Letterhead Business Cards: Designing Corporate Identity Collateral

Designing Business Cards and Letterhead Notes about the creating great business card and letterhead designs

Business cards are an important part of a professional image. This is often the first chance to make an impression on potential clients. It is important to design business cards that portray a company positively.

The card includes all essential contact information, such as the person and title to whom the card belongs, the company’s name, address, phone/fax numbers, website.

Similarly, a letterhead design should also communicate a high level of professionalism.

Like the business card, this typically includes the company’s name, address, phone and fax numbers and website.

Together, business cards and letterhead are two important parts of a business identity system.

Business Card and Letterhead Design Creating an Identity System Image source: www.naturalsourceprinting.com

Business cards are often designed at a standard size of 2 x 3.5 inches. Some cards are designed at larger or smaller sizes, which can have the advantage of standing apart from other cards, but can also have the disadvantage of easily being lost in the shuffle. Standard sized cards have been traditionally cheaper to print (although with modern printing options this isn’t always the case anymore). Business Card and Letterhead Design Creating an Identity System Image source: www.moo.com

Business cards can be oriented as portrait (vertical) or as landscape (horizontal). Either solution can be an equally effective way to present information. Business Card and Letterhead Design Creating an Identity System

When designing business cards, it is important to consider the elements of design. Think about how information is balanced on the card. Important should be organized into a hierarchy, with essential information more prominently displayed than secondary information. All information should be aligned to other elements on the page. Nothing should appear to “floating” or arbitrary. Business Card and Letterhead Design Organizing Information

Consider legibility when selecting fonts and colors. Make sure that all information is easily readable on the card. Avoid reversing type with thin or serif fonts that can easily get lost on a colored background. If using multiple colors, make sure that there is enough contrast between colors to be easily readable, and that the colors don’t compete or clash with one another. Business Card and Letterhead Design Color Legibility

Type should be no smaller than 6 pt on a business card. Any smaller and it risks becoming illegible.

Select fonts that are easy to read. Avoid overly complex script or decorative letterforms that may be confusing.

Business Card and Letterhead Design Text Legibility Image source: http://www.azimuthprint.com

Business cards should be printed on a good quality card stock, which is heavier than standard paper, and gives your card substance.

Cards can be printed on either a glossy or matte stock depending on which best suits the business identity.

Cards can also be either double or single sided. Double sided often works well for photographers or artists who want to put an image on one side; this can serve as a mini- portfolio as well to spark a potential client’s interest by showcasing the professional’s talents.

Business Card and Letterhead Design Stock Options image source: http://businesscards24.com

If a business card design is meant to run to the edges of the card, the designer must add a “bleed.” A bleed is a small amount, usually 1/8” to 1/4 inch that extends past the size of your design and is later cut away to make the card the final “trim” size. This is done because designs cannot be printed to the edge of a design.

For instance, if your card is designed at a size of 2” high x 3.5” wide, you might add a bleed of 1/8” (top, bottom, left and right). This will make the card layout print at 2.125” x 3.625”, and it will later be cut down to the trim size of 2” x 3”. Check with a printing service bureau to determine the specific bleed size for your files.

Be sure that all essential text and images are far enough away from the edge of the trim area that they will not accidentally be cut off.

Business Card and Letterhead Design Bleed and Trim Template provided by www.overnightprints.com

Letterhead is a standard size of 8.5 x 11 inches (letter size paper) in the U.S., although different regions of the world have different standard sizes.

The letter size is designed to fit into a standard #10 envelope (4.125 x 9.5 inches).

image source: http://www.printing-cleveland.com Business Card and Letterhead Design Creating an Identity System

Business Card and Letterhead Design Creating an Identity System

As with business card design, information should be legible and organized into a logical order.

The design should look professional and should be easily identifiable as part of the corporate identity system to which it belongs.

Use similar colors, fonts and shapes throughout the identity system to develop unity and consistency between the pieces.

image source: http://www.thelogofactory.com

Information on letterhead design doesn’t have to be centered, nor does important information have to be located at the top of the page.

Try experimenting with a variety of layouts to see what works best.

Business Card and Letterhead Design Creating an Identity System image source: www.pradt.net

Just like with business card design, it’s important to select a good paper stock. Flimsy or cheap stock can convey an unprofessional image. Good paper stock conveys a professional image .