Thursday, February 19, 2009

Think outside the card

A business card can say a lot about an individual. Some people might think, "they're only pieces of card stock with your name and contact information on it," but I would have to disagree. I think these small objects hold more power than one may realize. Those who have seen the movie American Psycho with Christian Bale probably remember the scene during which the stock brokers take turns showing off their cards to one another. Each takes pride in his own design and the distinct, refined characteristics that make the cards their own. Color, tone, lettering, shape, and other design elements can all be utilized to send a desired message. This is because while they may be physically 2 dimensional, they are intrinsically multidimensional in nature.

So, since our next project has to do with crafting personal logos and business cards, I thought this current events post would be appropriate. I was looking on a graphic design blog and came across these awesome designs.

<--This is for a piano repair company. The artist used color, perspective, and imagination to make this a truly memorable and relevant card while still maintaining some of the traditional aspects as well.






-->
This card is for a lawyer who handles adult and criminal defense cases. It is meant to look like a jail cell, and as the insert is pulled out, information previously hidden by the bars is revealed. Color can be seen as rather symbolic in this depiction. The black bars give an air of rigidity and solemnity. The person is looking upward and colored white, perhaps signifying innocence, optimism or faith.



.
<--Lastly, these are for a Greek restaurant. They are made to look like ancient pottery shards, which I think adds a touch of authenticity to the business. Restaurants are tricky because there are sooooo many to choose from, and it is necessary to stand out from the clutter. While I'm sure they're not edible, these cards may be ultimately memorable, and thus, bring in more business.

I hope I was able to get some people to start thinking about how they want to represent themselves. Who knows, you may even get a job if a prospective employer sees that you can think out of the 2 x 3 box that are business cards. Do you think these examples are too over the top, or do you see them as advantageous marketing strategies?

3 comments:

Dwiveck said...

I really like the cards you put pictures of because they're unique, not the cards you see everywhere you go. I think the piano one is my favorite, but it might have more to do with my "personal baggage," just because I like pianos more than jail bars or the image on the Greek ones. The Greek ones could've been better in my opinion. Although I usually like simplicity, I feel like this was too simple--with no real contrast except that between the background color and the color for everything else. It doesn't really stand out for me or tell me why I should choose it over other Greek restaurants.

maya said...

The piano is my favorite, too. I'm kind of biased because I play the piano, but the design is really creative. However, having a 3-D business card may take away from the function since you can't really stick it in your wallet unless you unfold it.

Kelsey McCarthy said...

Oh my god! I love your post! I can't get over how cool those business cards were! I think they were so creative and if I even have someone give me a business card of that level of creativity I am POSITIVE i will never forget them. I agree that sometimes you can go over the top and some people may not appreciate the creativity as much as other - but to me its worth the risk. Plus, I feel I'd rather do business with people who are appreciative and embracing of such unique ideas. I like the piano the best! But I also feel like of the examples you posted that is the least functional - given it's 3D design. These cards are so cool though - I've also seen similar example of people with like ridiculously creative resumes - like 3D ones and stuff!