blind_otter Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 What makes a good business card? What are the most memorable cards you've been given/created yourself? Link to post Share on other sites
littlekitty Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 A professional looking job. Good quality card and print. Design depending very much on the business/use of the card. Link to post Share on other sites
tanbark813 Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 Simplicity is important, IMHO. I don't like double-sided cards. I also hate it when they're the kind of cards that fold in half or have some cute little flap. I don't want a pamphlet, bitch, just give me your contact info. I also think the paper on which it's printed is as important as the design itself. They cover this topic a bit in American Psycho. Link to post Share on other sites
Adunaphel Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 They cover this topic a bit in American Psycho. That was a good passage of the book. Like tanbark, I hate double sided cards. The style of the card should be appropriate to the business - fancy colors or extravagant font can be okay for an artist or for creative professions or for some people who work in PR field. Also, I think that business cards printed on paper that is too cheap or excessively expensive for the kind of business that is reported on the paper will make a bad impression. Link to post Share on other sites
bluechocolate Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 What makes a good business card? What are the most memorable cards you've been given/created yourself? I think the card should be appropriate to the profession. ie. I would expect something arty & creative from a photographer or a designer & something classic & understated from a banker or a lawyer. A friend of mine has just done himself a great business card. He is a photographer & it's a business card sized photo in sepia of an urban development with his contact details superimposed in white. Personally though I hate the things. I had boxes of them, probably still do, & always forgot to give them out. Working with Asians, especially the Japanese, business cards are very important & the handing out & accepting of them is almost ritualised. They were always good in meetings - I used to fan them out on the table in front of me pointing in the owners direction. That way I could always put a name & expertise to the face. Link to post Share on other sites
hotgurl Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 I have always loved sophisticated quiet design. On nice natural paper. I am a designer so my card tend to be more funky or artsy. The best card I ever saw was a CD cut to look like a business card but it acutally played in a computer CD ROM and had the person portfolio on it. Pretty slick. Link to post Share on other sites
superconductor Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 Keep it really basic. Single-sided, name, contact info, company (or whatever) and maybe a small, simple logo. Also an easy-to-read font. Good quality stock is a must. I've seen the CD business cards and that's got an element of zip-ah-dee-do-dah to it, but you kinda need some technology to actually be able to read the damn thing. Link to post Share on other sites
hotgurl Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 Keep it really basic. Single-sided, name, contact info, company (or whatever) and maybe a small, simple logo. Also an easy-to-read font. Good quality stock is a must. I've seen the CD business cards and that's got an element of zip-ah-dee-do-dah to it, but you kinda need some technology to actually be able to read the damn thing. I just thought it was a nice way to show your portfolio. The front looks just like a business card. Besides now a days who doesn't have a computer. In my job I awlays have to bring a portfolio to an interview and sometimes when I am scouting jobs I send alone a digital one with the resume. I think it shows some forthought. That and I am confident in my work. Link to post Share on other sites
alphamale Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 Besides now a days who doesn't have a computer. roughly about one-third of US households don't have a 'puter. Link to post Share on other sites
Author blind_otter Posted September 1, 2006 Author Share Posted September 1, 2006 All good info. KISS, I guess, is the best advice. Link to post Share on other sites
laRubiaBonita Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 i was really partial to the business cards that they gave out in "Half Baked"! Link to post Share on other sites
Author blind_otter Posted September 1, 2006 Author Share Posted September 1, 2006 hahaha. I have a ton of business cards. Many of them are from academia and they suck. I mean the paper quality is good but they are so forgettable. But then people come out with these freakish business cards with cutesie pictures on them or they fold in half or they're made of some kind of rubber material. I mean that's cool and all, I guess its memorable. I have a bad attitude when it comes to business cards. Maybe because I was in a meeting all day and I temporarily hate everyone. WTF is it with meetings where people ask redundant questions and seem to just like to hear themselves talk? Doesn't everyone just want to get in, get info, and get the hell out of there? Or do they really enjoy the mutual butt licking that goes on? Link to post Share on other sites
laRubiaBonita Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 I have a bad attitude when it comes to business cards. Maybe because I was in a meeting all day and I temporarily hate everyone. WTF is it with meetings where people ask redundant questions and seem to just like to hear themselves talk? Doesn't everyone just want to get in, get info, and get the hell out of there? Or do they really enjoy the mutual butt licking that goes on? it is all about the Rim-jobs in meetings....... Link to post Share on other sites
Roo Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 it's really ironic you are all discussing this as I'm busy designing my card now.. lol maybe I'll have you all look at it if I can save it as an image (I'll blur out my actual contact info) it's for a photography buis I ahve a bright picture and the print is in blue to pick up the color fromthe picture a little big of a graphic design and thats it.. I'lls ee if I can upload it you all can tell me if it would get your attention. Link to post Share on other sites
Roo Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 here it is well a link to it http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y5/AuroraG/AuroraPhotographybuisnesscardblurre.jpg Link to post Share on other sites
HokeyReligions Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 Part of our business is designing corporate logo's (branding) which includes forms, stationery, brochures, flyers, coupons, and of course - business cards. Having majored in Graphic Design there are tons of things available to tailor everything to a business. Our business cards have a mini-border on top that is the same as the banner on the website. Raised print is very elegant and the types of ink or wax used is important and knowing what will work with each type of card stock is crucial. One rule-of-thumb is that the card stock is the most expensive, the type is second and the artwork is third as far as cost - but they should all be within a similar range. Using a heavy card stock with cheap printing looks trashy, as does a wax raised type on cheap card stock. You have to be careful with colors too. If you want brite vibrant colors then use a brite white. If you are using one or two colors of type that are deep in color a buff color card will work. Cards with an overall bleed and busy design are not for every business - most people see those and think the person is just trying to sell them something fast and cheap -- which is usually the case. I disuade most people from that - you don't want to hand them a mini-coupon! And never ever hand someone a business card with the tear-off points around the edge because you bought some card sheets and decided to print them yourself yourself! I did make some CD cards a while back that had my contact info on top and contained my resume, reference letters, and portfolio. I didn't just give them that though - it was attached to my resume, etc. for their job interview. That way they could download the information into their HR system and it was clean and no one had to scan it in or type in the keywords for their own database. Link to post Share on other sites
hotgurl Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 roo, The card is cute. Do you specialize in baby photography? Link to post Share on other sites
FredTravels Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 Roo---do you have a release for the image of the baby? Is it yours..not sure I would put it out for the general public to see....just too many freaks out there. As for cards....I do not mind double sided if they have a purpose. I prefer a non glossy VERY heavy almost card like stock. My cards are dbl sided. Has the name, logo, address, phone, email and website on the front (all the contact info you need) and on the back, has a cell, fax, and home office number--all the supplementary stuff. It allows me to keep the front not too cluttered Link to post Share on other sites
Roo Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 Yes babies, pregnant mothers, children, family photography in general - I did several nudes of myself pg etc.. for my portfolio as well as some of my friends pg. I have LOTS and lots of work with kids and animals and I have done one wedding.. Portrait work (intimate shots, kids, family, animals etc) are the focus I'm going for. Yes the kid is mine that's my 20 mo old Kalea when she was about 2.5 months old. Well it'll be on my website once I'm done with the building of it so the freaks will have ample access anyway kwim.. lol HG - and yes I'd say I specialize in getting just the right picture in the more difficult arena's Babies, Animals, etc.. But by far most of my work has been babies and children. Link to post Share on other sites
tanbark813 Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 I did several nudes of myself If we could see some samples of those that would be great. Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites
Roo Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 did you read the rest of it... wher I mention I'm PREGNANT and HUGE in them.. ha ha ha ha well when my website is up some will be on there and then you can knock yourself out! lol Link to post Share on other sites
tanbark813 Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 Ohhhh, I didn't know what pg meant. Link to post Share on other sites
Author blind_otter Posted September 1, 2006 Author Share Posted September 1, 2006 Ohhhh, I didn't know what pg meant. Jeez, get with the pg (this abbreviation means "program"), tuberculosis. Link to post Share on other sites
tanbark813 Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 omgstfulolkthxbye Link to post Share on other sites
FredTravels Posted September 2, 2006 Share Posted September 2, 2006 Roo---what are you using for your photography website? Have you heard of a site that hosts for $149 a year called...let see how do I say this without being banned..... not a coffee cup but a coffee ______. Usually cylindrical with a handle. that is the second word, and the first is the same as the second except a S in front of it.. Anyhow, I know a guy that does fantastic customization for a lot of photogs. When you get PM ability I can send you the info. Also, as to the pg---I was taking it as that was the rating..not R not X but pg. Fred heads back into the dunces corner with Tanbark now Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts