The Difference Between Creating a Business Card and Designing an Experience

Consider your business card as a window into the experience that you provide your customers. Are the shape, texture and colour consistent with your branding, and does this differ from your competitors? Thankfully, there is no law stating that all business cards must be 2×3.5”, flat, and contain only a company logo and contact information. A business card is a great way to express what your business is all about, in a physical form that clients keep on hand for future reference. The unfortunate truth is that most business cards end up in the recycling bin, or amongst a stack of other business cards, never to be admired again. The trick to having potential clients remember your business based on your card, is to make your business cards unique, something that they will want to hold onto even if they are not interested in your services.

There are many ways to make your card memorable, but perhaps the most effective ways is through implementing the human senses. A client is more likely to remember ‘the thick round card that feels like water-colour paper’ than ‘the blue card with a guy’s face on it’ when searching for your information in a stack of other cards. Variables such as texture (also known as ‘tooth’), finish, embedding, shape, typography, and colour all play a roll in how people retain information from a physical card.

Shape and size are fun to play around with, but often cause headaches for designers trying to fit in tons of information onto a custom shape. Straying away from the standard business card size typically requires a minimalistic style and content to keep the information legible and effective. Another important note to keep in mind that although various sizes of business cards are cool, many people still use business card holders. If this is consistent with your target market, make sure that it is still able to fit into the standard 2×3.5” slot.

My favorite, and the most efficient way to ensure that a client holds onto your card, is implementing interactivity. Although this is a fairly unique method, as it typically adds plenty of additional costs, it’s really the full package when it comes to creating an incredible experience. Interactivity doesn’t necessarily require making your business card unfolding itself to reveal a tiny robot who tells the potential client all about your business, but involves the receiver of the card to get absorbed in transforming the card from it’s original form or message into something new. By making the card something useful and relevant to your business, the client is more likely to keep it and show to their friends in the future.

The primary goal of your business card should be to communicate the most basic information about your business in a memorable manner that your target market can perceive immediately. To ensure success, ask yourself:

- does this card fit the style of my company?
- would I keep this card if I was comparing businesses?
- is this card physically restrictive to it’s content and where it will be stored?
- what makes my card stand out against my competitors?

If you would like to learn more about how I can improve your brand’s experience, feel free to check out some of our print and brand design projects at http://camilleblock.com/

On the Way

I apologize for taking so long to post something new! I've been working on many projects, including a BRAND NEW portfolio book! I will also soon be posting the new Fancy Pants Designs logo that I've been working on, along with a re-vamped collection of all print material for my personal brand. With only two weeks left until I'm finished school, there isn't much time for blogging!

The Portfolio is Complete!

Camille Block Portfolio by Camille Block | Make Your Own Book

MyImagination Letterhead and Envelopes

Keeping things simple with the MyImagination Interior Design Letterhead and envelopes!

Mac Costmetic's Hello Kitty Postcards

I chose to create the die line into the shape of the Hello Kitty logo to bring instant recognition towards the brand. I believe that in doing so, it would also add value to the postcard, making it something that the receivers would want to keep, even if they don’t buy the products. I decided to go with 110lb paper, 0.011” thick. In doing so, I gave the whiskers of the cat a bit more structure, without going over-board on the thickness of the paper. The spot gloss varnish being carried over all of the ink on the front really brings more interest to the postcard. It also gives something more for the receiver to run their hands across, and adds some texture to the piece. I chose to use a gloss varnish so that the light would reflect the accurate colours, while adding more depth to the card.

Mac Makeup Re-branding

Mac brand re-design. The project was called '8', and I created the brand around the octagon shape. In order to better protect the products, the packaging consists of a matte rubber varnish, and all products open by sliding the magnetic lid to the side, preventing packaging to randomly open and break when you drop them. Packaging is also more streamline Canadian Airport standards, and contain airtight seals to prevent contents from spilling and over-heating.

CrazyCrafts Brochure

What's more exciting as a kid than to open mail that is addressed to YOU!? I loved working on this project for a brochure that would be sent out to all CrazyCraft customers. Upon opening the brown paper envelope, you will see the recycled paper brochure/card, that contains a die-line with gold varnish along the edges. Inside the brochure, there is a small pocket full of goodies! This includes stickers, a dry finger-paint palette, and most importantly, a very cool coupon for CrazyCraft products. Instructions on the back of the coupon include an easy-to-read guide for kids and parents to go online and insert the coupon code for great deals. I wish I got one of these when I was a kid!

Black and White

This digital painting was my first completed in Greyscale Mode. I'm really enjoying painting portraits lately, and am super excited to be putting even more into my portfolio!

Digital Portrait

I was working on this one for quite a few weeks now, and have finally completed this portrait! I painted this in Photoshop, and for those who know my techniques, I cannot stand having tons of layers! I am super organized when it comes to such things, so this definitely helped me get more acquainted working with multiple layers. If anyone would like to see my reference, let me know!

The Princess and the Frog digital painting

I have been meaning to finish this digital painting for a while now, and am super excited to post this! I painted this with reference from a scene from the movie. Let me know your thoughts!

The Number 1

YES! This is the greatest pumpkin carving ever, created by my good friend Jynae and yours truly! Once we carved out the inside of the pumpkin, we painted the outside while waiting for the paper-mache to dry. We made the patty out of twisted newspaper, the cheese was simply folded and painted paper, and the tomatoes were carved out of a large candle. We added the seeds as a final touch! Thanks Jynae!

Latest Portrait

I started working on this a few days ago to work on my portrait skills. Drawing/painting faces used to be my greatest weakness, and I am certainly improving on that. I am starting to also take on personal favors by drawing sketches for friends and family to help build my portfolio. You will be seeing much more from me in the future!

Business cards!

The top two were personal projects, both 3"x3". My personal cards open up to show a short bio, along with room for notes for the client. The bottom image was printed with raised ink to add that final touch!

Hidden Charm Boutique

Ta da! Here is the new brand proposal for Hidden Charm Boutique in Alberta. The brand is consistent with the stores' colours, and we created a new logo and slogan for the store. All items are discrete, but very feminine and professional. One of my favorite aspects of the creation is the new idea for the boxes, being that they open in the middle of the top, and upon opening, actually bring the item from the bottom of the box up to the top (as represented by the purple object in the diagram). Feel free to check out the Hidden Charm Boutique

website!

http://www.hiddencharmboutique.com/

CrazyCrafts Brand Manual

The CrazyCrafts brand was built around the foundational values of family fun, inspiring creativity and being environmentally responsible. Here are some examples from my brand manual giving examples of colours used within each logo, 'do's and don'ts', corporate culture and the back cover.