The business card design checklist

A great business card is mostly restraint. Run through this list before printing:

1. One message per side. Name and contact on the front; one supporting line on the back.
2. Hierarchy first. The name should be the largest element. Everything else is secondary.
3. Whitespace is a feature. If the card looks empty, it is probably right.
4. Keep 5mm clear of edges for text and logos — the safe zone.
5. Use CMYK-safe colours and embed fonts.
6. Proof at 100% size — hold it in your hand, not just on screen.
7. Order samples of stock and finish before a large run.

Print, refined. That is the whole checklist.