Help with Business/Contact Card

[LERsince1991]

Ok so I'm just an 18 year old at college.

I will be doing an exhibition for a design of mine and I also need some sort of contact card to hand around to people when they ask me for contact details. Like people that would want me to do some work for them or a supplier that I'm using for a project.

So basically I just need a small number of contact cards and wondering if anyone has any suggestions. I've had a go at making one on InDesign and used dimensions for UK business cards of 3.346 × 2.165 according to wikipedia.

Could anyone offer and critique, comments or advice?
I didn't really know what to put on to be honest

Cheers!
Luke

 

[LeviG]

I'm going to be completely honest here - I don't like them, I'm not quite sure what but something just isn't sitting right for me.
So I'm just going for a breakdown of what I would have done differently and see if it helps you etc.

Page 1: Clarity of information, I had to think to figure out which was email and which I assume is a web address, a quick image to represent each goes a long way, especially if theres no www. on the web address.
Also I'm not sure the spacing/sizing of the text work well together, maybe try making your name thicker and shrinking the overall width of the future designer etc

Page 2: Lose the text, you don't need to repeat your name on both sides. If you must keep novanta make it so it doesn't stand out more than the product, especially with the image blending into the background (its grey on grey, your text is orange) like it does. I'd have personally done a black to white gradient effect for the scene or just taken a small section of the design as a teaser image.

 

[LERsince1991]

Just took what you said and made a few improvements.
Looks better

 

[semicharmed]

I don't think you need the "future designer & architect" text at all.
Think about it for a second: typically cards are given out to people interested in what you're exhibiting, they keep your name in their mind/card file.
Your plans to become an architect or designer are really of no relevance to them; it's what you've already done.
I think the card would be a lot stronger without the qualifying text; if you're exhibiting a desk you've designed, you are a designer, future just muddles the message.
I don't know if I'm articulating this well, it's exam time over here & I'm all mushy-headed.

 

[heehee]

Why is your card orange with grey background and your website done in grey text and white background? I think it should be consistent.

I think your text is abit too big. It feels like you are trying to fill up the space.

I agree with the others, "Future designer & Architect" does not add anything, stick with what you have done, not what you think you will be doing in 5 years.

 

[LERsince1991]

Thanks for the feedback.

I will be changing the website and updating it to the new colour scheme which I am doing in my spare time at the moment so it should be consistent soon enough.

I did a test print today and I don't think the text is too big. If anything the name should be bigger.

I am not sure about getting rid of the job title. I do see what you both mean about it being confusing and irrelevant. I would however like to keep some sort of title. I wanted to have the title of Architect & Designer BUT I don't feel as though I could say that I am an architect and designer. I can only call myself an architect once I have completed an accredited RIBA Architecture course.

The contact card will be used for people wanted more than info on the desk design so I feel as though I should state my 'job' title.

I will have a juggle with the text again tonight and see if I can improve it.

Thanks again.

Ok so heres the latest stuff, only very minor changes.

I think I'm going to go with 2.3 as its just simple; 'Design & Architecture'
It doesn't say I'm an architect but shows that I am sort of an unqualified architect as a hobby or future job. (if that makes sense)

I wanted to put photography as well but I thought it was too much of a mouth full, 2 words its simpler.

So what do you think?
I am quite happy with it.

Edit: Oh and is there any easy way to print out multiple copies of the card on one page or is it best to use ID again and place them all on one A4 page, output as another PDF and not mess around with printer settings?

 

[LeviG]

I am not sure about getting rid of the job title. I do see what you both mean about it being confusing and irrelevant. I would however like to keep some sort of title. I wanted to have the title of Architect & Designer BUT I don't feel as though I could say that I am an architect and designer. I can only call myself an architect once I have completed an accredited RIBA Architecture course.

The contact card will be used for people wanted more than info on the desk design so I feel as though I should state my 'job' title.

Note bold - why do you need your 'job' title if the whole point of the 'business card' is to allow people to get more information on the design.
A business card is for a person to either find out more about you or contact you etc. The more information aspect could be done with a flyer (1/3 A4 portrait) double sided with images on one side and simple bit of text on the other side.
Then you can do a business card with your information for anyone who wants your information.

Think about it this way, when you walk into a showroom do you get a business card with product information or do you get a brochure with business information.

And I still think the orange text on the rear picture stands out too much.

 

[MacLadybug]

Ok so heres the latest stuff, only very minor changes.

I think I'm going to go with 2.3 as its just simple; 'Design & Architecture'
It doesn't say I'm an architect but shows that I am sort of an unqualified architect as a hobby or future job. (if that makes sense)

I wanted to put photography as well but I thought it was too much of a mouth full, 2 words its simpler.

So what do you think?
I am quite happy with it.

Edit: Oh and is there any easy way to print out multiple copies of the card on one page or is it best to use ID again and place them all on one A4 page, output as another PDF and not mess around with printer settings?

I think you are getting closer, but I agree with some of the others that the type is too big, particularly your name. If you bring the font size down, why not put "architect . design . photography" in one line under your name, but with a little space between the name and this line... it's a bit crowded for me.

 

[LERsince1991]

I think you are getting closer, but I agree with some of the others that the type is too big, particularly your name. If you bring the font size down, why not put "architect . design . photography" in one line under your name, but with a little space between the name and this line... it's a bit crowded for me.

Thanks for that, much better.
I've made my name text smaller but left the rest as it is. I did a test print today at school and it was the right size, smaller and it could be harder to read.
I've also added photography and moved it all back on one line like the first version but this time it looks better because its not a sentence just words and the dots help in between.

I am having trouble with the text on the back would anyone be able to help. I'm not sure what to do with it to make it less 'bold' it does stand out a bit too much.
I don't want to introduce another colour as there are 3 colours excluding the desk image.
I've tried moving it around but nothing really fits.

Also is there any easy way to print out multiple copies of the card on one page or is it best to use ID again and place them all on one A4 page, output as another PDF and not mess around with printer settings?

BTW I've found it most helpful to view the pdf with two pages next to each other and 100% zoom level (actual size)

Again, thanks for all the help everyone. This is why I love forums.
Professional, amateur and hobbyist advice.

 

[MacLadybug]

Thanks for that, much better.
I've made my name text smaller but left the rest as it is. I did a test print today at school and it was the right size, smaller and it could be harder to read.
I've also added photography and moved it all back on one line like the first version but this time it looks better because its not a sentence just words and the dots help in between.

I am having trouble with the text on the back would anyone be able to help. I'm not sure what to do with it to make it less 'bold' it does stand out a bit too much.
I don't want to introduce another colour as there are 3 colours excluding the desk image.
I've tried moving it around but nothing really fits.

Also is there any easy way to print out multiple copies of the card on one page or is it best to use ID again and place them all on one A4 page, output as another PDF and not mess around with printer settings?

BTW I've found it most helpful to view the pdf with two pages next to each other and 100% zoom level (actual size)

Again, thanks for all the help everyone. This is why I love forums.
Professional, amateur and hobbyist advice.

I use Printfolio's Business Card Composer... perhaps you can download a trial so you can get it printed out. It prints out the multiples however you choose.

I might move the text to the right of the iMac screen... or make the photo smaller and put the text in the lower right corner. See how that looks.

 

[LERsince1991]

Thanks for the recommendation but I'd prefer not to download additional software. I guess there's no shortcut, I'll do it in ID as it doesn't take that long anyway.

Well I decided to change the image on the back just to see what it looks like and as LeviG suggested I like the idea of a teaser image; something with more of a photographic view rather than a view to display the whole design.

I think the fronts sorted though, Just the back now.

 

[LeviG]

back - try a white/light grey (maybe take a colour picker from the table) font and if you go for the teaser it has to be a teaser, its currently looking like you've chopped the card wrong.

As to printing/cutting etc - just go to moo.com and pay £11 to get 50 cards (£35 for 200) done double sided (although you may need a slight size adjustment) with a nice little container
It would cost nearly that in ink and card unless you do it all at school - and you have alignment on both sides to contend with which never seems to go right.

 

[LERsince1991]

I will check out Moo, thanks. (I was going to use schools stuff )

I tried some different colours on the back but when put side by side with the front it didn't seem to flow without the orange. I don't know but it just didn't seem to go with other colour, white worked well but then left just the name in orange. Hard to get my head round it.

I moved the render over to the left to make room for the text and it looks as if the monitor is looking at the text.

I think I like the orange on the back, I will see what it looks like in real life tomorrow if I can't solve it tonight.

I'm quite happy with it now actually looking at it again.

 

[LeviG]

Dont forget the bleed margins

And you know you can always render a different image for the back if the ones you have aren't working, it's not like you restricted with x number of photos

 

[LERsince1991]

Dont forget the bleed margins

And you know you can always render a different image for the back if the ones you have aren't working, it's not like you restricted with x number of photos

Cool, I've just looked at Moo properly and it looks cool, I've just done some with my mate for his photography and so I might do a single order of 200 and have 100 each (2 variations, 1 each, 100 cards each). Didn't even need to alter the size!

I have allowed the bleed margins in the ones I will print but thanks for the reminder. I made a different pdf for proofing. to show how it looks after it would have been cut.

I have like 35 random renders I did last night and I've messed about with a few other but I kind of like the one I've chosen with the low angle perspective.

See how it looks tomorrow morning anyway. Thanks for all your help people!

 

[LeviG]

Don't think moo work like that. You only get to have different images on one side and the other has to be the same on all of them (ie pictures on one, name bit on the other or vice versa).

and just to throw an alternative look out there (I was bored)
This is my quick go (note didn't know what fonts you used) - you've got to get noticed after all

 

[LERsince1991]

Ah right ok, well it'll probably be 50 to start off with then, I might ring them up or something see if I can get the ability to do what i explained to join with my friend card.

Thanks, I can see where your going with this. It seems quite the norm to have a line or some sort of separation between the major text breaks.
I might have a go tomorrow.

P.S the fonts Myriad Pro, I use it a lot, simple and effective

 

[fluidedge]

are you allowed to use an apple product design directly? I think silhouetted it could look nice.

I think there is a slight confusion of colours here now. Tangerine, grey, purples/blues, white, silver and black which comes back to the silhouette idea. Perhaps an orange matte overlay on 'screen' blending mode to get rid of the mix of purples and blues of the OS X background.

 

[MacLadybug]

I will check out Moo, thanks. (I was going to use schools stuff )

I tried some different colours on the back but when put side by side with the front it didn't seem to flow without the orange. I don't know but it just didn't seem to go with other colour, white worked well but then left just the name in orange. Hard to get my head round it.

I moved the render over to the left to make room for the text and it looks as if the monitor is looking at the text.

I think I like the orange on the back, I will see what it looks like in real life tomorrow if I can't solve it tonight.

I'm quite happy with it now actually looking at it again.

This one is my favorite so far.... not crazy about the border on your newest version... too busy

 

[268144]

Looking great ! apart from the URL, the novanta.design-is.co.uk

the I in the address can easily be mistakable for an L. i did that

 

[LERsince1991]

Ah cool I will change it to a lower case or maybe make it a bit more obveous that its an i.

I may get a domain name of my own instead of using a sub-domain so that will all change, possibly.

If your referring to the border on the latest one I've posted its exactly the same as the previous one but has a print bleed and border so I know where to cut down to. You wont see it.

I'm not sure if I'm allowed to use apple design directly. Thats quite a good idea to silhouette it.

I've Had a go at re-doing the website to a similar style.

Started a new thread for it here

Help

 

[NXTMIKE]

ok. the orange and grey/black colour shceme is ok, but i think there needs to be:

• a new typeface for the front/back and all other branding
• a watermark or a faded vector of blueprints behind everything on the front of the card

if i have time, maybe tommorow i'll make up a mock up of the card that i have in mind.

a great site to look for free fonts is www.dafont.com

 

[LERsince1991]

Thank but I like it how it is at the moment.

I printed some out today with my friend after school when all the teachers had gone so I didn't get told off.

They came out well which I am happy with. Considering getting some properly done though.

Are the prices of Moo cards worth it? £10.99 for 50? or £34.99 for 200.
I had a quick search around and found them much cheaper elsewhere like vistaprint. Worth it to go with Moo?

 

[LeviG]

moo use thicker card and also have that little case (good for exhibition) which vista doesnt have by the looks of it.

 

[fluidedge]

I can offer no better advice than this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YBxeDN4tbk

Get it die cut and foil stamped. Or just go with Moo, whatever