🚀 go-pugleaf

Designing well for a 3.5"x2" space requiring a number of lines of type is more difficult than it it might initially appear. A mistake that a number of designers make (in addition to using type that is just too small) is cluttering up the face of the card with graphics/logos/12-pt type. And then spilling over onto the back additional information that they couldn't squeeze onto the front.

Personally, I'm not a fan with turning a business card into some kind of marketing tool with lines of small, bulleted type, photos, and other "stuff" that is best served in a small brochure handed out with the card.

Also, in my opinion, portraits, and product and plant photos do not belong on a business card. And blank lines or underscores on a card to hand write in names or phone numbers borders on tacky. Save that for doctor appointment cards.

If you can't afford genuine engraving, embossing or the very best quality thermography, stick to good ol' one- or two-color offset or to digital printing on a high quality stock with a good "hand" (feel). And, again, to my eyes, hot-stamping on business cards often seems out of place.. I'd rather see a bit of well-printed metallic ink offset. And fold-over and die-cut/odd shape/odd size cards leave me cold. Cards designed without any integration with other corporate stationery or graphic items are clueless.

Some of the very best, most impressive cards I've seen use discrete, well-designed and placed logos balanced against simple 9-pt typography in two offset ink colors on bright white 80# vellum or wove finish stock.

Neil