They’ve evolved over the centuries, but the intent behind business cards hasn’t changed much since the 1400s: Make an impression and state credentials.
Many historians believe this practice dates back to 15th Century China with the ‘visiting card’. Since then, people in different parts of the world have found value in this little piece of card when introducing themselves and making the right first impression. They used to look like this:
Business cards have come a long way since, as you’ll see below in the examples we’ve curated for business card graphic design inspiration, but these components have stood the test of time:
- Adequate information to create a desired impression
- Quality to inspire confidence
- Beautiful and innovative designs that stand out
Business cards go wrong when they focus heavily on one of the above areas and neglect the others. For example, if you have a visually attractive card that doesn’t have enough useful information, it won’t be very effective.
7 examples for business card graphic design inspiration
To share a little business card graphic design inspiration with you, we found 7 business cards that cover all the bases and serve up information, quality, and style.
1. Frank
The bold serif font that spells out ‘Frank’ is striking, while the embossed bicycle is a subtle yet memorable way to introduce the business. Rodrigo Cuberas keeps the text to the point in a clean layout and sans serif font.
2. Adam Murphy
It might take a photography buff to spot this, but the punched out “o” in Adam’s card acts as a lens and turns it into the front of a pinhole camera. It cleverly conveys his area of expertise, and you’d probably want to explore its capabilities before binning it.
3. Doug Liddle
Why not get to work before you’ve booked your client? Doug’s finger placement instructions on his business card give potential guitar students an idea of what’s to come.
4. We Live After Midnight
This card uses a glow-in-the-dark feature to send the message that they are reachable day and night. The daytime version of the card is simple and elegant, while its after-hours avatar isn’t afraid to express itself.
5. Soap Co.
We don’t come across accessible or inclusive business cards often enough. It was fitting for Soap Co.—which provides a large percentage of its employment to people who are blind—to include Braille throughout its corporate identity, including its business card.
We love this one for business card graphic design inspiration because it does a great job of representing what’s important to the brand using a clean (also relevant!) design with a high-end feel.
We believe that everything you do or say tells the world who you are as a brand, and we stand by that when we craft brand identities for our clients. It’s why we notice brands that demonstrate this kind of consistency.
6. Bicker
A single shade in the background and a single name in bold white lettering accompanied by minimal text makes this business card impactful yet relaxed. “Less is more” is a good message for an interior design studio to send. If you have design-related business, save this bit of business card graphic design inspiration!
7. Andrea Romani
Unconventional, brilliant, and future-focused—that’s what Andrea’s card is. It’s on our ‘business card graphic design inspiration’ list because it addresses a concern that many people have about business cards: Are they wasteful?
For an environmental consultant to hand out information on materials already on their way to the dumpster makes perfect sense. It is economical, cutting down on manufacturing costs and energy waste. Depending on your business, beliefs, and clientele, this one could be just the business card graphic design inspiration you need to stand out.
Making it smart with NFC technology
As you look for business card graphic design inspiration, it’s important to consider functionality and effectiveness in addition to look and feel.
Like everything else, business cards are getting smarter.
Even with a great business card, there’s always the risk of people discarding it without saving your information. That’s why Near Field Communication (NFC) cards are a great solution that more and more people are using to help them network more effectively.
These cards contain an NFC chip, which makes them readable by NFC-enabled devices such as smartphones. When you tap your card on the device, it will trigger a response. This could be opening the contacts app on someone’s phone, with the information filled in, so all the person needs to do is save it. It could also open a website that has more information about your business.
For businesses, creating variations of such cards could provide great insights into how effective interactions at certain events were. For example, you could find out how many people visited the link set on the card, and what actions they took thereafter, such as filling out a form or making a purchase.
You can also add a QR code that’s easy for all smartphone users to use, even if their devices aren’t NFC-enabled.Buying a single smart business card that you can use multiple times is more affordable and environment-friendly than buying a set of traditional paper cards
Should you make business cards a part of your marketing strategy?
Business cards are a proven way, low-effort way to market your business. They facilitate making connections with people outside your immediate network, for example at industry events.
They also help you appear prepared and professional when an unexpected networking opportunity arises. You never know when you might come across someone who could be a great fit for your business, either as a service provider or customer!
There’s a reason business cards have been relied on for so long to tell personal and business stories. They have the power to communicate volumes.
When designed with thought and research, they can tell the world exactly what you want it to know about you and your work. Give us a call to find out how this could work for your brand!
