In today’s tech-oriented world of short attention spans it is more important than ever to make a compelling first impression. A brilliant business card that speaks to your profession, serves some unusual function or that transforms into something else can be a great way to grab attention and inspire those you meet. Organized by category here are 42 extremely creative business card designs. Some of these are old, some new, but all are still amazing examples of out-of-the-box thinking in business card design.
1) Constructable Designs - Business Cards You Have to Build
A card with some assembly required forces the recipient to spend more time with it - which is a good thing if you want to avoid getting lost in the shuffle. Some of these designs are fairly simple and create simple forms or reveal messages when distorted while others are virtual toys or art projects in their own right.
2) Organic Designs - Calling Cards You Can Watch Grow
What could be a more dynamic way to leave your mark than handing out something designed to actually grows and changes on its own over time? These can be used to advertise landscaping services or other plant products or simply to leave a lasting (and evolving) impression on the recipient.
3) Pragmatic Designs - Calling Cards You Can Actually Use
Instead of sticking people with another flimsy piece of paper to lose in their wallet why not give your business card a secondary function? This can be as simple as making a clothes pin, a bottle opener or a ruler or as extravagant as giving out entire USB devices with your information printed on them.
4) Professionally Themed - Designs that Speak to Your Occupation
The message on a card design doesn’t necessarily have to be the print on the paper - it can be much bolder and embodied in the crafting of the object itself. Examples include: dog tags for an animal adoption program, a map that folds out and leads you to a map shop, fake medicine for the ‘brand doctor,’ and a head-hunter’s business card you are instructed to eat after reading in case your employer were to catch you with it.
5) Creative Designs - More Cards that Don’t Fit the Mold
Of course not every business card is going to fit neatly into a category - and all the better for those trying to think outside of the box (after all, you don’t really want to copy everyone else right?). These designs range from simple to complex, artistic to obscure, but offer a bit more inspiration for those of us still sorting out what we want.
Sources: Flickr, AllGraphicDesign, IFTK, FinancialHack, BoingBoing, CreativeBits
Many of our readers have been asking where they can get business cards like these created. [Re]encoded recommends uprinting for all of your business card needs.
45 Pings to “42 Awesome Business Card Designs (With Links to 100s More)”
40 Responses to “42 Awesome Business Card Designs (With Links to 100s More)”
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1. AHUDDY Says:
May 21st, 2008 at 7:43 amVery creative! Anyone you give these to is sure to remember your business.
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2. Jacob Gube Says:
May 21st, 2008 at 7:44 amWhat a truly beautiful collection - I’ve been meaning to do something like this on Six Revisions, but I doubt I can collect such an extensive and well-organized collection of business card designs such as this.
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3. David Says:
May 21st, 2008 at 8:52 amI always see these cool business cards but I can never find the companies that make them. I would totally do some of these for myself given a resource.
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4. Susan Says:
May 21st, 2008 at 9:06 amAlthough most of those are very cool, they’re probably all very expensive. Expensive business cards means you’re probably paying way too much for the service.
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5. dan Says:
May 21st, 2008 at 9:32 amhey- Great post. Just wanted you to know that I’m going to post it to my site and send it out out to able 3,000 creative People in the Portland area. We de a weekly email out to everyone.
Keep up the great work!
Dan -
6. James Hanley Says:
May 21st, 2008 at 9:39 am“A card with some assembly required forces the recipient to spend more time with it - which is a good thing if you want to avoid getting lost in the shuffle.”
While there are some beautiful designs here, I could not disagree more with the preceding statement. A card that requires a person to spend time figuring out how it works is a card that is going to get chucked in the trash in short order. I think in most cases the use of such a card would be a big mistake–only if you know your target well could you successfully use it, which wipes out the “avoid getting lost in the shuffle” point.
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7. Jonas Lindeberg Says:
May 21st, 2008 at 9:58 amHah, wonderful surprise to see a local talent in the end (the second-hand store). Designs can really travel far, even from a town with only ’bout 60k citizens. Even though, I’m far more in love with the paper-craft example. Great collection, thanks a bunch.
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8. ETAVITOM Says:
May 21st, 2008 at 10:45 amAmazing creativity and design. Thanks so much for passing this along…
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9. Atherton Bartelby Says:
May 21st, 2008 at 5:28 pmWow. Stunning and inspiring collection of business card designs; I love all of the amazing production methods utilized in most of them. Bravo!
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10. Leah McChesney Says:
May 21st, 2008 at 7:00 pmMost fun I had online all day! Great ideas, wish more people were creative with their business cards.
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11. Leah Says:
May 21st, 2008 at 8:15 pmHahaha!! Kevin Mitnick has a security business now? That is AMAZING. The greates social engineer ever also has good taste. Atta boy!
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12. Arby Says:
May 21st, 2008 at 9:19 pmI love them, but it seems business cards are a dying art form with the advent of simple & easy digital communication. Do I need a rolodex when I have an Outlook contact list?
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13. Jon Says:
June 10th, 2008 at 7:24 amThese remind me of my Mom
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14. Jon Nielsen Says:
June 14th, 2008 at 6:50 pmIt would be very useful to compil a list of the companies that do this sort of cards. Anyone knows abou companies that offer not the typical business cards?
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15. MMORPG Says:
June 16th, 2008 at 11:28 amThese are pretty cool. I have a very plain business card, though this inspired me to update it.
I especially like the ones with extra utility, like the toothpick one. The one with the seeds in it is also pretty amazing.
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16. GIRBAUD Says:
June 17th, 2008 at 8:05 amWHERE AND HOW CAN I GET THESE CARDS MADE?
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17. gerry lowry Says:
June 18th, 2008 at 1:48 amThese are absolutely amazing. As a reader of 2600, I was very impressed by Kevin Mitnick’s business card although I did not understand it was for picking locks until I visited his web site. Given his history, I would not be surprised if the authorities accused Kevin of possession of burglary tools and also of aiding and abetting anyone who successfully commits a crime with the lock picking tools on Kevin’s business cards. For those interested in computer security, check out http://www.mitnicksecurity.com/products.php. Plus, the lock picking tools may actually work: http://www.mitnicksecurity.com/video.php?video=lockpick.
Regards, Gerry
__________________________________________________
Gerry Lowry, Principal
Ability Business Computer Services ~~ Because it’s your Business, our Experience Counts!
68 John W. Taylor Avenue
Alliston -
18. Jesi Says:
June 25th, 2008 at 11:22 amWhere is the links to 100s more part?
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19. Stefan Says:
June 28th, 2008 at 1:41 amWow, some great designs!
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20. Jessica Herrera Says:
June 30th, 2008 at 10:17 amHow do I place an order?
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21. Heidi Says:
July 3rd, 2008 at 3:13 amIn my opinion, a business owner who puts that much thought and effort into a business card, is a business owner who also puts that much thought and effort into their work. Business cards are excellent promotion and advertisement and well worth the extra $$. Have you ever received a really cheesy business card…and what did you think?? hmmmmm….
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22. The Collection Says:
July 15th, 2008 at 6:44 pmGood day! You know I really like the way your write your idea. It is quite interesting and I get many good informations on it. Keep it up friend!
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23. Ergin Says:
July 16th, 2008 at 2:35 amnice tutorials …
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24. Reno Says:
July 19th, 2008 at 12:04 pmGreat collection. Thanks for presenting all these neat business cards. http://www.businesscardtobusiness.com
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25. onlooker Says:
July 20th, 2008 at 7:35 amAs an earlier posted asked…where are the
links to “100’s more”? Inquiring minds
want to know!if it’s the “sources”, then they should be
labelled as the “100’s more” links.don’t ruin a great job by leaving the last
1% unfinished! -
26. Victoria Says:
July 21st, 2008 at 9:31 pmI wish i had something like that to show Patrick Bateman. haha
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27. jurioumCom Says:
August 2nd, 2008 at 1:59 pmVery nice!!
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28. FedericoDuran Says:
August 4th, 2008 at 1:19 aminteresting resources,
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29. Muhammad Ali Says:
August 10th, 2008 at 11:20 pmVery Nice and Lovely Cards.
Thanks for Sharing -
30. Jason Marsh - Web Site Designer Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 7:58 amCrazy Designers, probably think they did good work… hehe awesome stuff guys! ^^,
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31. Amanda Michelles Says:
October 14th, 2008 at 7:07 pmGreat stuffs… I would sure ask for more of these namecards for savekeeping if i see any. superd
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32. Amanda Michelles Says:
October 14th, 2008 at 7:09 pmbut i would also think about the functionality of these cards in a practical approach.
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33. Amanda Michelles Says:
October 14th, 2008 at 7:19 pmBut we also have to think of the practical approach of creating these.
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34. Michelle Says:
October 24th, 2008 at 1:02 pmI would like to have a business card printed up in the shape of a back pack? Any Ideas on where to go to get this done? Thanks
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35. Robert Says:
November 4th, 2008 at 12:18 amYou have an outstanding good and well structured site. I enjoyed browsing through it.0
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36. Kathy Says:
November 4th, 2008 at 3:17 amHello admin, nice site ! Good content, eautiful design, thank !g
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37. jammarlibre Says:
November 5th, 2008 at 3:05 pmCool!.. Nice work…k
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38. shopping cart Says:
November 11th, 2008 at 5:54 amAll cards are very beautiful thanks sharing with us.
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39. Garden Says:
November 11th, 2008 at 11:45 pmAll cards are very cute.
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40. Arnoldo Lloyd Says:
November 12th, 2008 at 7:51 pmhkfnhvressprgnp1
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