When you start looking for someone to design a business card for you, you will notice one thing; nobody will say “no, I can’t” when you ask if they can do it. But that does not always mean they will definitely do a good job.
You need to make sure you can trust the designer you’re working with, because believe us, designing a business card is not an easy task. The person you trust needs to work in such a way that everyone will be able to tell who you are by looking at that tiny space.
It’s important to be able to judge the design you’re being presented, so here are some tips on what to look for in a charming and effective business card design.
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Know the basic design principles
As with all other printed materials, there are some standards that are applied to business cards as well. Some of these standards are listed below:
- Leave room for bleed/trim, usually 3mm or 5mm (1-2 in) from the edge (depending on the printer).
- Always make sure everything is done in the highest resolution possible (300dpi) to prevent any pixilation/blurriness.
- Texts should not be smaller than size 8, there can be exceptions. Size 8 is the smallest size human eye can comfortably read.
- Everything should be done in CMYK color setting, unless spot colors are being used.
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Work with what you have
Due to the size, you don’t have a lot of space to work with. So, the design needs to make the best of what’s available. Your logo, or the name of your business, should be the base of your business card, and everything else will be built around it. Contact information and social media handles should be placed strategically to use the space wisely.
And don’t forget, your design can get too busy too quickly. Sometimes, less is more.
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Make your card useful
If your business card has a use other than just being a piece of paper in someone’s wallet, people will hesitate to throw it away. Think of ways to design your card in a way that carries multiple purposes. Did you know that people make business cards that are also bottle openers, phone stands, rulers, even cheese graters?
Making your card useful will encourage people to keep them around, and they will become a constant reminder of your existence in the back of their minds. It’s a very good business move.
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Use creative designs
Your business card is the first form of identification someone has of your business, and it can be the first step towards building a certain reputation. Different design styles can tell different stories about who you are. While an art studio might need a more colorful and creative design on the card, a law firm is more likely to go with a more classical look.
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Enhance and update it
If you want to use your business card for 10 years, sure, you can. But when you’re surrounded by rival companies, you need to set yourself apart from them; this can be done by keeping your design fresh and everchanging. Your business may not age, but designs easily do. Keeping up with the new trends is the best thing you can do for your image.
