Cool business card designs
Ivan | Tue, 2007-05-08 11:09You want a new business card, don't you? Of course. This is the most important element of your visual identity. It's the first thing people see when they meet you.
Here is a collection of cool business cards to inspire you. Most of them are from the Business Cards flickr pool, some of them from Ads of the World.
Update: Check out Part two and part 3 of the Business card collection.
Update 2: Looking for your own cool business cards? Post your project on Freelance Connect, to find a designer. If you're looking for a cool new logo for your business check out StockLogos for high quality and affordable logos.
Make your partner work for your contact details. Let them scratch.
Let them find you easier. Make a mini map.
Decorate your card with a bit of fluff.
Cute fold out. Brings back old childhood memories.
Make it look like the product you're selling.
Ooops. It's an impression from my notes.
Add a bit of class and expense. Have gilded edges.
Add teeth impressions if you're a dentist. Thumb prints for a detective. You get the drift.
Spoof a famous logo.
Use shiny metal surface.
Write fun copy.
Pay extra for stylish embossing.
Use metallic ink and a metallic hole.
Teeth floss? Gross!
Combine different papers.
Stay minimal and positive.
Use a thread.
Make an 3D plastic card.
Come up with a fun die-cut.
Dog tag theme.
Cat tail theme.
Use office scrap.
Use fun typography.
Blind date theme.
Simply square with no ink.
Funky shape.
Interchangeable insert in a generic cover.
Free one way ticket to the moon.
Demonstrate your skill.
Forensic evidence?
Metal card. Doubles as a cake cutter.
Is this scratch and sniff or just generous use of white space.
Try the retro look.
Elegantly long and thin. Reminds me of a card I designed for a perfume shop that looked like a scent tester.
Transparent thin.
Transparent thick.
Camera obscura. In case the Nikon breaks it comes handy to get the job done.
Folded and playful.
Expandable rubber to test your strength. One more time. And, one more. One last time. Good job. Now, what was the number again?
Reuse old cards for a second hand shop.
Get rid of the evidence you ever met the headhunter.
A clear message from a debt recovery agent. If you don't pay I'll break your bones. Here's the x-ray of my last client broken finger as proof.
Business card for an acupuncturist with small holes to demonstrate what will happen to your skin.
Perforated cards demonstrate what a separation lawyers does.
If you don't want to separate you can consider marriage counseling with a help of scotch tape.
There is nothing better then a little freebie. In this case a few seeds demonstrating how lush can make your place greener.
A balloon visiting card for a chest physician that is only legible when inflated demonstrates how important it is to have healthy lungs.
Pieces of broken pottery are used to hold the name and phone number for a greek restaurant.
A set of semi-transparent layers allows you to mix and match clothes on the illustrated girl. (Click the image for a larger size.)
Finally, allow me not to explain the meaning of this card for the Toronto hemp company. The target will know exactly what it means.
Also, check out Part two of the Business card collection.
Pls digg it: http://digg.com/design/Cool_business_card_designs
Hi sir,
It's me Bill from Manila, Philippines. I have seen the business card designs and It's surely great. I would to order it especially the metal card. I would like to know the cost of the card and how can I place an order and shipping details. Thank you so much and God Bless you.
Yours truly,
Bill
Here's another really cool business card concept. The cards come in pads and tear out without perforation marks.
Jonathan Reinhold
Web To Print For You, Ltd.
"make your first impression last"
Jonathan Reinhold
Web To Print For You, Ltd.
"make your first impression last"
I need These who makes them? I need them asap!
i want to find out who does the thin cards that look like perfume cards
bizcard.com
or the direct link is http://www.bizcard.com/product/business_cards
They have lots of great business cards and much more!
May I humbly present our laminated style business cards. Our customers tell us these are the best business cards and that when they hand them out, the most common response is, "Wow! Nice card. Can I keep it?"
Here is the link: http://www.bestbusinesscards.com
Thank you for this post, my daughter (8 year old) and I enjoyed them immensely, now she is designing her own card for her pet club! This is truly inspiring especially for entrepreneurs like myself. The message you sent is very important. We need to give it our best effort to make our card stand out - a powerful marketing tool - it can make people smile or laugh too. Thanks again Ivan!
Ivan, Thanks for sharing your library of business cards designs. That is great source for new inspirations.
Ija
Reuse old cards for a second hand shop. . . well NOT exactly from a second hand shop, but old cards that you collect from people over time. . . believe you me I NEVER thought that that could be a 'design' execution! lol I thought I was just being cheap! lol
"Try not, Do! or do not, there is no try."
-Yoda
Great post Ivan, as usual...
I'm gonna have to dig in my collection and find a few that deserve to be on here too :D
____________________________________________
Architectural Technician - Multimedia Designer
www.ArchMedia.us
[My roomate] found a place in Florida that prints the thin transparent cards. I can't wait to order them!
Due to high demand, I'm posting the link for the company here.
The Plastic Card Factory
- JoshuaTree
Just started my own little business this month, and thinking of a nice simple idea for my business cards too.
Good post to get my creativity running
Definitly cool and crazy ideas for business cards..
Cool :)
A lot of this things are product of really clever people. I could spend a thousand years thinking in crazy ideas and without getting the half of these.
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@Behance
Still, i like the cards from Koji Igarashi and Michiru Yamane here
Stefan Sagmeister once did one where he just stamped the name and phone on a dollar bill for a client. His brief was to spend 1$ max a card and he got it spot on. Even if you never called back it could still buy you a coffee...
A friend of mine did one shaped like the little stub from a plane ticket because he travels a lot...
If nothing else I learned that they have dentists in the UK...
michaelo, LOL, cheeky bugger. We don't all look like Austin Powers you know...
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Waaaah!
I really like the teeth marks one the best and the other dental one with floss was cool too. I think what I liked about those is that they were fucntional as well as cool. Some of the others were just too far over the edge. I did like the cat tail one too and the tiny chair pop up.
some of these look like they'd be a serious pain in the ARS to carry and the functionality of some of them is border-line ZERO! they're creative, but sometimes creative doesn't win people over or more importantly make them remember your name. i can think of loads of tv commercials that made me laugh or got my attention, but i doubt i could really put a brand name to most of those. sadly, that goes to business cards too!
with that said, here's one of the best business cards i've personally been given.
every employee had a roll of them, just like if they were at a fair handing out tickets. i know, the pics suck, but gives you the idea!
____________________________________________
Architectural Technician - Multimedia Designer
www.ArchMedia.us
You like the teeth? Check out http://www.americanbusinesscard.com/user/cgi/dental.hd
they have that any many more and really the best quality
embroidery and embossing I've ever seen on business cards.
Very professional and elegant!!
Thank you. I am in the market for my identity. this shall help. peace.
Think these are cool, too.
www.shineboxprint.com
very neat concept, however i'd seen it done by another company once in the past, so it has me curious as to how they can say it's "PATENT PENDING" in nice big old bold letters heh..
very neat concept though!
____________________________________________
Architectural Technician - Multimedia Designer
www.ArchMedia.us
The business card scene from the American Psycho:
hahah! That was exactly the first thing I remembered when I read this blog entry! :D :D :D
By the way... my first business cards are going to print tomorrow! jeje!!!
i love this scene! lol thank you for posting! :)
"...all beauty comes from beautiful blood and a beautiful brain..." whlt whitman
I designed some cards for myself outa stainless steel. People LOVE them. I have one client who makes me break them out to show people everytime i visit his office. I've had 1 or 2 reports of lacerations... don't leave them floating around in a purse.
http://cannedheatdesign.com/newcard.jpg
I just find another collection of cards. Check it out.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dailypoetics/sets/72057594104389710/
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@Behance
those are the ones from the link Ivan put in the original post if you read it. :D
____________________________________________
Architectural Technician - Multimedia Designer
www.ArchMedia.us
My bad, nevermind!
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@Behance
Some great ideas there, this is one of the best I have seen up close. Its so intricate, simple and technically sound, and Apple really.
http://www.tuaw.com/2006/10/03/the-wozs-business-card/
Its metal and pretty heavy but unforgettable IMO. Not something you would want to keep in your wallet, but you would hang onto it.
But that Woz logo is definitely something to be redesigned. It's embarrassing to have an orbit logo nowadays.
does he get any credit that the orbit is cut out of the steel? hahaha i think it gives him a LITTLE bit of something, though i agree orbits seem like it was light years ago!
____________________________________________
Architectural Technician - Multimedia Designer
www.ArchMedia.us
Our businesscard is a spoof on the danish health care card; with a redesign capturing the corporate identity of our company.
We are getting a lot of positive response on this card, and people keep it in their wallets instead of throwing it away :)
The address and phonenumber is embossed in the plasticcard.
Oh that it's too good to be true :D
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@Behance
what a great business card! love it, thank you! :)
"...all beauty comes from beautiful blood and a beautiful brain..." whlt whitman
i want 2 make bussness cards 2 give to my mates
My name is Gabriel.
I am represent Plastipro.
We do all of those cards. No exception. If you are interested,
call are company at 514-826-7405. We ship every where.
Or email me at
Ill take care of you personally just say your from creative bits.
I like the personal trainer card, its a different approach and bet its grabbed a lot of buissness
Hey-
I really like these ideas and a client needs some printed, but I can't find a place anywhere.
I am specifically interested in Mini Cards (the long, elegant ones) but could only find MOO printers who only print with photos on one side.
Any suggestions?
Brad
c0ol*************
very Creative!!
those Moo Cards i've seen on Flickr using yer own Photos are sweet too!!
Cheers!! Billy ;))
Peace*
Hey guys,
These are great finds. Are you collectors? I remember seeing the stretchy card for personal trainers on Flickr. That design also got a few thousand diggs! There was also a metal business card, similar to these metal business cards, I saw on BoingBoing that got alot of coverage. Anyways, great posting.. I wish I could print these, but they are rare specialty cards that are beyond the price point of most of our clients.
All the best,
Josh (ProfessorPrint)
Reflections DC - GREAT idea and GREAT realization
Respiro
http://www.RespiroMedia.com
Wow, these are some awesome business cards. They all look very cool. My dad invented a new business card paper that make a business card dynamic and functional. They are a business card & label combo. Every card gives you multiple chances to leave an impression. There is even one that has repositionable labels (like sticky notes) on the back. Even when the labels are removed its still a regular weight card. Soon you'll be able to design and order your own on line. They are called Capture Cards. You can see some examples and even a demo here... www. capturecard. com. The concept is cool because with a smart creative touch they can actually work for you. I would love to see what kind of ideas your readers come up with.
My absolute favorite I have ever seen
it's got some lock picking tools, in case u couldn't tell...
See these too deserve a place in this list...
bookmarked and emailed to my designers =P.
www.tranquilblue.com
Look this: Chocolate Business Cards
http://www.plasticbag.org/archives/2006/01/in_praise_of_chocolate_business_cards/
BusinessCardsExpress
Curious to know what people think of this design. Just was created as a prototype and does not have any client just yet.
"Piano Repair" to be company name. Information to be specific to that company. Services are listed on back of piano (as somewhat seen on the flat unfolded version of card).
Check this one out:
I definitely have to get a card like this one!
Scotty
were you able to order that card?
How much does a card like this cost? and how do I get them?
Have A GR8 Day Bigtbonz.
Have A GR8 Day Bigtbonz
My name is Gabriel.
I am represent Plastipro.
We do all of those cards. No exception. If you are interested,
call are company at 514-826-7405. We ship every where.
Or email me at
Ill take care of you personally just say your from creative bits.
does anybody have any idea where i can print business cards like this? i cant find a website that offers cool shapes n materials. ive already have a design. thanks alot guys
You'll most likely have to find a local sheetfed printer in your area. Keep in mind that many of these examples use completely custom die cutting and and embossing that can get REALLY expensive. Last time I checked you'd be looking at $300 - $500 US just to get the die made to cut the shape.
ie. For 1,000 normal business cards you'd expect to pay about $100 for 2-colors. Add in a custom die and you'd be pushing $600. ($100 for printing + $400 for custom die + $100 cutting)
Plastic and metal jacks the price MUCH higher.
What's you're budget? We'd have to see a sample of your design to better understand the production process required.
http://www.plasmadesign.co.uk/metalbusinesscards.htm is where this card for Steve Wozniak came from. They also have some very nice frosted transparent plastic cards and some satin black plastic cards. And they're rates are very reasonable.
Try www.americanbusinesscard.com they will work with you when you have your own logo and do reasonably placed custom work!!
My name is Gabriel.
I am represent Plastipro.
We do all of those cards. No exception. If you are interested,
call are company at 514-826-7405. We ship every where.
Ill take care of you personally just say your from creative bits.
i actually went to china last year n saw some clear plastic (pretty good quality) business cards for 5 cents each! pretty unbelievable inexpensive, but i never got them because i didnt have a copy of the design with me. i dont really have a budget, but i def. dont think paying a few hundred bucks to print some business card is worth the price. thank you so much for the info, i jsut want an idea of where to get them.
hi, where can i order that kind of business card
My name is Gabriel.
I am represent Plastipro.
We do all of those cards. No exception. If you are interested,
call are company at 514-826-7405. We ship every where.
Ill take care of you personally just say your from creative bits.
where can i order like this one
dugg
also wondering where to get one of those too
I like it too. Where can I get this business card???????
My name is Gabriel.
I am represent Plastipro.
We do all of those cards. No exception. If you are interested,
call are company at 514-826-7405. We ship every where.
Or email me at
Ill take care of you personally just say your from creative bits.
http://www.faveup.com/?filter%5Bdesign_type%5D=20
Kind of new, but cool ones.
so, having fallen in love with this card, i'm wondering.. what exactly would i ask for if i wanted to find a printer capable of executing something similar?
You are looking for a printer that can do 'debossing'. It wouldn't hurt to show them this image so you're both on the same page.
Hi, I love all of these ideas thanks very helpful. Now can anyone tell me where I can get something like this printed? Help very stranded.
Hello, I am a custom specialty printer. We print on many materials such as unique papers, plastic, metal. Let me know what type of cards your interested in and I can give you a price. Please let me know the quantity.
Sal,
Please contact me at lcaluag@colortreedesign so I can attach some photos of the type of cards I would like to get printed.
Regards,
Lyra Caluag
ColorTree Design
I actually found this site searching that term. do you have a way that i can just customize the card of my choosing?
email me at
thanks
hi,
do you know what font was used for the elkha logo?
Hi,
I love the work posted...my partner and i are starting an event planning business and would like something new and fresh instead of your ordinary business cards.
Please inform me of how i may place an order.
Thank you,
C'est La Vie
great designs, very creative ideas.
Give Your Business The Power of Credit with Business Credit Cards
I love these ideas for custom cards, but haven't had any luck with finding a company that offers these types of services.
Can anyone share any recommendations?
Lyra Caluag
ColorTree Design
www.americanbusinesscard.com
you're better off calling them to see if they can do what custom work you want done!
True - Very creative ideas.
The good thing about most of these card designs is that you do not need a "special" printer to achieve most (not all) of the card designs. A good majority of them can be had by working closely with your local commercial printer (whom we will assume has a good relationship with an embossing company and bindery) or perhaps you can find a good die-stamp/embossing company in your area you can work with directly. Most of the designs appear to require die-cut work, embossing, or a more complicated "manual" type finishing process (gluing wool on the card, the clip of hair in a bag, the yarn tied around the card, seeds stuffed in the little envelope, etc...) While the Ideas are Great the materials used are not necessarily unique, so its just a matter of getting the printer, embosser, bindery, and anyone else who will have a hand on the project involved from the get-go.
I would recommend working backwards when using intricate die-cutting and embossing work or any complicated finishing process - sit down with the printer, embosser & bindery and let them know what you are trying to produce, from multi-level die stamping, perforated cards, to pop-up cards, they should let you know what is achievable or not and the huge cost that will unfortunately go along with some of those ideas ; )
Good Luck & Come back and post when you finish with your unique business cards!
ImageMakerGraphics
ImageMakerGraphics.com
Thanks for posting this! It gives me inspiration. I'm only a junior in college going for my bachelor's of science in Graphic Design. There is no limit as to how far you can push these designs. It's amazing! Great post.
I was just designing some business cards and hit a creative block. After seeing all these different business card ideas the creative block has turned into a creative flood of idea. Thanks.
Steve S.
www.mind2print.com
this post makes me happy
GREAT BUSINESS CARD DESIGN
I went with a swanky and simple green design with just the logo, address, and URL. No personal information. I ordered the business cards from VistaPrint. They are not as cool as some of the ones on here, but I like them!
Here is another great example of cool identity design: http://creativebits.org/bittersuite_an_example_for_outstanding_identity_design
...I've searched for days on end and all I find are the cheesy sites doing some crappy business cards. I need quality, professional - no I searched for those terms and still only found the cheesy ones - I need to print cards that have class, style, elegance, design. All I see are "Business cards for $3.99!!!" crap.
I have a nice design. I need a printer that can do multiple colors, embossed logo and print it with raised lettering on a nice near black linen paper.
Does anyone know of any awesome print shops for this? I'm looking for serious quality, something a billionaire, king, queen, prince or American Psycho would want.
First, let me defend online business card printing, our company produces professional business cards (and without breaking my arm, patting myself on the back; ) I think we do a fine job. (not too sure about $3.99 printers though, get what you pay for I guess.) What you are looking for I don't think you will order over the web. It is still quite difficult to offer "complete" custom printing services online, you can only offer so many online options.
What you need to do is search for a local commercial printer, or as my earlier post suggested, work backwards with complex printing jobs. Start at the bindery, then the die/embosser, then the printer (or perhaps a good local printer would put you in touch with everyone) Any good printer is going to want to thoroughly go over a job with the multiple processes you are requiring, this is best done locally and in-person. Although standard business cards, letterhead, envelopes, brochures, and the like, can be purchased online with great results, custom die work is still a job best done locally.
Good Luck and come back and post your business cards once you find the right printer, they sound interesting!
ImageMakerGraphics
ImageMakerGraphics.com
my firm designed and produced the Reflections Dental Care card (bite marks), and we've got great resources to execute many of the things you see here. but, there are some on this page that have me stymied as to how, and how much they must have cost to produce...
www.americanbusinesscard.com
but call the 800 number and talk to them tell them you have a custom job and they will do it!!
Dood, we saw your first 5 posts with your website. Enough already.
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Powerpoint is not a design application
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The Salon Design Tech
Hello, I´m from Brazil. Can you tell me Which material the card Combine different papers" is?- " Combine different papers"
I wanna do de same card for me. I`m a lawyer.
Thanks.
You can do any type of combination!
A new and original alternative to paper.
PVC transparent. I think it is very interesting and original this business card.
A new and original alternative to paper.
PVC transparent. I think it is very interesting and original this business card.
I like very much.
It 'just that all the news in this area is shared.
bred from Italy
Transparent businesscards online Photoshop (Sating)
I hate carrying things in my pocket if I don't have to, so some of the cards above would annoy the @&$%#! outta me! They're amazing art pieces, but just wayy to big. For my own, I went with slimmer cards but chose a metallic paper.. it's kinda hard to show the glittery effect in photos, but here's the back of the business cards I just got from zazzle. As long as the design is decent, I think the shiny metallic look makes it look pretty professional.
Maybe not as impressive as transparent pvc, but definitely somewhere in between the craziness above and standard business cards.
You can kinda see the effect better on the second photo below...
Where did you have these Printed? I have been killing myself looking for a printer for small cards!
I want that blown up to 60" mounted above my sofa!
Beautiful design!
My current card after I quit smoking recently after my best friend was diagnosed with Cancer :( I think we all need to pause a bit and ponder if really the endless cups of coffe in a smoke filled room during a brainstorming session is really that glam.
I keep these cards rolledup like a cigarette inside a normal Cigarette Box and if someone asks for my card or a smoke I give it to them.
Do you know where I can find the "use fun typography" cards?
you r web says you do business cards. how do i go about having one created and order????
Does anyone have more information on who printed and designed the Pomegranit Business Card?
These cards are really very creative. I need a business card on these days and these cards will be helpful to me.
wow! I love this post :) I add in to my favorite' list :)
Transparent businesscards 0,300 and 0,500 micron.
You can see here the little collection.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/biglietti_da_visita/page2/
Transparent businesscards online Photoshop (Sating)
Where can i get "3D plastic card."???
H. Barjas
http://www.barjas.info
Where can i get 3D plastic card from?
H. Barjas
http://www.barjas.info
But now I want to fire my in-house designer.
: (
I've received lots of comments on my business card. It is on a nice thick stock with a clear varnish. See below:
Hi Ya'll,
Many people asked about good stationary suppliers. I have a very good and reliable business card supplier (see it here: http://www.pi-imagedesign.com/?q=freelancetips ) but not sure if they can satisfy such advanced design orders like above. Just emailed them to find out. I'll post the answer for you guys.
petimi_
Good design is like porn… you know it when you see it. =)
Pi Image Design - http://www.pi-imagedesign.com
Good design is like porn… you know it when you see it. =)
http://www.pi-imagedesign.com
Ok, now for the impossible. How do you make a cool accountant business card? Abacus perhaps?
WOW! Thanks!
Sapnininkas - http://www.sapnai.info
Hi I got my plastic business cards here:
http://www.reklameshoppen.dk/index.php?main_page=document_general_info&cPath=93_101&products_id=339
(There is a link at the bottom of the page that I linked to, where there are more cards)
I think mine are very nice, transparant at the top and bottom (like the one from the designer) and with matt black instead of white!
do they have an English site?
I can send you a picture of mine if you want?
Do anyone know where i can order expandable visitcards?
hoping for an early answer!
Hi check this business card out, made for LEGO manager:
http://borsen.dk/light/nyhed/138424/
I ordered a set from myminicards.com (thank you Stephany for the link) and I'm really happy, the cards are really cool and perfect to get started.
Great customer service too.
I might go with with spot UV cards next time if I need to order more than just 100 cards... this blog is awesome, thank you all!!!!!!
wow! cool cards! thanks.
The Square Card - 2.5x2.5 Business Card
The Cocktail Card - 3x3 Rounded Corner Business Card
The Low Pro - 1.5x3.5 Mini Business Card
http://www.premiumcards.net
the idea of putting wool on the card is excellent!
I designed this card for a friend of mine who was in the tough business of selling nutritional products that people assumed was a pyramid scheme. Our goal was to design a card that gained considerably more interest than your usual everyday card. The result was a sure-fire "ticket" to better sales... and it worked great! What do you think?
If you like what you see, check out our website:
http://www.manifestbozeman.com
I keep checking this site every now and then but I still believe myminicards.com is a better deal.
I design my own cards online with my pictures, the size is original and make people react when I give them, the price is perfect and the turnaround unbeatable (I placed 3 orders so far and always receives them 2 business days after ordering).
The other cards on this site are very nice, but the pricing gap is just too large...
Stephany
kk
Thanks for posting this! It gives me inspiration. I'm only a junior in college going for my bachelor's of science in Graphic Design. There is no limit as to how far you can push these designs. It's amazing! Great post.
Thanks Ivan, for this awesome collection, and thanks to all who contribute to it. And the best thing about it is that the thread is still alive and goes on and on. This way, any time I return, I find the latest creations :)
Let me add two nice examples for business card designs which play with transparency:
I've just had some new business cards manufactured by Plasma Design in the UK
They are metal and look fantastic. It only took 1 week from ordering to them arriving in Canada - well worth the wait.
This is a great site for business card ideas and acted as my inspiration in designing my cards.
Karen Smallwood
www.iceshadowstudio.com