Note: Read >>Lesson/ Lesson 4: Identity System before proceeding

Overview

All professional communication that you participate in is an opportunity for you to promote yourself. Carefully consider what these vehicles of the communication might be for you. These can include print and digital. All aspects of a well-designed Identity System should accommodate these channels.

Marketing items that you distribute are called print collateral. These might include your resume, any promotional items such as flyers, work sample pdfs, postcards and business cards, your email ‘signature,’ as well as stationery for any formal correspondence such as Cover Letters, Thank You Letters, etc.
Each item presents an opportunity for you to:

  1. Promote yourself
  2. Showcase your potential as a designer with clear, consistent, and well-thought-out messaging.

Crucial to achieving this sense of consistency will be your intentional placement of logo, color scheme, typeface, type size, type style, layout, contact information, and related copy.

Business Card Design

Why Make a BC?

You can use it as a leave-behind when meeting someone in a professional setting.
When connecting with someone you can hand them a physical reminder of who you are and make sure they have your contact info. It is more personal than just exchanging names/Instagram accounts and it’s an opportunity to highlight your portfolio URL. The added personal connection with a card will be remembered more than adding another follower.

When to Use a BC?

Business cards are generally designed to a standard size so they easily fit into a wallet. They are small enough that you can carry a few with you at all times:

  • Leave a business card with human resources (HR) or an art director after an in-person interview.
  • Give a business card to a person you meet at a networking or design event.
  • Give a business card to a new friend you meet.

What goes on a BC?

SIDE 1

  1. Your name (as a typeface or signature/lettering)
  2. What do you do or your title? I.e. Graphic Designer, Illustrator, Motion Designer, Animator, Portrait Artist, etc.
  3. Contact info (keep type small here. No larger than 9-10pts)
    • e. – email
    • w. – website/websites
    • p. – phone number
    • c. – cell number
    • sm. – social media (if itā€™s a professional curated account)
  4. Your logo can go on the side with the contact info or on the other side.

SIDE 2

  • Use a strong portfolio piece, your avatar/portrait, or logo, a solid color, a pattern, etc.
  • One side can be more simple than the other. Or one side can hold the contact information and the other side is more about the visuals.
  • You can also leave side 2 blank if necessary.

BC Dimensions

  • 3.5ā€ x 2ā€ Why? It will easily fit into a WALLET.
  • The vertical or horizontal format works.

BC Inspiration

Here are a few sites to browse for ideas and inspiration:

Printing BC

It’s nice to find a local printer you can meet with in person. They can give you tips about paper. The type of paper you use can impact the feel and look of your BC. A heavier-weight paper, like a cardstock, might be more expensive, but will make your BC physically stronger and more luxurious. Paper also comes in a wide variety of textures and colors, which can also impact your design.

Online printers are maybe more convenient and affordable. Here are a few online printer options:

Letterhead Design

Traditional Stationery Design

Today stationery design does not serve the same role it did just a few years back. Originally stationery was designed to accommodate formal letter writing which included writing the letter, signing, folding, putting it into a designed envelope, and mailing it to its destination. Today, as with so many things related to design, traditions have evolved to accommodate new technology.

Today’s Letterhead

The main thing to keep in mind for your letterhead design is that your identity system should not interfere, or distract from the actual content of the letter. It is only there to ‘brand’ your letter and makes your contact information readily available. In today’s world, most letter writing happens via email. You may on occasion attach a PDF of your letter, on your letterhead, with your signature, to an email and send it off that way.

Your letterhead design should basically follow the same look and feel as your Business Card. Your type treatment and contact information should be exactly the same. Traditionally a letterhead includes your address, but that is no longer standard practice. Your letterhead should also serve as a guide to your resume design. Your type treatment, logo, color scheme, layout, contact information, and related copy should feel consistent with each other.

Additional Promotional Material

Leave-Behinds: Postcards, Flyers, Booklets, and Printed Samples

A Leave Behind is exactly that, a piece you have designed that reflects your potential as a creative and also includes your contact information that you can give to someone and they keep.

Don’t forget to maintain aesthetic cohesion between your leave behind, resume, website, physical portfolio, and other promotional materials. 

What is a leave behind?

Why make a printed Leave Behind item?

  • Give to someone in an in-person meeting/interview
  • Mail to an Art Director or Creative Director at their office – to get them to notice you.
  • Give it to someone you meet at a conference, networking event, or gallery opening.
  • If you have a shop or sell an item such as a print you can enclose a leave-behind with your contact info.
  • It serves as a reminder of you and your work.
  • It becomes an additional way to get the attention of others, to stand out; how many Instagram accounts can you even remember?

A leave behind might be a nice reminder on an inspiration wall, by an art directorā€™s desk, or even on a refrigerator. A postcard is a simple example of a leave-behind, but a leave-behind can be any number of things (see article below).

Would you actually mail some postcards? Design the postcard for a real mailing and follow the USPS requirements.

>>USPS Post Card Requirements

Resources

More about Leave-Behinds: >>https://www.lucidchart.com/blog/what-is-a-leave-behind

Next lessonĀ >>Lessons/ Lesson 6: Resume