The first obvious go-to for any creative professional is a business card, but thinking outside of the box will make a huge impact on potential clients. Your business card isn’t just a way to pass along your phone number on a rectangular piece of glossy cardstock; it’s also an opportunity to give someone a sense of your capabilities.

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Design Tips

Here are some tips to make full use of your business cards:

• Use your card as your canvas and showcase an example of your work.
• Take advantage of double-sided printing and use the back of your card, too.
• Alternate sizes or materials that are related to your craft, style or interests are also good ways to give someone an idea of your personality, creativity, or business. Instead of the standard high gloss UV coating, try using a matte finish instead.
• Rounded corner cards or folded cards are also interesting ways to make your business card stand out.

Examples

Graphic designer Mark Dormand used the back of his card to show his illustration work.

Dennis Ventrello designed his business card as a mini-resume as part of his self-promotional package.

Dane Holmquist is a talented illustrator, graphic designer and typographer – you can tell by the way he’s designed his own letterpress business card.

Artist Bubi Au Yeung illustrates her creative style with examples of icons she’s designed on the back of her business card.

Bugar Mate‘s business card has been die-cut to resemble the viewfinder of a camera.

Mackey Saturday‘s unique letterpress business cards are made of laser-etched wood veneer with metallic ink.

Multimedia professional Noah Norman named his business Ancillary Magnet, then used business card-sized magnets as a way to share his contact information.

Jamie Reed‘s version of the classic “Wooly Willy” cleverly shows off his fun personality and graphic design abilities.

This business card designed by Luis Cabrera for a small film production company was printed on thin plastic and die-cut to look like a section of film.

Karen Cornish‘s fold-out meishi (Japanese-style business cards) illustrates her design and bilingual skills.

This business card for Brazilian cargo transport company TAM designed by Eduardo Quadra and Eduardo Araujo cleverly folds into a little box.