[davebowker]

Hey Guys,
I've just re-designed my business card and before I go get them printed I wanted to see what you think.

I have alot of white space on there and I'm just wondering whether it's too much. I'm in it for minimalism but is it too minimalised?

http://www.ohyouprettythings.co.uk/2...ear-new-image/

There's the link ^^ You can reply on the blog or on the forums here and I'll read 'em.

Cheers,
Dave Bowker

[datahound]

Like the corner details. Not sure I like the middle? Might be better three words across?

Or three words accross aligned right at the top with similar margin to bottom section?

[D856C]

I think it's tragically hip. I would suggest looking at the card as coming out of a drawer after three months. The reader is now flipping through sixty business cards -- binning some, and keeping others.

You have to decide if your card passes the bin test. Does this person ....design web sites or content for websites? ....Flash designer? ....Where was it we met and what cause the exchange of business cards?

That said, there is ample space for you to write, for example, XYZ Convention and a date before you distribute the card. Or jot some note referencing the conversation, for example "redesign of clienturl.com"

[Maerk]

The type looks like it needs a little work on the email and number, kerning and leading, possible reduce the size too... and hmm well every business card is different but it feels like you've made a logo of your job title/role and also have a logo by your name and details and just feels a little unbalanced.

But its really whatever design you can keep looking at and be content with as it becomes so familiar to you personally.

[jg9]

I think you need to re-look at the alignments, I don't think it works as it is.
Having said that I think it has potential, just needs a bit more work.

[Maerk]

Aye definitely has potential is nice (just realised I didn't actually say anything nice)

[davebowker]

@Maerk you were definately right mate. Just playing with the text made it alot better. I know most people won't really care but it's the little details that please designers. I can see how you see a logo in the centre of the card but really it's just nice positioning of text and line.

@D856C. I usually write something on business cards before I hand them over so that is what I was going for.

@datahound. i tried your suggestions by playing with the text in the centre but decided against changing it. I like the way it is so far and would probably only change it if there was a mass outcry which I can't see happening.

Thanks all for your replies

I have updated my changes if you wish to see them.

They are updated but it's still the same link: http://www.ohyouprettythings.co.uk/2...ear-new-image/

[cocknose]

sooo... your name is "new media", your job title is DESIGNER and your companies name is "David Bowker".....?!

....HIERARCHY my good man!

oh and finally... is it worth paying for 4 - Colour Process Printing just for that LOGO???

[davebowker]

I can appreciate hierarchy but it isn't always necessary. Currently I do not work for any company, I work for myself.

I want to get across that this business card is the card of a designer involved in new media. The line is underneath 'new media' emphasising that the phrase goes together as one... not as 'new media' and 'designer'

Then the name & contact details are grouped together collectively.

Can anyone else understand what I am going for, or do I need to change up?

Designers don't follow convention, they break it and make it. Is this broken?

[cocknose]

i like your explanation!!!.... but.... on the other hand, do you really think you should have to explain a Business card???.... but i'm sure we can go on forever, but (again) if you wanted to stay away from convention couldn't you do that in the way it was printed and the use of materials and NOT in the typography.

You want it to read well and be easily legible don't you?

[davebowker]

I think i'm going to stick to my guns on this one until other members chime in. I value your opinion and love the critisicm... it's not that i can't take your critisicm, it's just that I think I'm right on this point.

I guess were both looking for outside critisicm now to validate our points!

[cocknose]

thats fine they are your cards!!!...

[Maerk]

Gah, accidentally clicked elsewhere and lost my long ramble :P

I didn't mean I felt the title was trying to be a logo, merely that accidentally it had become one, it feels like a separate style to everything else on the card, it feels like there are two business cards on the same card.

I'd try two alt options:

1) You set all the text on the card in the same style and way as the title, and have the logo offset to a right angle of a grid around that block of information

2) You keep elements as they are (though that type still needs a lot of work, maybe its just the font, but it looks like how PC Illustrator renders some fonts before outlining or being pasted into something else) and align them all to a grid formation, so that they all feel like they belong together.


And personally I've never seen a title be kept away from everything else in this way... Yes a designer's role can be to learn the rules then break them, and then there's the rules which really should just be left alone because its information design, as it is currently I'd probably expect that title to exist on one side, and the rest to appear on the reverse.

Just need to make a tonne of options and filter through

[davebowker]

So I just knocked up a few options.

Let me know what you think.

http://www.ohyouprettythings.co.uk/2...ear-new-image/

[mike_m]

5th one down - best of the bunch. the ones with 'new media designer' centred, look, as mik would say, 'gash'.

[Naatan]

I agree that the "new media - designer' bit is a bit confusing.. is it the title of the company + your title ? or just the company title?

other then that I think it looks nice

[deadgood]

Hmmm, not quiet sure what to make of the designs. If pushed to choose one, id choose no.3 (but then change the kerning, move New Media Designer heading to the bottom left and increase the logo size to fit the heading including contact details.
Just needs something extra to make it complete.

I agree with the others on the 'new media designer' heading. Looks like a company name or title.

I'd choose a nicer font too. Dont like the bold look of it. It looks very bland. There's plenty of better looking fonts out there to make this card stand out on a plain white card. youve got an interesting logo so maybe try something with that in the background?

[lukasarts]

5th one down - best of the bunch

Agreed. In Miks absence, the rest look gash.

[cocknose]

soooo... is that enough people saying they are a big pile of TURD for you to listen to me!???

[lukasarts]

You fall out of bed the wrong side this morning 'nose?