business cards...

[Nikolas]

Hellos!

I'm not making these, so not quite sure really... But I would like an opinion from you lovely people of AGS!



1 2
3 4
5 6

Just so that we can communicate!

I personally prefer the simpler stuff and I find that some of them give an impression more... specific that I want to be. To explain. I'm trying to balance a 'dual' career of sorts. One in computer games and general media, and one in the classical.

No. 2 seems rather classically oriented while No. 4 more towards a band or something, more... energetic maybe (with shows, concerts, etc) than me!

But this is my opinion.

For anyone who doesn't know what I do, feel free to drop by my website (www.nikolas-sideris.com) and see for yourselves.

Any ideas, specifically for any card, preferances, or advice is most welcome!

[GarageGothic]

I see what you're trying to do, but very few of the images actually makes me think about music. Although fractals are used in audio visualizers, they don't really connect directly to sound and music. How about using a graphic of an audio waveform? I think it could be quite simple and stylish and immediately make the person who sees it think of sound (if they have professional interest in audio, they know what a waveform looks like). Perhaps something very graphic black-and-white like the cover of Joy Division's Unknown Pleasures album.

[cat]

I like the first one best, it has the most interesting layout and looks very professional. However, I do not recognise the picture. Maybe you could use a photo that is somewhat related to music?

[Nikolas]

Thanks garagegothic! What you say makes sense!

Cat: If I know my sound designer well enough, this is probably some extre zoomed in animal or something... The eyes of a lizard, etc... :p She does things like this all the time! The tricks of the trade I guess!

Thanks for posting

[Buckethead]

All these background images look rather blurry. I would get something sharp. An image of something that is related to you. Perhaps an instrument you use alot. Then add some simple very well readable text.

What I'm trying to say is:

make somthing sharp and simple that gets the messages across. 

[SSH]

Thanks for your phone number, btw

[Nikolas]

Images are scaled down 50% and jpg. Not sure if the final product will be blurry or not, but point taken.

Andrew: By all means, grab the phone, no probs! I can change it anytime, it's pay as you go!

[TwinMoon]

Probably the record for most unusual critic request

Personally, I like it simple too.
Something very high contrast like #4 (while giving that immediate association with music) doesn't look very nice to me, but #6 does. But with a waveform instead of a fractal it would be more fitting.

[GarageGothic]

I find this rather conservative and dull, but I like the simplicity of it:



I also made this alternate version, but I think it gets a bit messy:



Playing around with different ideas, I found that it's probably best to keep the text and image parts separated. Keep in mind that the actual information on the card is the main focus. Anything that makes it difficult to read the text is a problem.

Edit: Also, I think you need a very good reason to make a business card in color. If you're a graphic designer or similar, it makes sense. For most other people it just seems a bit flashy.

[Darth Mandarb]

I've always been a fan of super simple business cards ... and I find jet-black to be super-sexy and elegant.  I also have always really liked portrait cards (rather than landscape)

I did a few quick ideas for you:



Now ... all of these feel "text heavy" to me.

So I did up a 2-sided version (if you were willing to use full color I'm assuming you don't mind spending a little bit on these cards (and 2-sided black and white is usually cheaper than 1-sided full color!))


(this could also work in portrait layout as well)

I have both the PSD files if you need/want them
Template Landscape (~260k)
Template Portrait (~290k)

Anyway ... feel free to use/not use them as you see fit!  I hope it was helpful!

~ darth

[Questionable]

Me and My Girlfriend agree #2 & 4 are the best ones.

If you put a different image on #1, then it would be a contender, too; though, right now it looks like a blue tongue.

[Dualnames]

Ok, Fourth is cool if you were a rock start. Its impressive but it would get you barely anywhere. First and second are quite boring and use images wasting color and space for no reason. 5 and 6 have the same feeling, kind of phychedelic and it would be good. But I consider 3 the very best. Simple, concentrates on information and not impression, and that's the thing a pro needs I believe. Garagegothic's edit is the coolest i think.

[Andail]

I'm not particularly fond of the first ones on display there, Nik...

Both GG's and Darth's are better, especially the simple elegance of Darth's note there...really nice.

[GarageGothic]

I like Darths third example with the subtle, grey note. If you could get it produced with a glossy finish for the black and the note in a matte finish, or the other way around, it could be super sexy. What I personally like about my own second example is that it visualizes both the composing and sound design skills. If you could work in a thin, lighter gray waveform line behind Darth's note, I think it could look very nice.

[Damien]

Just a quickie I did, separating the text with a fancy fold:



I can post the .psd file if you want.


Also, I'd like to see Darth's design but with a treble clef instead of a note. Might fill the space better.

[LimpingFish]

Running with the note/symbol motif:



Or something very simple:



The red could be shiny/embossed, and the text could be matt/embossed.

[Sylvr]

The new ones are pretty cool, but out of the original 6 I like the 6th best, but no particular reasons 

[Vince Twelve]

[Nikolas]

First of all, thank you all for helping out! I really appreciate it!

twinmoon: Yup, unusual indeed! But see? I'm almost at page 2! hihi! not so high contrast then, indeed...

garagegothic: Thanks for the ideas. I'm not particularly fond of either the piano idea, or the clef idea. The piano gives a more... pianistic feeling to the card (especially Vince's edit) which would be PERFECT for a pianist (I might sell it), and yours is more generic in all honesty and the idea to seperate the text from the image is good!

Darth: Thank you man! I appreciate your effort (and the files, as well ) I also think that the jet black is very sexy, glossy and stuff, so I'll probably use it, plus the 2 sided one, sounds a very good idea.

Dualnames: I'm with you I think. Out of the 6 I do prefer No.3 as well. Maybe it's the Greek thing?

Andail: Cheers mate!

Damien: This is totally pianistic. (Vince yours as well).

and thanks chris!

Phew...

This covers all I think!

Generally some great edits, some great ideas, some brilliant cards. Some ideas a bit further than what I am, others spot on, I'll keep some, and match and match...

Thank you all! You are brilliant!

[Peder 🚀]

Dualnames: I'm with you I think. Out of the 6 I do prefer No.3 as well. Maybe it's the Greek thing?

Must be a Norwegian thing to cause I prefer No.3 to .
Of all the edits I prefer Darths 2 sided version!