collections / business card round up #1:

business cards are such an important element in your business. you have 3.5 x 2 inches of space to make an impact. (well, not limited to that size!) ;) i asked 2 designers whose work speaks for itself: they know their design. ellie from mint + whitney from darling dexter: both amazing blogs full of daily inspiration. i asked them 2 simple questions: 1) the importance of a good business card + 2) how to design a good card!

read on :)

importance of a good business card:

whitney from darling dexter gave us her thoughts about the importance of a good business card: In this day, it's one of the last physical artifacts that you can give a potential client. Everything has moved online which can often get lost -- so to have a card available is crucial. Due to the size, it's generally something that can easily be stored so the chances of it being tossed are pretty slim. Most importantly, it's a great way to inform and remind a potential client of your who you are and direct them to your online presence.

ellie, mint design blog says: When you're trying to make a potential business connection, your card is the first "window" into who you are. A memorable card can make the difference between staying in someone's wallet or ending up in the trash! I don't think you need to spend a lot of money on cards necessarily, but a well-designed or unique card says a lot about who you are as a professional.

here are some lovely card designs for your inspiration:

100 layer cake. +


brckt.com +


michael b kenyon

source from here


the darling room


ellen jackson +


element +


francesca pasini +


creativesuitcase.com +


butter label +



grace bonney +


amelia lyon +


sassen design +


AIGA Knoxville +


Emerson Taymor +


lena corwin + (found via paper pastries )


somace design +

advice on achieving a well-designed business card:
ellie, mint says:

Definitely seek out a pro! Designers have training in typography, and even the simplest card deserves thought and attention by a professional. If you can't afford a designer, I'd recommend buying a well-designed template or going the completely creative route. (Moo has a great collection of templates for those on a tight budget). If you're an artist and don't need to hand out hundreds of cards, maybe a collaged or hand-stamped card is the way to go!

whitney, darling dexter says:

Definitely think outside of the box. There are so many templates out there to quickly get a business card made but they don't set you apart. Head to your local library or bookstore and see if there is a graphic design section. Usually there are great books on business card design as well as for other materials you might need for your business. It is such a small piece of paper (maybe paper? who knows the materials that could be used!) but it has to represent what your business is all about. Don't settle. This is an opportunity to grab attention, so pay special attention to detail and spend some time crafting the perfect card.

thank you for taking the time to offer us some professional advice ladies!

more business card posts for lots more inspiration:

903 business card photos available to view at daily poetics! they are all so creative. and some other places to gather even more business card inspiration: cool business cards from creativebits.org, 100 really creative cards from webdesignerdepot.com. 54 unique cards from reencoded.com. hand stamped business cards from paper pastries, and eco-inspired business cards from greenwala. yep, tons of inspiration and creativity out there.

happy friday dear friends! xo.