In the overwhelmingly digital 21st century, getting handed a business card is rare these days. But when you do, they almost always seem to make an impact.
An “old-school” marketing tool like a business card can provide a great way of cutting through the noise and making people take notice. Especially if it’s designed in a creative, interesting way.
You never know when you’ll meet a potential customer - at a social function, picnic, or on a train, and it’s always handy to have this tangible marketing tool at your disposal.
Beautifully designed business cards can really drive a brand experience by forcing potential customers to engage with a brand on a tangible level, for a change. Although business cards are a great form of print marketing, they can also provide an optimal cross-channel experience by encouraging customers online through the use of a QR code, for instance - but we’ll talk more about that in later posts.
In this article, we have taken business cards from 5 of the world’s most famous people, spanning from the world of tech to the creative fields of design and animation, including that of a US president, and analysed what makes them great. Read on to get some design advice for your next business card.
5 Epic Business Card Ideas
1. Steve Jobs
Image source: MacRumors
Like everything else he did in his life - from his signature black turtleneck and jeans to the design of all Apple products, Steve Jobs always led with simplicity. So it’s no surprise that he leveraged the same design principle for his business card.
Jobs utilised all the white space on his business card to create the sleek, minimalist look he was so known for. With the Apple logo on the left and all his personal details, including his name, title, company and address on the right, Jobs’ business card is easy to read.
Something we can learn from Steve’s business card is that less is sometimes more.
2. Andy Warhol
Image source: DesignBolts
Famous pop culture artist, Andy Warhol, is one of the most creative visual artists in history. His Campbell’s soup cans and colourful Marilyn Monroe faces make up memorable cultural artefacts of the 20th century. Warhol created significant pieces that we still see printed on items today.
The same creativity he brought to his artworks, he brought to his business card. When designing his business card, all conventionality was thrown out the window, such as legible, stock-standard fonts and neutral colours. Instead, Warhol opted for a mixture of blue and green ink and hand wrote the text himself.
Warhol’s business cards remind us that you don’t always have to stick to the rule book when designing something, and often when you veer away from what’s expected, that's where the magic really happens.
3. Steve Wozniak
Image source: DesignBolts
We all know Steve Wozniak as the co-founder of Apple. Being an electronics engineer, Wozniak was the brains behind Apple technology, while Jobs was in charge of a lot of the business and marketing aspects. So, it’s no surprise, when looking at Wozniak’s business card, that it would have a futuristic feel to it.
Wozniak’s business card is unique in that it seems to be made of plastic, instead of the usual cardboard, and there are cut-outs along the top and bottom of the card that resemble a circuit board.
Wozniak’s card reminds us to be creative when designing a business card that represents yourself and your business. It will be far more memorable and could make the difference between a client remembering to call you up or your card ending up in the bin.
4. Richard Nixon
Image source: History for Sale
Former US president Richard Nixon is often infamously remembered for his involvement in the Watergate scandal.
But Nixon's business card is something you’d expect from a political figure. It’s professional, yet understated. The black uppercase serif font gives the card a classic and timeless air, and the president’s signature, which is featured in the middle of the card, provides a personal touch that prevents it from looking too generic.
Nixon’s business card reminds us that not everything on your card has to be printed and that sometimes adding your signature, or a handwritten note, can really make it stand out.
5. Walt Disney
Image source: IWSMT
Everyone knows Walt Disney and the magical world he created in the form of Disney World. Disney was one of the earliest pioneers of animation and changed the world of animation by pushing boundaries and creating memorable characters like Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy. He also brought well-known fairy tales to life with his animations of classics like The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Cinderella, and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Disney’s early business cards featured a hand-drawn sketch of him drawing at his desk. In this way, Disney provided more than just his contact details on his card. He showed potential clients his artistic skills and illustrated what he does best.
Key Takeaways
When looking for inspiration for designing a business card, don’t just copy the design of one you like just for the sake of it. Consider whether the design ties into what your business does, and ask yourself how you can illustrate that creatively and uniquely to help your brand stand out.
We often associate business cards with cardboard, but nowadays, digital printing technology allows you to print on all sorts of substrates, including plastics, or even metal. Different fonts allow you to communicate your message, so choosing the right one for your brand is just as important as layout and design.
If you want some advice on how to design your business card to make an impact on potential customers,
get in touch with us and we’d be happy to help.
