Business CardsVisual Communication- Scarlet James

Business cards started in the 15th century in china and 16th century in Europe

They serve three purposes: (1) to introduce yourself, (2) to provide information about your business (3) to act as easily-referenced contact information for any

colleagues who may wish to get a hold of you.

“Calling Cards/Social Cards” In early Renaissance Europe, servants of aristocrats would present

“Visiting cards” to the servants of others. This was the first form of social interaction between the wealthy.

In Victorian England, the calling cards was essential in society. . People collected these cards as a way of keeping track of friends who visited, so they would know to whom they were socially required to pay a return visit. It was also a way of screening out unwanted visitors — once presented with a card, the host could simply refuse to admit the person, without having to deal with them face-to-face.

The British introduced the “trade card,” a calling card containing an advertisement for a person’s business, often with lithographed graphics.

Some images of early Trading cards

Typography in these cards Possibly handwritten in this era or using a print press to make

production quicker. Calligraphy is very formal elegant feel to them and is a form of visual art

These cards use Calligraphic formal script typefaces This form of Font, in the script category are those that have

the appearance of hand lettering with a brush, calligraphy pen or pencil.

Examples of calligraphy

Divorce Lawyer

I think that the concept of this business card is great. The business card is for a divorce layers and its fitting that you can half the business card and give the other half to your no longer other half. With both sides of the business card having the same contact details on them.

Computer Repair

The design of this is great. The colour pallet chosen makes the text stand out from the back. The idea of the business card opening up into what appears to be an image of a laptop is a great concept for a pc repair company as you know have an idea about what their business is about before you have read the small details on the actual business card. Having text written on the keyboard is a unique idea too

Artist

I like the fact that this business card is not only interactive but 3d too. As the person receiving this business card would receive it as a flat 2d business card, but the user than has the choice with a small guide how to transform the business card into a easel with a painting. Having a unique way of getting information across to people is good for advertising as it makes them more remember able.

Interactive designer

Simple yet unique way of advertising ones self. The literal idea is fitting for the job description of the business card. By having the user having interactivity to read other details on the company card, makes this stand out from the average business card you may look at once then put to the back of your wallet.

Although this idea is great, I could imagine the production process would be more costly then a average flat business card but also more time consuming to produce.

Get stretchy...

Great concept with the holes allowing the user to create legs with their fingers. The words get stretchy are straight to the point and suggest the card is for some form of fitness class.

Although the idea is very different from your average business card, Depending on the print and cutting methods to produce this card could be pricey.

Also depending on the size the users fingers the concept may not work.

Another great unique business card which allows the receiver to create a 3d version of a Nissan skyline.

Cons:Need glueIf you make the card 3d its not practice to put in your wallet BUT not bad as a cheep ornament on your desk...

Graphic Designer

Very different way of approaching business cards are the ones I have looked at and this one is no exception with the idea of the clapper board, but the production of this business card wouldn't be as easy as a straight forward print and cut job, as it will require a split pin or some form of attachment to allow the clapper board to move.

Something...on Google

A quirky business card which although it is in a foreign language and cannot read what it says, I'm guessing its showing how you could find them on Google?

Good idea but possible copyright issues but if anything it makes the user remember Google more as it is a iconic logo

Typography Choosing the right typeface for my design is an important part of the design process.

It is important that it represents your brand and the message that you would like to convey.

Important factors in typography: The contrast between large and small type, Is some text over whelming other text or

is some text drawing the attention away from other. For example the Business card below has larger text for the name of the business or job description and the contact details smaller, if this text was larger it would draw attention away from the title

The contrast between different typefaces ( If using different ones) The contrast between the font colour and the background it appears on, Like in the

images below

Serif Times New Roman: A commonly used font in word documents and online content. As it is commonly used throughout publications, I will not be using this font. As its a very formal style and I don't think this type of font for advertising is suitable or appealing to a wider audience. Pming Liu and David: Very similar to Times.N.R. This type of font wouldn't stand out on my business card as much as a bolder font or something that is not so commonly used.

Cantata Gotica: This type of font is something you would find in an old manuscript or on name of a newspaper. As this text is not modern and readability is hard. This font is most certainly not acceptable for a business card.Charlemagne: Not suitable as you can only have the text in capitals but also the strokes at the Ends of the letter which are called serifs are prominent in this typeface

I do not think that this type of font is suitable for my business card. If I was to have gone with the newspaper style one, These types would most defiantly be suitable. But as I am going for a more modern, Graphic business card with various effects I don't think this type of font would be as appealing as a sans serif typeface.

Sans serif

Helvetica Neue altra light: A clean and light font, although the letters are thin they contrast well against the black background without being too over whelming. Are I hope to use some glow effects on my text, this would be suitable as if I was to use this kind of effect on bolder text it would look overpowering to the smaller text.Hobo std: Quite a fun looking font, the letters have different thickness to the top of the lettering. Although this font is more appealing than the serif fonts, I shall not be using this as I do not feel it is very professional. Marlett : suitable for my business card as the lettering is well spaced out but not too informal.Ariel: A commonly used font on online publications such as blogs. It isn't different enough to make my card stand out from others.Foo : Fun typeface with slants and different thickness in lettering than the others, similar to Hobo which is why I will not use this for my typeface.

Examples of Combing colours

Complementary Colours that are opposite each other on the colour wheel are considered to be complementary colours (example: red and green).The high contrast of complementary colours creates a vibrant look especially when used at full saturation. This colour scheme must be managed well so it is not jarring.Complementary colours are tricky to use in large doses, but work well when you want something to stand out.

Complementary colours are really bad for text. 

Analogous Analogous colour schemes use colours that are next to each other on the colour wheel. They usually match well and create serene and comfortable designs.Analogous colour schemes are often found in nature and are harmonious and pleasing to the eye.Make sure you have enough contrast when choosing an analogous colour scheme.Choose one colour to dominate, a second to support. The third colour is used (along with black, white or gray) as an accent.

Info taken from http://www.tigercolor.com/color-lab/color-theory/color-harmonies.htm Giving more variety of colour pallets which work well together

Ideas for my card

When thinking what to do for my logo I thought of images of camera’s newspapers and everything journalism related .Such as:

Front page style card with my name and details on with photographs I have taken on the page spread.

A photograph of newspaper clippings with my details written over the top Create a front page of a magazine with my details and photographs I have taken and

small details about me Take a photograph of a camera with a pop up with my details when you lift up the

lense. Take a photograph of the back and front of a camera, with my details where the

name of the camera would go and where the details of where the lense would be

For an idea for my business card I decided to make a headline one in the style of The daily Telegraph. Finding type which was close the custom designed font was hard, to the left are three style of fonts which I was trying to match as much as possible to the top title. Below is a quick sketch on Photoshop of an idea.

I shall not be using this for my business card as to make it a close replicate of the paper would take some time, And too much empty space, as I would like text to be minimal but to be more visual.

As the business card is a self promotional one and not for a client. I decided to shine my personality and likes through the business card. One thing that has inspired my effects is by one of my favourite graphic designers, who uses light and colour to create effects on his photography, also seems to share a love for creating glowing lines in phot0shop

Chuck Anderson

 Since 2003, a year after graduating high school, Chuck has been collaborating with clients such as Microsoft, Nike, Warner Bros., Reebok, Burton, and Target, and more. In addition to this work, Chuck also produces much of his own personal art, design, & photography as well as collaborations with non-profits such as Invisible Children, charity:water, and WordMadeFlesh, among others.

Initial Idea

My first idea that I designed and experimented was a picture of a camera with flashes of colour coming from the lense. I scrapped this idea as it looked tacky and not very professional. I then decided on a camera as my business card. I was going to have the front of the camera on the front of the business card and the back of the camera on the back. With details in the screen on the back of the camera. You can see from the pictures that I have put a whole where the lense is too, Just to make it different. After thinking about the design and if it was to be used. The production and cutting of the business card would be time consuming. Also having the whole where the lense is would mean there would be a gap in the screen that I would of had on the back of the card. So it wouldn't look right.

Colour pallets

I look a picture of a camera lense, to experiment my ideas, colours and font. The font that I have used stands out but I think it is too bold, I will use a thinner font for my business card. If I was to create this card again I would cut the lense out better on Photoshop change the font and most likely use the blue colour pallet.

Adding effects

I have changed the font from the previous design and also used lines with a glow effect so that the badly cut lense wasn't visible. I think the lines make the design colourful and suggest that the photographs taken are vivid and colourful. Although I think this a good effect The effects I think they take attention away from the information given and not all text is readable. As colourful as they look, the one the left especially looks white washed. Also the writing does not stand out as I hoped.

The font to the right is more readable but I think the font is too bold. I would like to use a more slender font like in the business card above so that I can use glow effects to make the letters stand out.

When asking people what they thought of the design they liked the idea but the image was too grainy and washed out. This was due to a low quality photograph as well as the effects that I had used on the image, such as adding noise and blur effects.

The swirls that I have added to the business card is not just random lines like previous designs. The lines that I have created are my initials but I think this also gives a feel of brightness to the business card which has made it stand out.

Screen shots of using Photoshop

Some screen shots of design production

Final Idea

I thought that the colour effect drew attention from the writing as it created a fog effect making the text not so crisp. So I removed this effect

As you can see this made a difference to readability of the text also there is less effect to draw you away from the text

Final design

I have chosen this design as the photograph is clearer than previous ones. The colours are vivid and the text is easy to read. I have stayed with the same concept as previous designs but slightly different effects on the text. I like the text underneath Photo journalist because it says words that interest me and things I like doing, such as design, shooting, fashion, graphic, edit and creating things. I think the over all look, words and text give the card user a knowledge about me and what I like to do