In addition to not building a business card in GIMP (or any photo/image editor) and not building it in bright RGB colors outside the CMYK gamut, here’s another thing to consider.
Business cards must reflect the personality of the profession they represent. A hair stylist’s card must look appropriate for a hairstylist. The same applies to carpenters, lawn mowing companies, auto mechanics, attorneys, and every other profession or service.
Communicating these desirable qualities and traits is a deeper problem than simply placing an image of hair, wood, grass, or, in your case, an electrocardiogram on the card. Instead, the card must exude the personality and qualities that subliminally convey the essence of the profession or service in a way that resonates with the expectations and concerns of potential customers, clients, or patients.
Put another way, when looking for entertainment or catering for a child’s birthday party, one might expect the business card to convey childlike fun, a love for children, and a sense of trust. Similarly, the business card of a hairstylist must communicate a sense of style and professionalism. An auto mechanic needs a card that suggests competence, experience, and honesty at a fair price.
What tone, personality, and subliminal message is appropriate for a cardiologist? It certainly shouldn’t look fun. It shouldn’t look inexpensive. It shouldn’t look trendy. It shouldn’t look fancy or stylish.
Instead, it should, in every way, convey a sense of ultimate professionalism, competence, intelligence, education, and experience. It must appear laser focused on visually communicating one main message: I am a highly qualified physician whose competence you can trust to do everything possible in medical science to save your life.
Does your card communicate that message with the trendy logo, the bright colors, the little icons, and the heartbeat image cliché?