My Business Card Concept!

[JeromeL]

So I finally have a business card concept, but before I ship it out for production I'd thought I'd get some feedback. Criticism is welcomed. (please snarfy ).

[Snarfy]

Hit me with it Jerome, I'm always willing to contribute towards design. Right now, I'm not seeing any images in the original post!

[chrisfotos]

Red X on the image. :{

[JeromeL]

fixed.

[Snarfy]

Ok Jerome, sorry I didn't have time to do this last night.

1. I like your choice of photos, but make them larger. remember, these are going to be printed very very small, and you want as much detail and color vibrancy as possible. Also, you might want to balance match all three so you have a similar amount of color and brightness shown in each.

2. That background needs to go. For starters, no one will be able to read it, and secondly, they make diagonal lines spaced evenly. Take a step back from the computer and look at this. The background vibrates all over the entire card, and it vibrates really hard on the signature text elements. Try something else back there.

3. The font choice for the main signature is interesting. Has a groovy kind of feel, I'm sorta liking it!

4. I'm not hugely fond of the secondary font choice. Maybe too much repetition of curvy fonts.

5. Work on the alignment of everything. I'm not sure what you want end up with, but here's how it looks right now: Primary Signature Element is lined up with Tertiary Elements which are justified right; Secondary Signature element is not lined up with anything and is center justified, photographic icon element is lined up with nothing and arbitrarily hangs out on the right by itself. Turn on the rulers and set some guides for some alignment and justification fixing.

So yeah, experiment with more fonts and a little more color for the text. The two biggest problems are the background and the alignment issues. On the better side of things, this gives a good example of your photography and connotes a fun and enjoyable personality.

Oh and one last thing: Jerome, you have a cool last name and a nifty company name; why not use the text to simplify and make something a little more fun and related? Be more experimental! Just no more diagonal text stuff in the background =)

Hope this helps!

-Snarf

[JeromeL]

yeah i wanted something other than a plan background but it is quite distracting. any ideas besides a flat color? could you explain a bit on alignment? maybe give me an example of what to do?

[JeromeL]

update.

[Snarfy]

a good step!

1. The border isn't so strong in print. It frames well online, but it'll look very funny printed. When that goes, the other little framing line thingies should probably go too.

2. I like the color choices! Black, green, and white all work well together here.

3. Ok... fonts. Um, whatever you used for the majority text in the signature elements just isn't working for me. The "s" is a little artist and seems to work at the beginning of words, but its falling really short at the end of words (destroys the kerning). Also, the font as a whole is difficult to read. Try a simple sans-serif font. I like the play with size relationships, you can make said sizes smaller for secondary elements (for text). Oh and the font I dont care for, it will probably work alright if you use it for your name and the "photographer" but I would recommend changing the rest of it.

3, no wait, 4. I like the photo sizes! Only thing is be careful that they don't sit tangental with the text! Or, if you want them to touch or overlap, do it in more than one place.

5. Much much better on alignment. Do you see how everything has a more intentional feel with the alignments similar? A grid system does wonders for a business card =)

6. This is optional, but you dont have to have "studio portraits, live events, sports events, weddings, and more" there on the left. You might play around with that text set on top of the photos in white or green? Large enough to read, but no larger than that. I'm not sure how that will turn out, but its up to what pleases you.

I like the direction this is headed. Keep it up.

[JeromeL]

thanks so much for the help. i want to get these out soon. so the quick replies really help!

[JeromeL]

another updated version.

[JeromeL]

ahhh! didn't mean to double post. the edit button didn't show up.

[ScottBuckel]

Jerome -

I like the overall design of this version by far the best - I think I would suggest to align photographer - right now it looks like it was randomly placed. I like the font cahnge you made a well - it is easier to read.

I like how the photos overlap the border - I am thinking the you may want to tilt the images a bit more to overlap the border on the bottom border as well.

Scott

[JeromeL]

yeah, i just kinda played with it a bit. ill play with the images.

[Snarfy]

ahh, this is much better. i completely agree with scott, mess around with that other photo and let the other corner take up some of the border also.

You might want to reduce the telephone number size a little, it is actually attracting more attention than your name.

As for the Photography types you list: Drop shadows look great on the internet, but usually come out poorly in print, so I recommend you take them off (do a test print on your home printer, it should give you an idea). Once you do that, the white outer-stroke will become part of the background so experiment with different options there. Keep in mind: adding stroke lines like that draw attention, and you want to have your name and your company name the most important on the business card.

Finally, clean up the vertical spacing just a little. It doesn't have to be completely uniform, but it will help to have some of it -like the bottom- a little more even.

It is coming along nicely Jerome.

[chrisfotos]

i would remove the border. from my exp they come out uneven when the printing shop cuts the cards.

[Abel]

Originally Posted by chrisfotos

i would remove the border. from my exp they come out uneven when the printing shop cuts the cards.

that is very true... theyre large cutters wont get the cut perfect so if its off a little youll tell bigtime because of the frame around the card

[jnjphotography]

What program did you use to create this? i am thinking PS but was not sure. Looks good =)

[frankeleveld]

May I kindly suggest something?

I know this depends on personal taste, but I think it's more elegant looking if you'd limit the use of fonts to just two different typefaces. There are currently three types (header, phone number and specialisms) as far as I can see, with one in two variations (One Love Photography is outlined, Jerome Love is solid).

I'd change the telephone number font to the same typeface as the 'specialisms' one.

And just to be very, very critical (but honest)... I think the utmost right photograph on your card doesn't do the quality of the other two justice... It's not in the same quality league... I can see why you want it up there, yet I think the other two are far, far better and show more of your capabilities...

Best regards,
Frank

[Silverstangs]

I agree with what you said Frankeleveld. I was actually thinking it might be difficult to read when printed at actual print size. The image is definately bigger than print..

[JeromeL]

thanks for the input, i still haven't decided on a design, i've been so busy lately. SENIOR YEAR SUCKS!