVC, Corn, and BioPVC, and the stock thickness varies from 12min-24mil.
Thanks,
Anthony Proulx
::PlasticPrinters Blog I maintain:: http://plasticprinters.blogspot.com
::My Real Passion/Career:: http://www.insphyreperformance.com
Ivan, this Spirograph business card is definitely a candidate for your collection:
http://www.adafruit.com/blog/2009/05/25/adafruit-business-cards-laser-cut-spirograph-cards/
Wow. Some really great ideas here. Love the dentist card. The Viagra one is just hilarious, who can resist that? Given me some great inspitration to get more creative. Thanks.
Your image is everything!
http://www.business-card-specialists.com
Does anyone know what this type of paper is called? Or where I can get it? I really like the thickness of it and the ability to emboss/deboss. Thanks!!!
Hi ehong, seems like there are no letterpress specialists around here. I'm not a letterpress specialist either (just business cards specialist :P), but I hope I can be of help.
For the first example I have no idea, but the second could well be Crane's Lettra 600gram
Studio-Z for example does beautiful cards, but if you google for "letterpress business cards", you surely also find a letterpress printing company in your area.
Hi..thanks for the information... loved it simply Oh man! What an amazing thing to say
I would love to order the white business card with the perforated stripe in the middle, while the hot pink is peeking behind it. How do I go about doing that?
Check out this ninja card from Business Cards Observer
That site has a cool gallery as well ...
Check out these, I just got these done and love them!
Nice! Well done.
Great collection.
You may also like these card:
http://ultimolayout.blogspot.com/2008/12/minicampo.html
Excellent Ivan! I like the one with the two guys and the thumbs, very funny!
Brochure Printing by 10th Way
How to create my own business card (cheap and best way) want to start handmade card business
Thanks,
SEO
wow! great work on the collection. its very nice to have business card design inspiration... there are tons of sites out there but if ya all wanna check out businesscards24.com - i've recently been using that site or cardobserver.com. both - good sites for business card design inspiration. there is a company called taste of ink studios - you should def hit up their folio for a quick look - http://tasteofinkstudios.com/portfolio/business-card-design. it's just a real amazing business card design folio that is updated quite often. good luck on your design ya all!
lisa angelino
director: imagineer
Fire Consulting, NJ
wow very amazing unique business cards,w hat a great inspiration
Here is just another business card design blog site... i think this one is my favorite. just checked it out and truly love the posts designers are putting up. if you submit your design, it may be featured as the business card of the day. view the business card site at http://www.mybusinesscarddesign.com
lisa angelino
director: imagineer
Fire Consulting, NJ
Hi Ivan,
I am a film Director and own a production house called Hash Studios. I would like to know what card would you suggest for my company. email me on .
awaiting your response!
Sabrina Khan
Hi Ivan
Really cool designs. "beef jerky card" - very special ) . Is it fake or real card?
Thanks!
Nikolay Stanov
I love this blog!
I'm trying to design new cards for the office today and it's provided some great inspiration!
http://www.safetrade.org.uk
Nice collection. Great and creative.
Man, what a great post.
What's with the meat one? Was that edible, cause if it was, it would be awfully tempting to eat, and forget who gave it to me, haha!
Hi Everybody!
Here is something new..
A Card for a Creative Agency + Online Shop from Poland.
The agencies logo is a green rooster, and the office is placed in a 'hen house' : )
... thats why the green feather on every business card.
Nice thing - you wont get 2 exactly the same cards.
So what do you thing? : )