Designing Designing a Business Carda Business Card

How to Create One that WorksHow to Create One that Works

Ms. ScalesMs. Scales

How to Create One that WorksHow to Create One that Works

Ms. ScalesMs. Scales

Example of a Example of a BADBAD Business Business CardCard

Anatomy of a Anatomy of a BADBAD Business Business CardCard

The color choice is a good The color choice is a good one for a beauty salon. Red one for a beauty salon. Red evokes cosmetics. The evokes cosmetics. The problem is everything is that problem is everything is that color.color.

The negative space on this The negative space on this card illustrates the total lack card illustrates the total lack of focus and organization on of focus and organization on this card.this card.

Anatomy of a Anatomy of a BADBAD Business CardBusiness Card

Anatomy of a Anatomy of a BADBAD Business CardBusiness Card

The lack of good alignment of elements on the business card distracts the eye from important elements. Likewise, lack of horizontal spacing disrupts the rhythm of the eye moving from one line to another.

The similar sizes of elements on the card confuses the eye where to start reading.

Redesigned Card FrontRedesigned Card Front

Redesigned Card BackRedesigned Card Back

Reasons the New Card WorksReasons the New Card Works Text Selection Mimics the shapes in the Text Selection Mimics the shapes in the

graphic providing unity.graphic providing unity.

Reasons the New Card WorksReasons the New Card Works Text Selection Mimics the shapes in the Text Selection Mimics the shapes in the

graphic providing unity.graphic providing unity.

Reasons the New Reasons the New Card WorksCard Works

Text aligns withText aligns withelements in the elements in the graphic as a graphic as a means of means of providing providing organization to organization to the card.the card.

Colors wereColors wereselected from theselected from thegraphic, which graphic, which also adds unity.also adds unity.

Alternative Card DesignAlternative Card Design

Alternative Design #2Alternative Design #2

Reasons the New Card WorksReasons the New Card Works Elements in the graphic are used to Elements in the graphic are used to

advantage as repeats.advantage as repeats.

Other Versions of the CardOther Versions of the Card

An Another Example of a An Another Example of a Poor DesignPoor Design

The business cardThe business cardfor this sleek, for this sleek, modern audiomodern audiocompany does not company does not give the samegive the sameimpression.impression.

The card is static,The card is static,heavy and its stylized heavy and its stylized appearance is opposed appearance is opposed to the open airy look to the open airy look of their store.of their store.

Issues with this DesignIssues with this Design

The text has been pushed into a The text has been pushed into a rectangular block.rectangular block.

This forces the spread of the This forces the spread of the letters to change from line to letters to change from line to line.line.

This also “traps” space This also “traps” space between some letters.between some letters.

The blocky font does not match The blocky font does not match the logo.the logo.

The FX is unnaturally The FX is unnaturally large.large.

Redesign Example 1Redesign Example 1

The first remake gives the The first remake gives the card more of the opencard more of the openspacious feel.spacious feel.

The FX fits better with the The FX fits better with the rest of the name.rest of the name.

White Space is dynamic White Space is dynamic and gives and gives the card “light.”the card “light.”

The eye can locate The eye can locate information easier.information easier.

Redesign Example 1Redesign Example 1 The block of text has been left aligned, The block of text has been left aligned,

which allows the eye to flow into the which allows the eye to flow into the white space, rather than blocking it.white space, rather than blocking it.

Lighting and separating the address from Lighting and separating the address from the persons name, gives the name more the persons name, gives the name more importance and gives the card a sense of importance and gives the card a sense of calm and more seriousness.calm and more seriousness.

Redesign Example 1Redesign Example 1

The FX was also underwent a color The FX was also underwent a color change to lighter gray.change to lighter gray.

The lighter color again shifts its The lighter color again shifts its dominance and blends it better with dominance and blends it better with the rest of the business name.the rest of the business name.

Redesign Example 1Redesign Example 1 Spacing between individual elements as Spacing between individual elements as

well are margins are consistent and add well are margins are consistent and add a sense of order.a sense of order.

Redesign Example 2Redesign Example 2 This card has a strong focal point on each side.This card has a strong focal point on each side. The use of red for elements on both sides tie The use of red for elements on both sides tie

the two together and helps associate the the two together and helps associate the employee’s name with the business.employee’s name with the business.

Front Back

Both Sides are ConsistentBoth Sides are Consistent

Commonalities between the two sides also Commonalities between the two sides also allow them to work together. allow them to work together.

The design was first constructed on the front of The design was first constructed on the front of the card.the card.

Then the spacing and alignments from the front Then the spacing and alignments from the front were repeated on the back.were repeated on the back.

Front Back

Redesign Version 3Redesign Version 3

This versionThis versionof the card of the card fulfills two fulfills two purposes.purposes.It displays aIt displays aproduct and product and identifies anidentifies anemployee.employee.

Front

Back

Design FeaturesDesign Features The spacing on either The spacing on either

side of the front logo is side of the front logo is the same.the same.

On the back the slightly On the back the slightly offset position of the offset position of the speaker adds tension to speaker adds tension to the design.the design.

Notice that repeated Notice that repeated elements even extend to elements even extend to the heights of the the heights of the speakers on both each speakers on both each side of the card.side of the card.

Back

Front Back

A Second Example of Using A Second Example of Using Repetition in a Business CardRepetition in a Business Card

The front and The front and back of this back of this card also card also illustrate the illustrate the effective use effective use of repetition of repetition in sizes of in sizes of objects, color objects, color and font and font style.style.

Back

Front Back

Redesign Redesign Example 4Example 4

In this version, the In this version, the fields of color have fields of color have been reversed. been reversed.

Space does not have to Space does not have to be white. The be white. The emptiness of the field emptiness of the field focuses the views eye focuses the views eye on the main elements.on the main elements.

In both cases the focal In both cases the focal point is off center, point is off center, rising the “tension” in rising the “tension” in the design and making the design and making it more interesting.it more interesting.

Back

Front

Back