Question of the week: What makes for good business card design?

First, let’s be clear that when we’re talking about good design here, we’re referring more to what should be on your card - and not so much about the bells and whistles and other design elements.

(Though it’s safe to say that from the design side, we advise against ACTUAL bells and whistles for what should be obvious reasons.) 

Creativity in marketing is a slippery slope.

Because if you have the most dazzling design-masterpiece of a business card, chances are the recipient will remember the card long before s/he remembers you or your business. It’s like that commercial that you LOVE SO MUCH IT’S SO FUNNY!, but can’t remember what it’s advertising. 

So here's what we recommend to our clients looking for solid business cards.

1. Slap your face on your business card.

Look. The main purpose of the business card is to leave a first impression that also conveniently fits in someone’s wallet or pocket. So you want it to connect the memory of you to your information. If you’re handing your card to someone who is flooded with cards on a regular basis, they’ll probably forget who you are unless there’s a visual of your face to jar the memory. Or you have blue hair. And if you’re in the fashion industry, even that won’t cut it.  

2. Get a tagline on your business card. 

What product or service is it that you or your company provides? Does your card show this? For example, a business card with a back drop of beautiful clouds with cars bursting through them isn’t telling anybody anything - except that you have a vivid imagination or perhaps some other issues. You (or a writer) need to come up with one short line that demonstrates your personality, while making it abundantly clear what it is you do.

3. Make your business card unique.

Speaking of demonstrating your personality, a good business card design will leave a strong impression. But not too strong an impression. (i.e. Bad.) Take some time to think about how you want to come across. Add some color, get creative with the fonts, etc. But keep in mind the culture of your industry. As mentioned above, a lot more is going to be kosher in an industry like fashion than in one like finance.

4. Keep your business card professional. 

After you’ve established the unique flair you want for your card, there needs to be a single phone number and email address on your card through which you want to do business. Keep in mind that if you’re still using the email you set up in high school and it reads something like captainmoron@netscape.net, then you seriously need to get your own domain. You must have a reputable email address on your card. Nobody wants Captain Moron doing any job for them. 

5. Stick with the essentials on your business card.

No one should need to take a magnifying glass to your business card in order to see EVERYTHING that’s on it. Our designers at LeDuc Creative encourage clients to not go beyond the company name, title, name, address, phone number, email address and web site. If you have some links to your work, that’s okay. Just try to corral them onto a single landing page on your site, and then provide that link on your card. 

Our designers also encourage simplicity. And they strongly advocate for the traditional rectangular business card. 

Why?

Because until all business card cases or wallets are universally changed to be in the shape of circles or hearts, it just makes sense.

There’s something to be said for tradition.