New cards: A note for students

Should designers’ business cards be “designed”?

I’m frequently asked this question by design students, and cut short by the paradox. Unless you can rock them like Kim Bost’s awesome participatory cards, Jessica Hische’s fancy cards, or Jennifer Daniel’s tasty cards, I’d be careful.

After years of passively thinking about ideas for business cards, I ditched it all to be irreverent, instead. My cards are nothing to brag about, but I think they’re a good example of an uncomplicated card that still embodies my spirit as a designer. Unless you’re a specialist or have an amazing idea like the aforementioned designers, focusing on making them cleverly simple is a challenge in and of itself. You can still create cards that feel like “you” without making them labored.

After all, check out Paul Rand’s cards.

Warm thanks to my friends at Hello!Lucky in SF for a fine letterpress!