Illustrators need to make their arts sing through their professional identities, including business cards. They help convince future clients and promote the illustrator’s works in a real-life setting. Plus, having unique business cards means people are less likely to throw them away!
If you want to know where to start, these seven business card ideas for illustrators can be a start!
Use Custom Shape
Who says the business card must be in a rectangle shape? The custom shape adds style to your card, especially if you are an artist. You can deviate from standard ones, like using circles or squares as the basic shapes. You can also go all the way by ordering custom shapes.
Many business card services offer custom cuts with specific shapes such as a camera, artist’s palette, or animal. You can use custom cuts to reflect your job or the common theme of your illustrations.
One cute example belongs to David Fernandez Huerta. The London-based Spanish illustrator and video game artist have whale-themed business cards. The shocking pink color, the whale’s whimsical expression, and the use of casual font make his business card memorable.
Enhance the Materials
Many business cards use unique materials to reflect the owners’ works. You can order business cards with materials that reflect your artworks better, such as clear plastic, embossed material, or foil stamp. You can also use unique materials as actual parts of your artwork.
One cool example is the business cards of Paola Bazz. The Manchester-based Italian artist uses recycled materials to print her business cards. She has used cardboard, recycled wood pieces, and even used train tickets. Each of her business cards is unique, and they are memorable enough for people to keep them.
Use Black Marker Effect and Bold Colors
The black marker effect and bold colors create a contrasting effect, perfect for an illustrator’s business card. You can create various types of arts to adorn business cards with this effect. From pop arts to patterns and whimsical drawings, black markers and bold colors will make your business card pop, among others.
Illustrator and graphic designer Annie Yang use this effect beautifully on her business cards. She uses a black marker effect to create various whimsical creatures against blocks of bold colors. Every element is placed in a smart layout where she could insert her name. This effect makes her business card stand out among her peers.
Use Artwork as Background
If you prefer a subtler design for business cards, use your artwork as background. You can mute the color or use a transparent or watermark effect. Just make sure the important information stays visible.
Newfoundland-based freelance illustrator Geri Coady makes use of her knowledge in color composition to apply this idea. Her business card looks simple on the front, with her information printed on a teal landscape. However, the back of the card has her illustration in dark grey and black, with the name of her website printed on top of it.
Show Your Cultural Heritage
If your illustrations feature a lot of cultural heritage, do not hesitate to show it on your business card design. Graphic designer Suzie Shin, who is of Korean descent, designed a logo that consists of three letters of her first name in Korean letters. The logo is combined with pastel colors and subtle patterns to create a gentle, soft, whimsical look.
Turn Your Face into Illustration
Get people to know you better by featuring your face on the business card. However, instead of a photo, draw your face using your illustration style. Add your information on the back of the card so you can have the entire front part for your own picture. Jason Joef Buchanan, a Wyoming-based illustrator, turned his face into a business card design with his drawing style, complete with unique biography that resembles a character card.
Use Whimsical or Funny Arts
Finally, whimsical or funny arts can always make people notice (and smile). If your illustration style uses a lot of whimsical or hilarious elements, use them on your business card. You can insert your name, so it becomes a part of the design. UK-based artists Lucy Jennings and Dozy Rose, for example, used their styles to turn business cards and the information into actual artworks.
Designing memorable business cards will create a positive impression and make people remember you. Try one of these ideas the next time you plan to make business cards as an illustrator.
