Designers, do your business cards speak clarity to your receivers?

While we designers try to make our business cards as fanciful, creative and professional as possible, the thing that struck me most when I pass my beautiful cards is being bombarded with this common question: “Graphic designer…so what exactly do you do?”

It seems that there are people who have no clue to what we even do! The next best thing was encountering those who knew what we do, but always asking what kind of mediums we design for (eg. web, print, mobile, music, advertising, publishing etc.). I got fed up having to repeat myself in every meeting I go to. When my cards had run out, the following design was to incorporate a summary of what my graphic design business involve at the back of the card: “Communication design for: brochures | flyers | music albums | websites | …” etc. Plus, I added some white space above the summary so that my contacts can jot down notes on where and when they met me.

The next time time I distributed the new cards, it saved me a LOT of headache. Potential clients not only had my contact, they were offered convenience by the simple flip of the card to understand what my job involves and how it can help their businesses.

Currently, there are many designers whose cards do not go beyond their job title. In the name of aesthetics, some designers have made their cards (however beautiful) clueless and distant for the receiver to understand. A tagline and/or point-summary will be extremely useful for potential clients and contacts at meetings. Including your URLs from the popular social media networks like LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook is great in providing options for the receiver to stay in touch with you as well as adding one more contact to your list.

Of course, you can go beyond the standard business card format and create those moo cards that are so common these days, or get inspiration from 51 Creative Business Cards That Will Make You Look Twice. Innovative cards can really make heads turn, but are not without the pros and cons as the writer points out on each piece.

Otherwise, the normal standard format is more than enough. Hardly any complaints and people find it much easier to store in their wallets and business card folders.

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