Some tips for developing effective, cohesive and visually appealing corporate identity systems.

2. Designing Business Cards
and Letterhead
Notes about the creating effective
business card and letterhead design

3. Business Card and Letterhead Design
Creating an Identity System
Business cards and letterhead are often a first
chance to make a professional impression.
Together, business cards and letterhead
are two important parts of a business identity
system.
Image source: 40 Knots Graphic Design, www.40knots.co.nz

4. Business Card and Letterhead Design
Creating an Identity System
Business cards are often the first chance
to make an impression on potential clients.
The card includes essential contact information:
• Person s name and and title
• Company name
• Business address,
• Business phone/fax numbers,
• Company website
Image source: www.naturalsourceprinting.com

5. Business Card and Letterhead Design
Creating an Identity System
Image source: www.moo.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
Advantage: stands apart from other cards
Disadvantage: risks being lost in the shuffle (if too small)

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

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

8. Business Card and Letterhead Design
Organizing Information
Remember the elements of design and think about how information
is balanced on the card
Important information organized into a hierarchy (most important
information is largest/boldest)
All information should be aligned to other elements; nothing should
appear to floating or arbitrary

9. Business Card and Letterhead Design
Color Legibility
Consider legibility when selecting fonts and colors
All information should be readable
Avoid reversed type with thin or serif fonts that can get lost on dark background
If using multiple colors, make sure that there is enough contrast to be easily
readable, and that the colors don t compete or clash

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

11. Business Card and Letterhead Design
Paper Stock Options
Business cards should be printed on
good quality card stock, which is heavier
than standard paper
Cards can be printed on either a glossy or
matte stock
Cards can be either double or single sided
Image source: http://businesscards24.com

12. Business Card and Letterhead Design
Bleed and Trim
Template provided by www.overnightprints.com
If a design is meant to run to the edges, the designer must add a bleed
Bleed: small amount that extends past the size of your design
Cut away later to make the card the final trim size
This is done because designs cannot be printed to the edge of a design
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

13. Business Card and Letterhead Design
Creating an Identity System
Letterhead is a standard size of 8.5 x 11 inches
(letter size paper) in the U.S.
Image source: http://www.printing-cleveland.com
The letter size is designed to fit into a standard
#10 envelope

14. Business Card and Letterhead Design
Creating an Identity System
Information should be organized into a logical order
The design should look professional and easily
identifiable as part of a corporate identity system
Use similar colors, fonts and shapes throughout
the identity system to develop unity and consistency
Image source: http://www.thelogofactory.com

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

16. Business Card and Letterhead Design
Creating an Identity System
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 professionalism.
Try to match the letterhead and
envelope stock if possible. A printing
service bureau can help you decide
from available options.
Image source: http://www.phrizbie-design.com