Thread: New biz cards - critique needed

UPDATE--Go to post #35 for final product. No more critiques needed. Thanks y'all!

I've FINALLY redesigned my business cards. They are super simple. Every time I tried to add flair, it just looked too busy. I like the simplicity of it though. Now I need to figure out what pic would look best on the back of the card....

Here's the info side:


Here's one option for the back:


And the other one:


I like the first option because it fits the layout better. However, I feel like my facial expression looks too similar to the pic on the other side.

BUT I really like my expression in the second picture. It's just that to get it to fit ok, I had to make my face big. And it's got my hands randomly up in the right-hand corner. If I make the picture smaller to fit my arms in, it just looks stupid. So what do you think?

You look great!

I like the first one the best. It's clean, simple, and communicative. I really like the full body shot too.

I love the first pic- your front side.

I would leave the backside blank for notices. One of my colleagues made up this idea. If someone likes to know sthg about a special day or something like that you can easy write it on the backside of your card.

And btw. you´re looking great on each pic.

I prefer the second pic because it shows your personality.

Second pic second pic SECOND PIC! Love it, it's dynamic and you look all lovely and fun in it.

I like the first pic, but maybe, I'm thinking, you would want to use a photo taken in a different costume?

Originally Posted by Zarka

I love the first pic- your front side.

I would leave the backside blank for notices. One of my colleagues made up this idea. If someone likes to know sthg about a special day or something like that you can easy write it on the backside of your card.

And btw. you´re looking great on each pic.

I prefer to have double-sided business cards. Personally, I think they look cheap when they are one-sided. And two-sided is the standard in my area. I need to keep up with the Jones.

That being said, I will make a matching postcard of some sort that will have a blank back. Those are used in about the same way as a business card, but they give me more room to spell out my services and I can turn it into a mailer if needed. :)

Originally Posted by _Tanya_

I like the first pic, but maybe, I'm thinking, you would want to use a photo taken in a different costume?

The only recent photos I have just have the one costume. I like the uniformity, but I suppose it can make me look like I only have one costume. Well poo. I have a photo shoot on Oct 3. I suppose I can just wait until them...but I really don't want to!

I like the second photo for the back. It is less similar than the one on the front, and your hands suggest a wave, fun for the back of the card. Like you're saying, 'bye bye!'

I like the second photo option for the back, too. It feels like getting to know you, in a fun, friendly way. And you look great.

Actually, I wish the first design was less busy. It bothers me that your e-mail is overlapping the picture. What if you flipped your contact information onto the back (and arranged it like a normal business card), and left the picture on the front with just "Andalee" at the top and

"Belly Dance
Performance &
Instruction"

opposite your leg? If you're worried about the back being too plain, maybe you could riff on the idea of the stomach cover with the rhinestones scattered around the text?

I also think I'd be tempted to experiment with olive green, teal, or rust for the lettering to match the picture, instead of lavender.

Second option! Definitely!

I like the 2nd option!!

Originally Posted by beafarhana

Second option! Definitely!

me too! Your smile & personality = WOW! that's a stand-out for sure.

You could always photoshop out the other arm!! I tried to change the colour of your costume too, but it didn't really work very well because it is quite dark.

Originally Posted by firefly5

You could always photoshop out the other arm!! I tried to change the colour of your costume too, but it didn't really work very well because it is quite dark.

Ooo, I like that. Very nice smile. I would normally tell you to use a different colored costume but what Firefly did to this pic is very nice too.

Definitely the second pic, you don't really need two cleavage-intensive pics. The second one shows you as bright, fun, friendly & energetic, all terrific qualities in a dancer OR a teacher!

The typeface of the word Andalee bothers me a lot. It's badly tracked (distance between the letters isn't proportionate to the typeface).

Most high-end typefaces will track themselves automatically to graceful proportions and require very little adjustment. This typeface is already uneven and strangely proportioned (look how bit the letter e's are compared to the a for instance). Adding extra space between the letters really leaves it looking like a 5-year-old did it with a crayola. The lavender color adds to the childish look. It doesn't seem in keeping with an elegant, flashy, professional bellydancer image to me. It looks more like a nanny or daycare provider.

(and other graphic artists tell me I don't pay enough attention to tracking in my own materials, so if it's jumping out at me as a problem, I figure it must be pretty far off. LOL)

I like the first pic, but you should remove the cleavage line and the side line.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Definitely the second pic, you don't really need two cleavage-intensive pics. The second one shows you as bright, fun, friendly & energetic, all terrific qualities in a dancer OR a teacher!

The typeface of the word Andalee bothers me a lot. It's badly tracked (distance between the letters isn't proportionate to the typeface).

Most high-end typefaces will track themselves automatically to graceful proportions and require very little adjustment. This typeface is already uneven and strangely proportioned (look how bit the letter e's are compared to the a for instance). Adding extra space between the letters really leaves it looking like a 5-year-old did it with a crayola. The lavender color adds to the childish look. It doesn't seem in keeping with an elegant, flashy, professional bellydancer image to me. It looks more like a nanny or daycare provider.

(and other graphic artists tell me I don't pay enough attention to tracking in my own materials, so if it's jumping out at me as a problem, I figure it must be pretty far off. LOL)

I've been using this logo/typeface for a long time. It's on everything and I don't plan on changing it now. I really like it. However, I do believe I adjusted the tracking on my own for these cards. I'm not sure why, I guess to take up more space without making the font huge. I'll try playing with the tracking again, but the font stays. I could also try softening the bevel, which may give it more of a polished look.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Definitely the second pic, you don't really need two cleavage-intensive pics. The second one shows you as bright, fun, friendly & energetic, all terrific qualities in a dancer OR a teacher!

The typeface of the word Andalee bothers me a lot. It's badly tracked (distance between the letters isn't proportionate to the typeface).

I agree with Lauren for the same reasons. I just found the typeface somewhat distracting but couldn't put my finger on why. I LOVE your smile and the photos are all lovely.

I like the card! It's simple and sweet and clean. All of the pictures look great, so I think you'll be fine whatever option you go with. I'd go w/ #2 personally.

Originally Posted by lylagus

I agree with Lauren for the same reasons. I just found the typeface somewhat distracting but couldn't put my finger on why. I LOVE your smile and the photos are all lovely.

I like the typeface... it draws my eyes to the big important words... like Andalee's name for instance.

Originally Posted by jasani

I like the first pic, but you should remove the cleavage line and the side line.

You can't really remove cleavage lines. Perhaps make them less noticeable, but those girls aren't going anywhere.

Second pic! They're both very pretty, but you've got that beautiful full-body shot on the front already, so focus on your warm, fun smile on the back.

Just for kicks, I'd love to see you try out a bolder font color that holds its own against the strong greens in the costume. Maybe that bright teal that shows up in the beadwork, or a deep red that picks up your lipstick?

(And I still want that costume when you're done with it. So gorgeous on you!)

Originally Posted by andalee-oriental

You can't really remove cleavage lines. Perhaps make them less noticeable, but those girls aren't going anywhere.

LOL! That's totally what I thought when I read that!

I think you should go with the fun facial 2nd picture, too - it makes me feel like you're a really fun person! :)

I like the second option for the back because it has more energy and your smile is really engaging.

2nd. lovely smile, different from the front, energy.
you are beautiful!

Thanks Sandra!

The idea of removing the cleavage lines makes me laugh and offends me at the same time. Doesn't Frederick's of Hollywood airbrush out the nipples on their cupless bras these days? I'm sure that's a very natural and convincing effect. And Barbie doesn't have a cleavage line, but then, of course, she's plastic.