Project Overview:

I was asked what it would look like if I created myself a unique business card. Something with a simple logo mark and my basic information on it. This was a typography exercise to see how to display information most clearly in a small space.

Visual Research:

I started this project by researching all kinds of business cards. The thing that caught my eye most while I did this was the vertical cards. I was told in process of starting that vertical cards were not done well often. I felt like this was a challenge I wanted to take on. So I worked on both orientations but was really leaning toward creating something vertical.

Part of this research was also figuring out what wasn't working for some business cards. A lot of them it was easy to see the issues. Others were much more tiddy and pleasing. I learned a lot about grids and how to figure out what grids are being used and issues with those grids.

Sketches:

After researching and seeing what kinds of grids work I started to sketch out some ideas for what might be most well designed and display the information best. I started by just getting comfortable with the shapes of the text.

Digital Concepts:

The next step was to take some feedback and take the sketches with the best reviews and my own curiosity and let it play out in digital form. I created some simple card layouts with type and simple icons. This included a simple logo created in under ten minutes.

I explored different type faces and formations to see what worked best. I then took these to my peers and we decided what was working and what needed work, or what to discard all together. I involved some simple ideas that leaned toward web development to try to help the viewer know the type of work I was doing.

Digital Refinements:

I took what was working and really worked to explore more options. I wanted to be sure I was getting to the best possible solutions. I needed to remember that my logo was important, but not what the viewer was looking for. I played with fonts once I picked a type face that I felt fit the style I was looking for. I worked on both orientations again to be sure that I wasn't missing a better option in a horizontal card.

I took my best ideas to my peers and decided on 3 options that were strongest. I still pushed for a vertical card but the horizontal ones were testing way better than anything I was coming up with so I didn't fight it, but kept a vertical option in the mix.

Color Options:

I refined two options and started to add color. I started with the colors I usually associate with myself. These are more light and more trendy colors. This option felt really easy. I liked the simplicity, but it was a little boring and lacked a unique factor.

I was given the advice that I should look for color options in the things around me. Paintings in my home, my tooth brush, the things that I look at daily and enjoy. I was struggling until one day it hit me as I looked at my shampoo bottle. It was a dark blood orange with white and black. I decided to try something bold and went for it!

Final Refinements:

As I checked with my peers and worked out some final issues I was pleased to find that I really enjoyed the vertical card I created. I got back a lot of positive feed back about the boldness of the design and color choices. The type was easy to read and well formatted. 

Conclusion:

Every design can always use more work, but I'm really happy with where I decided to call it good on this card. I know the logo really needs work, lets start with the fact that I know that. That was not the purpose of the card.

I think it’s really cohesive. The colors are bold and
and exciting and really have the potential to draw in
an interested business partner. The type is really clear and simple and easy to read. It is also very clean and organized. The clever 101010 pattern found on the back and under my name also will draw the attention of those in the same field.

I chose to left align so it would be easy to read and create a strong line. I also aligned the logo or mark on the back to the design on the front to create something deeply cohesive overall. I wanted the back and the front to meet somehow and this alignment really created a relationship between the two.

If I could do it over, I would tell myself to have more fun with it, because that is when the ideas start to work. The area somewhere between work and play. I really enjoyed learning how and where to find good color groupings. I looked all over my house for inspiration. I looked at my favorite pictures. I even looked at my son’s favorite shirts. I settled on a set of shampoo and conditioner bottles that I have always thought were well designed. The combination of colors and typography really helped me decide on some of the harder questions I faced with this project. It really turned the project into an adventure and that was really enjoyable.