Business Card...looking ok?

[forgottencanha]

Hey all.
Just made my first business card. The logo "Bellissima B" was already pre-defined and the client didn't want me to change it.

Just can anyone give me any tips or say what you think about it (constructive criticism please!)? It's for a woman that sells jewlery pearls (the color was also chosen by the client).

Thank you very much.

http://www.nexusrock.net/canha/card.jpg

[patkennedy78]

Well, nothing really jumps out to me here. I mean it serves the basic purpose of a business card, to provide contact info, but not much else.

Think more of pearls! The color, the shape, what they are associated with. Does she sell them wholesale ( not mounted on chains or rings ) or is it already mounted?

Is she the owner of the business? If so, I'm sure she is proud of that and would want that on her card as a title. What makes her better / different / stand out from other pearl sellers?

A few points to look at:

You have 3 fonts on the card. I'd stick with one in different weights and sizes. At least the "Bellissima B" and "Perolas em joias" should be in the same font. Then you could use the font you have for her name and contact.

Watch your margins. Even with the limited room on a business card you need 1/8 minimum margin. Otherwise you'll have a lot of visual tension on the edges of the card. Don't be afraid to use 7 and 8 point type. Take a look at some other business cards, you'll see how small the type is.

Remove the underline from the www. It looks to me that whatever layout program you're using unlerlined it by default.

To me the maroon colored shape isn't working to well. It's sharp. Like a knife blade. Not what I would associate pearls with.

I hope that helps out and gives you some direction.

[budafist]

As Pat said, watch your margin. Your bottom line of text is almost touch the bottom trim. If you print like this and there is any movement, expect some text to get chopped off.

Nothing about this card suggests jewellery or pearls to me. I'm not suggesting use clipart or anything, but the business of jewellery is very elegant and a visual one.

Creamy colours and perhaps gold or silver is what I envisage for the colour.

It would be nice to think of a guiding concept first before designing the card.

[cornfed]

I don't think this is working very well. It doesn't suggest jewelry or the elegance associated with jewelry. I think you should start over with some sketches first.

If you do decide to go with this design, then you should work with the spacing between her name and number. I agree that you need to bring the numbers away from the margin. Try looking at some other business cards for a bit of inspiration. Perhaps you could find some characteristics that they all have in common such as font size, number of fonts, letter spacing, line spacing, margin space, etc. Then look at some other jewelry business cards or promotional collateral pieces and take it from there! Good luck!

[forgottencanha]

First and foremost, thanks for the reply's.
I've been trying some changes over the last few days.

Check it out:

http://www.nexusrock.net/canha/card2.jpg

I wanted to make sure the first two things someone sees when the get the card, is the name of the company and second of all, her name.

I feel confident about this one. Should I be?

Criticism is well recieved.
Thanks!

[Fredonia2k]

I would suggest a less busy font for the contact info. The changes look ggod so far.

[SeanTrek]

Well, for the first one:
I don't really lik the big white space
The other one, I think, is perfectly fine.

~Sean

[cornfed]

It's a four color job?

[forgottencanha]

@Fredonia2k - You mean, like a less fancy font?

@Cornfed - I was given liberty for the amount of colors. I was told that there would be no problem about printing with gradient.

Would there be any problem?

I just know that my client won't be printing out too many cards (I would say about 200 of them only).

[tZ]

what is the purpose of the gradient(s)?

How do the gradients communicate anything further about the business in representation?

or better yet… how do the effects(gradients, etc) further the communitive aspects of the piece?

To be quite honest the gradients look arbituary and lacking any type of communitive aspect related to the business in representation. What does a radial gradient have to do with anything?

This is just a suggestion but, perhaps do something that communicates a pearl rather then just a gradient. If your going for the gradient looking like a pearl its not working in the least and needs to be reaccessed.

[forgottencanha]

tZ, thanks for the help. It really got me thinking.

But the best I came up with is this:

http://www.nexusrock.net/canha/card3.jpg

Look any better?

Thanks everyone.

[Drazan]

1) standard - could be anyone's card

2) first impression some sort of purse or luggage with the stitched band

3) going in the right direction. Does it have to be clipart? or can you use a photo of her jewelry?

It's late and I've had a long day or I'd imput more.

[Fredonia2k]

Definitely prefer the new font.

[Ms.O]

Yeah, a photo of the jewelry would be nice...really simple...maybe something along these lines....

http://www.onieward.com/pearls.jpg

(Can't find the font you are using...)

[forgottencanha]

Ms. O, thank you! Your visual aid was of great help!

Managed to get a picture of pearls from my client.

Anyway, this is how it turned out:

http://www.nexusrock.net/canha/card4.jpg

I'm unsure of having different colors for the logo and the name. Although it does seem that the eye doesn't stray too far from the important.

Suggestions are welcom.

Thank you all once more.

[daSnarf]

I would try not to split the card down the middle (or close to it). Try moving the business name/client name to the same side.

As it stands now, the eye is confused as to what to look to first. The Company name...pearls...or sales rep

[WannaBrie]

I like the font you chose for the contact info much better. I don't think the image of the pearls is working at all though...Why not try having the card printed on a pearl sheen card stock? Try using some more feminine colors and maybe some soft curves? The typography is not working as it is. Hope this helps!

[budafist]

I'm thinking Curious Metallics for the stock. Overused in wedding stationery, but could fit the bill here.