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.






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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.



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<--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?