Business Card * Constructive Criticism

I know there's a few business card threads on here but they seemed a bit full... Anyhow, I designed a business card on photoshop and wanted to know what you all thought of it!

I really like the design and layout. Maybe you could use other photos though? Something that is really eye catching, I would also include a girly design. Good Luck with the start of your buisness!

Looks good! I agree, maybe a different photo would be better. The colour scheme of the tiger is so totally different from your text and your logo is really feminine and elegant, but the image is very boyish and silly. Maybe it's a good contrast, I dunno. I think if possible, try using a black or white backdrop to really make the design pop!

And this is just a really nit-picky thing, but I am kind of obsessed with layout since it's part of my job, but make sure everything is aligned properly. On the front of your card, the space on both sides of your text isn't the same (text is too close to the tiger pic). I tend to put everything on a grid and make sure everything is spaced perfectly... but you probably don't have to go THAT far.

Logo is looking much better now though! Good luck!

Perhaps since you included the butterfly as part of your logo a butterfly face would work for a girly face...it is an all time favorite.
Isn't it wonderful to be able to post and get feedback!

I played with it a bit, thanks so much for all of your help! I decided to keep a tiger on the front because I like how it stands out since orange and blue are contrasting colours but I did a new tiger. And I used a more girly design on the back with flowers and a butterfly... I really like this one.

Aah! It's HUGE! Sorry!

The back photo looks much better! The front one still doesn't seem right for the card though. If you are dead set on a tiger, how about considering a tiger with blues and/or greens? The orange just seems out of place with the rest of the card.

I'll leave the design critiquing to everyone else, but I do have something to jump at.

Most of the text on the back will be too small to read once you print it, the removal instructions and especially the... disclaimer? The "How to Remove" header should be the smallest font size, IMO, just to keep things easy to read.

I would change the picture to a softer tiger, not so scary looking. Its a nice picture dough.

I don't mind it being a tiger, I don't even mind that it's orange (though you might want to add a LITTLE bit of orange somewhere else on the front to tie it together), but because of the "daintiness" of your over all theme, I'd find a picture where your tiger's face is less "grrr" Something more like the pretty little models in a Mark Reid picture, you know?

one more thing, if you're going to put the facebook and twitter logos on there, I'd be sure to put your facebook page address and your twitter handle as well... while a facebook search MIGHT have them find the right page, finding someone on twitter without knowing their handle is really hard unless you're like, @alyankovic or @davidsuzuki

I don't like the tiger... the muzzle loks too smudged. I actually thought it was messy looking when I first saw it and I may be wrong but is that black paint on her teeth? Sorry if it seems rough but I wouldn't hire you based on that card. Your actual tiger stripes are good though

First of all, good job! I know how it can be so hard designing your own business materials. Its neat to see everyone's feedback, since we are all creative. Here is my advice, and I did go to school for 3 years to become a graphic designer. I do have a lot of ideas but I'm always reaching out to learn new things. I could design business materials for other people all day, but it was so hard to design my own since I keep wanting to go back and tweak. arghhh.....

My first question to you is when you say "business card" are you talking about a typical 2x3.5", or more of a postcard type ad? Both have pros and cons because of size. On a small card, you have limited space of course and less is more. I would say keep a standard business card down to a logo, and all the contact info just so people can fit it into wallets. It shouldn't IMO be overdone. Now, a 5x7" postcard-type handout gives you more space to show your work as well as your info. If you can, design a REALLY cool logo that artistically sums up your business personality. Make it fun. Use typographic design to kill two birds with one stone. It will show you are a body art professional as well as say the name of your business.(for example, if your business name is "Paint" (I know its a silly name), you would make the "I" in "paint" a paint brush. I love designing logos using typographic design.

I would suggest having a 2.5x3" business card as well as postcard sized business cards. Simple, straightforward business card, and a sister postcard that shows a COLLAGE of your best work, showing you have a variation of talents. For example, an tiger boy, a ballerina, and even an adult so people see you do everything and you have a variety of styles. Have both available at all times, and you can also keep a stapler handy to neatly staple them together for people who want your card and a postcard.

I would add some effects to your materials, keeping it eye catching. I would do a few photo effects, like blur the background of your photos drawing more attention to the faces. Like I mentioned, a little collage on the postcards. Your logo has SO MUCH room for creativity if you want to ever decide to change it just a tad.

The goal is to make your materials show everyone how awesome you are. I love awesome business cards, they are fun to hold onto in my wallet. Make your business cards high end and fun, because if you show you paid a pretty penny to advertise, it shows that you do well in the industry. Do you know what I mean? You did a great job, but I would be more than happy to help you make them YELL. (do you want your ads to whisper, talk, or YELL out how awesome you are?) You're almost there, in my opinion, with your business cards. It just needs something. Let me think about it.

Basically, you want it to be like this.. IF someone happened to lose or misplace your business card, they would start crying.

Please let me know if you want some help or ideas. I would be more than happy to help you out.

Another thing, I would not put on any business card how to remove the face paint. It comes across as an advertisement how to remove your artwork rather than promoting yourself. When you are painting faces, that's the time you should tell them how to remove the face paint. You can even make "care slips" that you keep next to you (just printed on paper, nothing fancy) with all that info. Give each person one after you paint their face to take with them. I think you should remove the "how to remove your little masterpiece" because your website is on the card, and they can go on your website for instructions as well how to remove it. I would also assume that most people have the common sense on how to remove the face paint. My advice is don't waste valuable design space to explain removal. If they are stuck, they could go to your website that is promoted on your card to see how to remove face paint. BUT I do think it is def ok to have that your products are FDA compliant. Nowadays, that is a huge factor. I would also shrink the facebook logo down a bit, because the facebook logo is so common, that even if it is smaller, people will see that you are on facebook. The facebook logo has so much recognition even if it was half the size.

In a nutshell, I'd remove the "how to remve" part, completely. Shrink down the facebook logo, and keep everything else. Do you have other photos? Great job on the colors you are using, they are beautiful and they are unisex, which is perfect when you have a business that deals with both sexes.

I helped Gina by playing around with her logo and this is what I came up with. You will see my post from a few minutes ago.

http://www.facepaintforum.com/t9909p15-need-input-on-new-logo-please?highlight=logo

Here is mine. I did it all on Vistaprint. Everyone who I give it to LOVES it. I do have a different one that is much like a glitter tat care card on one side and face paint washing instructions on the other. I pass those out at parties and these out to network with.

Ugh, I'm now thinking I made a big mistake by not putting a picture on mine lol. I order everything through Vistaprint and I just picked out one of their pre-made designs I liked... One of the reasons though is that I don't have many good, full face pics of kids. They're mostly me...

I don't think there is anything wrong with a picture of yourself.
The main focus on my cards are the painted face... I have now printed quite a few sets using the same layout but different face paintings.. I love watching the kids all wanting to pick out their favourite card.

I tend to disagree a wee bit with not putting on removal instructions. I find it is a really great excuse of giving my business card to every single person.
It is all I have on the back of my card. The other information (ie. the jobs I do) I usually have on a larger post card which I leave out next to my cards, or when I hand out my card it usually comes up in conversation as to what I can do.
If they are interested they will go to the website which is on the card and everything else they need to know can be found there.

I do have a few sets without the information on the back for those that may not necessarily need them.

I think you need the removal instructions on the card, a reason to keep the card and a reason to give one to every person you paint without pushing your business on them. I know you love the tiger but I really think a butterfly would fit your theme so much more. What about a tiger style butterfly or a tiger striped butterfly? Is there any way you can make the background color of the photo the same as your card background? Otherwise I love your design and I think it looks really good. Either way, having something to hand out is a good thing to start with, you can always order more later. Gotprint has incredible quality, color and gloss on both sides and way low shipping cost. I havef spent less with them on my last 2 orders and the quality is incredible!

don't worry about the business cards, Jessica, you'll go through the first batch quickly and you can add a picture to the next ones.

I don't put removal instructions (or anything else) on the backs of mine because 90% of my business cards get a magnet stuck on the back of them. They go on the fridge and don't get lost (and yes, I've seen them on the fridge when I get to the party). If removal is "so hard" that it needs step by step instructions, who'd want to get painted? If they ask about taking it off, "Gentle soap and water... if anything sticks, just put some moisturizer for a few minutes and wash it again." They are talking with you for a while, you are building rapport with them... if you don't have time for that much interaction, it may be time to reevaluate.

Lol I don't know if that's the case, Perry, I ordered 250 of the free ones from Vistaprint that I'm going to add magnet to the back of, and another 250 of the real ones.

I got an email from Vistaprint this morning though thanking me for my business and with a bunch of free product offers. I might make up some proper cards today