MD Business Card
Creative_NRG (483 pencils) | Wed, 2007-08-15 16:09
As seen in my last few critique submissions I've been experimenting quite a bit with 'ambigrams'. Trying to design an ambigram forces you to look at things from different angles.
Well, my boss called last night and requested a new personal business card. The immediate challange is that he wants to list two addresses... His Los Angeles and New York pad.
Background: Everything he wears is black so I felt the BW card suited him well. [no pun intended] He's also gotten into a little trouble in his life and is one unique individual.
I designed a quick MD logo and my brain came up with an 'ambigram type' solution for the address information. Does it work or should I go with my other idea of putting one address on each side of the card.
As always your feedback is appreciated.
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given that you needed to place two address's i think it's a clever and different/unique solution. Does the MD become CW? lol just had to ask...
all in all, i think it's really neat. love the rounded sides like that. I think the MD is the only thing i'd tweak a little bit.
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Architectural Technician - Multimedia Designer
www.ArchMedia.us
Great point about the MD logo turning into CW when rotated 180 on the address side of the card. I'll have to dump that as I don't any of his multiple personalities have the CW initials. ;)
I've already filled three sheets of new MD sketches trying to find something beyond the obvious connection.
say it ain't so!! lol
i find it funny that sketches seem to be a hot topic these days and how many people probably still read these posts and think "who sketches anything, i use the comp all the time!" i'm curious what you come up with :)
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Architectural Technician - Multimedia Designer
www.ArchMedia.us
I can relate. I am old-school. I love to comp but you know, it does take dedication. I'm so used to drawing/seeing it in my mind and move much faster this way.
But you still have to sketch to have a permanent library of all your artwork. I can't tell you how many times I kick myself when years later when I recall something I didn't document! :-P Just me? LOL
I love your idea and explanation, very clever. I also like the die cut but personally I don't use any size that isn't the traditional 3.5 X 2. Most business execs do find it annoying at the end of the day when it doesn't fit into their bc binder. I would say to just make sure that, at the end of the day, max hight and width are the traditional.
You need to distinguish locals. It might be overlooked or simply annoy. Do something special to the NY and CA that will somehow mimic the MD logo... as if he's branding the cities. I think this will add more zeal and 'genius' to your design.
One more thing about the logo itself... on the front of the card, can you make the MD connect completely and make it a negative and positive all the way? Meaning, keep the gray circle, black background, white letters and maybe also no serifs. I think the serifs are making the MD connection awkward.
Best,
Nadia
I like the idea of distinguishing the states. NY and CA are so different and suggest totally different attitudes and atmoshperes (at least in my mind). It could be interesting if the card were designed to reflect that, either front vs back or top vs bottom.
www.alessandraandy.com
You hit on one of the challenges I'm facing with this design and would love to pull something creative off. Thanks for fueling the fire. Now it's all in the execution... let's hope I don't kill it. :P
Welcome to Creative Bits and thank you for your insight and ideas. I like the way you think and appreciate you taking the time to offer feedback.
The card will trim to 3.5" x 2" and I'm with you about identifying each location. I had them in there originally but pulled a stupid 3am move and swapped in the logo. What I'd love to come up with is a sweet 'NY - LA' ambigram for the center but I'm not holding out hope after some preliminary sketches. ;(
The current 'MD' logo is actually a placeholder and I have pages full of new options. (some awful, most OK and a few with promise)
We'll see what the boss man has to say when he rolls into town later this week. Thanks again!
Very well executed - I love the shape and the idea of a business card that can be turned 180 to read another portion of the card. I like the texture on the name side as well - and it makes me think that maybe the center portion is another type of paper that wraps around the white card.
My only two complaints (besides the upside-down logo already mentioned) is one, a personal issue - I'm not fond of things that are symmetrical. It's just a thing with me. I'm not a huge fan of having the email address twice on the card, either. Even though it's for the symmetry, it still appears redundant to me. Maybe having just the website replace one of them would be better.
Great job, Creative_NRG - I am always happy to see your work.
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Perfectly Lost Designs
Thank you for the kind words and I really appreciate the descriptive critique. I don't have the luxury of working with other creatives to bounce ideas off and find this extremely helpful in seeing things from another perspective.
You caught another aspect in the duplicate emails that has bothered me. I'm not trilled with that aspect right now either and may move it to the front in the white below the logo. That would free up some space to add the location identification pointed out.
No problem. Great idea on the email address - one of the other things that I forgot to mention was that the info side seemed a little crowded for such a simple front side. That might even things out a little. :)
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Perfectly Lost Designs
The conventional thing on business cards is obviously cardstock, sometimes crazyness like metal, but a slow growing trend is plastic. You could do something really cool using some of the clear aspects of it. the white sections of the design so far could be clear plastic with printed info on it to play on the symetry when flipped over. or make the logo the clear part...
just a thought :D
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Architectural Technician - Multimedia Designer
www.ArchMedia.us
I definately hear you...
This layout was inspired by the Geyrhalter plastic cards in the 'Cool Business Card Designs' topic and I'mm\ absolutely dying to do a card in plastic or metal.
Despite his extreme wealth it will take a hell of a sales pitch to get him to spend $1.50 to $5 a card because he buys and sells property at a staggering rate.
I had a few minutes at the end of the day to take another swing at this with everyones insight to this point. I still have some tweaks to make and slapped the city identifiers in as placeholders for potential 'LA' and 'NY' logos to match the style of 'MD'.
Thanks again for your wonderful perspective and I'd love to here your thoughts.
You've done it.
Mara
I really like the NY LA location now, but... if you kept the original logo idea with the circle, you could place the CA and NY in circles as well and create a whole theme and reinforce the branding. Just if you do it, it needs to be subtle; not competing with the logo itself.
As for the logo, I prefer the first one. I like the classic take with the initials stamped between his first and surname; it draws the eye in and subconsciously makes us think of 'being on target.' Also the circle cuts up the monotony of all those straight lines and compliments the curve of the card.
I think the front is best left for aesthetics and not practicality; I would take out the email address. And I think you can indeed pull it off without making it look cluttered.
Again, I really love your concept. Awesome job!
Best,
Nadia
All I can think of to say is:
BRAVO!!!
This is the first time in a while that I've noticed someone submit a critique, get some comments, actually try to work the comments in, AND show a revision that succeeds in addressing all the issues mentioned.
I think it's perfect the way it is now. I don't think the logo is necessary on the back of the card with the addresses. Nobody will care about the logo after the first time they see it anyway. At the end of the day, biz cards are CONTACT info sheets, not sales kits.
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"Biz cards are CONTACT info sheets, not sales kits."
I'm not saying that he's going for the sales kit, but you've brought up a HUGE point that ALOT of people seem to forget about. perfectly said, thanks Jim!
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Architectural Technician - Multimedia Designer
www.ArchMedia.us
Hm, even though the word bravo burned out my retinas, I still think I can see the critique. ;)
I like the direction you're going in with the new comp. Despite other's opinions, I very much like the new logo better than the previous version. The front looks almost perfect to me, but there is something up with the email address. Maybe the way it says "Email:". Perhaps it would be self-explanatory to just have the actual email address? I know it says "Tel:" on the back and such, so I don't know if that would look strange or not. It just doesn't seem quite needed on the front to me. I like how you took the name below the logo, though. Looks nice.
It's hard to tell with a small image of the card, but it almost seems like now that there is more of the lighter grey/white text, the background seems a little light. Is the background the same colour as the name on the front? Maybe just a little darker would be good - but like I said, I'm judging it on quite a small image of the actual card.
I agree with JimD that the logo is not needed on the back, but I disagree that people don't care about the logo after the first time seeing it. I think you did an excellent job making the logo eye-catching and powerful - and I think the business card will be flipped over to that side many times. :)
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Perfectly Lost Designs
You caught me!
The gray background on the address side is currently at 50% and the name on the front is 60%. I'll be using a PMS Gray & Black in the end and will lean toward the dark side as indicated.
In my haste working to complete the new logo I completely forgot to remove 'email:' when I moved that to the front of the card. I agree it's unnecessary and needs to go. People stupid enough not to know that's his email shouldn't bother him in the first place. :P
I've had a night to sleep on it and will be sticking more in the direction of the new logo. The original is okay but is a little weak and doesn't communicate the right image. The guy lives next to movie stars and I wanted something with a touch of unique class and power.
i agree with part of the email and tel and what not. I know i've personally been leaving that out seeing people all kind of know what an email is now-a-days. When putting multiple numbers I've found myself just doing T: F: or C: and even that is VERY self explanatory. and yes, i put E: when using this approach.
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Architectural Technician - Multimedia Designer
www.ArchMedia.us
I really like this new logo, very clean. The first one seemed to me more like a university logo for some reason. I look forward to seeing what you do for the NY and LA logos if you decide to go that route. The shape is unique and the B&W is done very well. Nice work
www.alessandraandy.com