Business cards are one of the elements of corporate design that should be pushed beyond just graphics, and converge with several processes to become what they should be: a memorable, collectible and impressive piece to be carried away everywhere. The following are perfect examples, and have overcome the graphic-only component of the piece by using different materials and techniques. A recognizable pattern in all these designs is the use of die-cuts.
One heavy piece: A print-sticked application directly on a metallic-emboss treated plate, Duffy And Partners business card. Duffy
Print applications on inset embossed paper; multiple textures in one piece.
Print with golden / silver special inks. You can feel the texture of this piece just by looking at it. Design by NothingSomething NY
A soft-looking print applied on top of printed hard-paper for Photographer John Bragg. Design by Funnel.
Inset embossing; die-cut with application on-top of it. Design by Luke Dorny.
Print application applied to a lapping-treated acetate. Easily modified for multiple employees and and their job description. Design by Catalyst Studios
Speaking of heavy, this business card has completely re-thought the concept into a metal token reflecting the goods of the product design company: Dashdotstudios
Showing the love towards former racing Greyhounds and the issues revolving around them, this dog-tag metallic embossed plate + tampography for the business cards of the National Greyhound Adoption Program is quite an achievement. Laurie DeMartino
Each of these card is unique, the result of a hand-made process by Ethan Martin
Barkley Evergreen & Partners developed this multi-textured, thick business card for 40 Sardines Restaurant. Delicate inset embossing and on-top applications.Barkley Evergreen & Partners.
Die-cut, soft foil emboss for the logo with printed paper application and a even subtler background pattern for the business card body. Design by Honest Brothers
Patterns and thickness are the main visual elements in this business card for Le Club Fez; again, a label die-cut applied to the body of the card allows for easy replacement for new data. Design by Hook USA.
A very unique design created with die-cut paper and a wrinkle texture. Design by the Michael Strauss himself.
Art with an industrial approach to a corporate field; very experimental business cards with different and unique results. Design by Sonner Valle
Space150 is recognized for their well-designed and executed business cards. Dry cuts, neon inks and inset emboss makes part of the main ingredients for this pieces. Design by Space150
Bonus
Another examples of business cards well-executed, with lots of textures and alternative printing processes helping stand out from the common:
Go Media is a creative agency based in Cleveland, Ohio. Besides the GoMediaZine, we also work for clients and sell stock artwork and design files on the Arsenal.
August 28th, 2009 at 1:46 pm -
These are fantastic. It's interesting to me how popular textures are with cards nowadays. They seem more appealing, too, if they appear to have been handmade versus through the print shop. Remember American Psycho and the banker's obsession with their printed business cards? Not much like that anymore.
August 28th, 2009 at 4:49 pm -
Awesome designs! Really captures the creativity of the artist.
August 28th, 2009 at 5:04 pm -
fabulous. these are so classy sharp fun sophisticated and sassy. I love them.
August 28th, 2009 at 5:48 pm -
a collectors coin for a business card – that is taking it to a new height! RESPECT!!! http://www.carlstratton.co.uk
August 28th, 2009 at 6:48 pm -
OK when I grow up I am totally getting a coin for a Business Card. Awesome list, very inspiring! Thanks!
August 29th, 2009 at 3:17 am -
The coin business card OWNS. I've yet to see anything like that.
August 29th, 2009 at 9:14 am -
All very nice but the most original one is by lego
http://newslite.tv/2009/02/27/lego-business-car...
You get to (selectively) hand out mini me lego figures of yourself with matching name and appearance.
August 29th, 2009 at 10:48 am -
Some interesting business cards here.
I particularly like Dashdotstudios business card. A round metal token as a business card is unusual enough to be a talking point, which is of course a very good thing!
August 29th, 2009 at 11:50 am -
very creative I love seeing creative business cards
August 29th, 2009 at 12:00 pm -
The other major theme here seems to be the wrap-around label. There were at least seven of them up there. This is a great list, some really inspiring work up there. Designing this kind of stuff is awesome, convincing clients to pay for it is even better.
August 29th, 2009 at 12:57 pm -
Very inspiring
August 29th, 2009 at 7:26 pm -
Good business card designs for trade shows. They would go over very well there.
August 30th, 2009 at 2:05 am -
Impressive!! These are brilliant! the best collection of all. Thanks a lot for sharing1
August 30th, 2009 at 8:43 am -
I'm a bit shocked now… Wow
August 30th, 2009 at 8:19 pm -
Awesome collection. See this business card as well http://www.hdegreedesign.com/2009/08/hunkeedory...
August 30th, 2009 at 9:59 pm -
Those are so original. WOW.
August 30th, 2009 at 10:32 pm -
Wow, I'm jealous of all these designs. But inspired at the same time. I wonder though, how much they would cost to produce? Some of these designs would not be affordable for all businesses.
August 31st, 2009 at 4:10 am -
Awesome selection!
August 31st, 2009 at 10:48 am -
Very cool stuff, I still need to get my cards made, perhaps I'll try to top these!
August 31st, 2009 at 12:38 pm -
A wonderful collection of cards!
Thanks for the pr, xNoleet. Mine is not nearly as complicated as the rest of these beautiful and creative card ideas. My favorites are the Sackwear (big fan) and the Space150 samples.
The Butter Label card was letterpress printded with the red logo on one side of stock shipping labels, and the black line/text was letterpressed as well on the other. Then the contact information was stamped individually by hand and then numbered by hand as well.
Using stock shipping cards was more authentic though proved to be extra work for the printer, who was very helpful and professional by the very highly recommended: http://dependableletterpress.com
August 31st, 2009 at 12:40 pm -
A wonderful collection of cards!
Thanks for the pr, xNoleet. Mine is not nearly as complicated as the rest of these beautiful and creative card ideas. My favorites are the Sackwear (big fan) and the Space150 samples.
The Butter Label card was letterpress printed with the red logo on one side of stock shipping labels, and the black line/text was letterpressed as well on the other. Then the contact information was stamped individually by hand and then numbered by hand as well.
Using stock shipping cards was more authentic though proved to be extra work for the printer, who was very helpful and professional by the very highly recommended: http://dependableletterpress.com
August 31st, 2009 at 12:40 pm -
A wonderful collection of cards!
Thanks for the pr, xNoleet. Mine is not nearly as complicated as the rest of these beautiful and creative card ideas. My favorites are the Sackwear (big fan) and the Space150 samples.
The Butter Label card was letterpress printed with the red logo on one side of stock shipping labels, and the black line/text was letterpressed as well on the other. Then the contact information was stamped individually by hand and then numbered by hand as well.
Using stock shipping cards was more authentic though proved to be extra work for the printer, who was very helpful and professional by the very highly recommended: http://dependableletterpress.com
August 31st, 2009 at 4:58 pm -
These are phenomenal. I especially like the Space150 designs along with the card.
August 31st, 2009 at 9:03 pm -
Some incredible creativity is on display!
I love the 40 Sardines Restaurant cards. Nice use of the thick card stock and variety of green inks. Well done.
September 1st, 2009 at 10:37 am -
Well, metal embossing is pretty amazing right there.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:18 pm -
Very nice display of cards……
September 1st, 2009 at 11:36 pm -
amazin' idea …
September 2nd, 2009 at 11:10 am -
Amazing. Now if someone decided to design a business card as such, where can one go to get them produced?
Are there any specific printing companies that deal with high-end printing like the ones displayed in this post?
If you do know, please let us know. :)
Thanks
Paul.
September 2nd, 2009 at 12:06 pm -
For a new employee there is only need to get, say 3000 labels printed and then sticked to the already printed cards. Those cards look a bit expensive, but actually they are designed to cut costs.
September 2nd, 2009 at 12:38 pm -
Very glad you liked it.
September 2nd, 2009 at 12:54 pm -
Yeah, Space150 designs are the most popular among biz cards.
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:42 am -
Hmm.
Let's see Paul Allen's card.
Look at that subtle off-white coloring.
The tasteful thickness of it.
Oh, my God. It even has a watermark.
September 3rd, 2009 at 10:32 am -
Incredible stuff. Very inspiring.
September 6th, 2009 at 12:43 am -
realmente la imaginacion no tiene limites
September 8th, 2009 at 5:09 pm -
That coin business card is very unique. I'd keep it
September 18th, 2009 at 5:44 am -
Awesome.
This are simply professional type of cards and i liked it very much.
Aprreciate lol your work.Thanks for posting.
September 19th, 2009 at 3:16 am -
very nice collections, i like the “concept mechanic” ones
September 25th, 2009 at 3:40 pm -
Great collection! The coin one is very unique!
September 27th, 2009 at 5:10 am -
Hello,
It's very nice designs. I really liked it so much. Thanks for sharing designs. Looking for new designs from you please shared it……
Regards,
Mihir
ask4itsolutions.com
March 5th, 2010 at 12:41 pm -
show! grande seleção,
muito inspiradores.
April 19th, 2010 at 4:19 am -
Thanks for pointing this one out!
May 5th, 2010 at 5:01 am -
Excellent job..
dizi izle