Poll: do you like "interesting" business cards?

[sonrisa]

Not an exciting poll, but I'm trying to gauge how typical my thoughts are.

For professionals, do you like unusual business cards? You know, ones with decorative designs or very bright colors. I feel like they work best in certain professions only and are best when narrowly tailored. A graphic designer should have a catchy card, but a lawyer whose card is too flashy and busy looks gimmicky to me.

[Ohhmm(bligo)]

I agree. If they're in a creative position, I'll respect them less if they don't have something unique and impressive. Anything else, and I'll respect them less if they do.

[stephm0188]

Jun 24, 2013 19:31:44 GMT -5 sonrisa said:

For professionals, do you like unusual business cards? You know, ones with decorative designs or very bright colors. I feel like they work best in certain professions only and are best when narrowly tailored. A graphic designer should have a catchy card, but a lawyer whose card is too flashy and busy looks gimmicky to me.

I agree.

Mine are glossy and colorful with graphics on both sides. It works for what I do. It would not work for a doctor.

[Moe]

Depends on your line of work. Graphic designer, sure. Manager at a Financial institution, no.

I mean, for the most part, business cards are essentially place holders - you know, so you remember who to LinkedIN. After that, they're tossed.

[wambam]

I'm fine with creative business cards, but for the love of god, make it the standard size. I get irrationally angry about weird sized business cards.

[sonrisa]

DH wants a really distinctive card. I think you can be distinctive but still simple and elegant in presentation. He wants a noticable background design, and distinctive lettering (like black background with electric blue design, then white lettering over top of the electric blue design). If he does it wrong this could be awful. Psychiatry is about creating a calm, safe and discreet practice for your clients. A really busy or bright card wouldn't convey that to me. I'd think the guy was high maintenance or gimmicky and look elsewhere. Frankly, I think he'll draw in the type of high maintenance clients he'd like to avoid.

ETA: His core daily practice involves really high needs patients. This would be for his side private practice that he envisions being high functioning clients. You know, people like all of us here. lol.

[Moe]

Yeah, no. He can't. He's not in a creative field.

Unless he wants to make personal business/calling cards that few people use anyway, no.

I suspect that the majority of these business cards will be used in meetings/etc, so to other like field professionals.

I mean, it's not like he gives a packet with information with his business card, right?

And when clients come to him, presumably they have his information so he won't need to give them an additional card?

I don't know.

Maybe a card for a next appointment kind of thing?

Keep it simple and tasteful.

[sonrisa]

Jun 24, 2013 19:34:49 GMT -5 Moe said:

Depends on your line of work. Graphic designer, sure. Manager at a Financial institution, no.

I mean, for the most part, business cards are essentially place holders - you know, so you remember who to LinkedIN. After that, they're tossed.

These would be given to clients as appointment reminders as well as to colleagues and connections.

[Deleted]

It completely depends on the profession. Graphic designer or a bakery? Yes. Attorney or CPA? No.

[Moe]

One of the most powerful cards that I saw (and have still actually, even if I usually toss them) is from a very top executive friend of mine whose card, in like, the heaviest cardstock/paper ever conceived, and linen, had two things, centered.

her name
her email address

the back was this lovely deep purple, the front was an off white/very light grey with the writing embossed and in the same colours as the back.

man i love that card.

but in response to yours - yeah, simple. it seriously packs more punch. he doesnt' need any fluff. no design. he's so good he doesn't need visual stimulation to remember his card.

[wowhead]

I prefer more interesting business cards. Primarily because I would get so sick of digging through a stack of white cards to find what I wanted. Mine are orange with a yellow design and yellow printing.

[Deleted]

no. i mean, interesting sometimes suits (especially for a creative field). but really, i like heavy cardstock and uncluttered surfaces. i, personally, am no big fan of my business cards (flimsy paper, way too damn much information on the front) but they're all the same firm-wide so i can't do anything about it.

[cereal K]

I'm in a creative field and I judge "designed" business cards very harshly. Give me a classic, understated card any day. The ones that re trying really hard look it.

I think the card Moe described could be a nice compromise for your H. Clean and basic on the front, party on the back. A Mullet card, as it were. I could remain professional but sill give him some of the fun he was hoping for. Given his line of work, though,I'd recommend lighter, soothing colors.

[Deleted]

It depends on the business. For a graphic designer, yes. For an attorney, no.

[pantsparty]

If he wants really nice cards, he should just get a thick cardstock or letterpress. I have these business cards, people are always commenting on them due to their thickness, but the design is standard. us.moo.com/products/luxe/business-cards.html

[Moe]

Jun 24, 2013 21:06:04 GMT -5 pantsparty said:

If he wants really nice cards, he should just get a thick cardstock or letterpress. I have these business cards, people are always commenting on them due to their thickness, but the design is standard. us.moo.com/products/luxe/business-cards.html

I'm swooning all over these cards.

And LOLing at their prototypes.  Al Einstein.  Gustave Eiffel.  Elle Woods.  Harry Houdini!  LOL.

[Deleted]

I think business cards can be creative without being over the top. I am in a creative field and I have letterpress cards with my logo in a super light gray so it looks almost like a blind press with minimal info (website, email) in a dark gray. I personally don't like super crazy business cards though.

[discogranny]

We have non-standard cards at our architecture firm and we get tons of compliments and comments on them. They are smaller than average and half the backs were printed red and half black, we constantly get people who want two so they have a "set." It's a good ice breaker at trade shows and with new clients.

[pantsparty]

Jun 24, 2013 21:22:07 GMT -5 Moe said:

Jun 24, 2013 21:06:04 GMT -5 pantsparty said:

If he wants really nice cards, he should just get a thick cardstock or letterpress. I have these business cards, people are always commenting on them due to their thickness, but the design is standard. us.moo.com/products/luxe/business-cards.html

I'm swooning all over these cards.

And LOLing at their prototypes.  Al Einstein.  Gustave Eiffel.  Elle Woods.  Harry Houdini!  LOL.

He would love them! The highest compliment I ever received was, "Hey, this is like a cocaine card!" LOL. They're not a budget choice, but they do stand out.