Business Cards For You!

A few weeks ago a couple came into my work and needed cards printed, but didn't want anything that we offered. Not surprising, since we only have boring templates. So, I offered to design the cards for them. They were more than happy to give me money rather than a large corporation, so that night I designed them some cards.

They're pretty standard, as in simple-ish layouts, but they wanted something clean and professional looking. They needed them double sided, and that was no problem.

The one interesting aspect was that the woman wanted square business cards. She had her heart set on square cards. I was more than happy to oblige because you don't always see square cards, do you? She was totally cool that they wouldn't fit in a standard business card case, or wallet, or anything.

So I did some proofs for both clients, and then printed up 100 of each on some nice glossy on one side, matte on the other, business card paper.


I learned a few valuable lessons in doing this job for these people.

1. For a designer such as myself without a job in the design industry.. working in retail... almost every customer can be a potential client/employer. Poke them, or prod them, ask them the right questions and you might just find they're looking for a website, business card, letterhead, etc.

And the second lesson... Be VERY careful about adding thin lines bordering a business card! I made that mistake with the square cards... and I had to trim almost every one by hand to get that damn line an even distance on every edge. What a nightmare!

Here are some cards I've designed for myself... it's really hard to design for yourself. Very hard.