
A Guide to Designing Stunning Plastic Business Cards on Canva
In the fast-paced world of networking and business interactions, a well-designed business card can be the key to leaving a lasting impression. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the process of creating stunning plastic business card artwork from scratch on Canva – a free, powerful and user-friendly design platform that allows you to unleash your creativity at no cost.
Why Plastic Business Cards?
Business cards are more than just contact information on a piece of paper; they are powerful tools for networking and creating a memorable brand presence. A physical, well-designed card can leave a lasting impression and act as a tangible reminder of your company.
Paper or board cards can easily be thrown out and overlooked. By having a plastic card, it is a unique reminder of you and your company.
But why is the business card still relevant in a digital age? The answer lies in the power of the personal touch. While emails and social media connections can easily be forgotten or lost in the vast sea of virtual interactions, a well-designed business card has the ability to stand out and be remembered.
The importance of business cards in networking
First and foremost, a business card provides a convenient way to share contact information. While digital alternatives exist, they can easily get lost or forgotten in the sea of virtual interactions. With a business card, you can hand someone your contact details in a memorable and personal manner, ensuring that your information stands out and is easily accessible.
Secondly, a business card allows you to make a lasting first impression. The design and quality of your business card can speak volumes about your professionalism and attention to detail. By investing in a well-designed card, you demonstrate that you take your business seriously, leaving a positive impression on potential clients and partners.
Finally, a business card serves as a physical reminder of the connection you made. In a world where digital connections can easily be forgotten, having a physical card can help solidify the relationship. Whether it's a follow-up email or a future collaboration, your business card serves as a reminder of the conversation and can help reignite the connection.
The Power of Simplicity
Creating your design can be daunting if you have not created a design before. A rule of thumb is to have a simple card design that has all your information on it.
A simple, clean layout not only makes your information easy to read but also ensures that the client can refer back to it effortlessly.
Having your branding on the design will make it easy for your client to know who you are and have an idea of your brand and grab their attention.
A well designed business card
Here are a few key ways that business cards can make an impact:
- Design: The design of your business card plays a crucial role in making a lasting impression. A visually appealing and well-thought-out design can capture attention and reflect your brand's personality. Whether it's through colour choices, typography, or imagery, a well-designed card can leave a strong impression on the recipient.
- Quality: The quality of your business card speaks volumes about your professionalism and attention to detail. Using high-quality materials, such as thick cardstock or specialty finishes, can make your card stand out from the rest. A card that feels luxurious and well-crafted will leave a positive impression on the recipient.
- Information: While a business card should be visually appealing, it should also provide the necessary information. Ensure that your card includes essential details such as your name, title, company name, contact number, email address, and website. Additionally, consider including social media handles or a QR code to make it easier for recipients to connect with you online.
- Uniqueness: In a sea of business cards, it's essential to stand out. Consider adding a unique element to your card, such as a creative shape, a textured finish, or an innovative design feature. This uniqueness will make your card memorable and increase the chances of it being kept and remembered.
By paying attention to the design, quality, information, and uniqueness of your business card, you can leave a lasting impression on recipients and ensure that your contact information stands out among the competition.
What design software is out there?
Artwork can be created on any design software, it is mainly based on preference for which design software you use to design your business cards.
Canva is one of the simplistic design tools for beginners, it offers a free version for designing cards on free templates. If you’d like to do more advanced designs and would like to do Vairable Data Printing, paying for the pro version is definitely advised.
Read our blog on how to bulk create card designs in canva with VDP to understand more about VDP.
Affinity Design is another design software mainly used for intermediate level skills, this software can be paid once off so you do not have to incur costs every month. It’s relatively easy to understand but has a bit of a learning curve when you are just starting out.
Adobe Design is also a favourite but a bit more expensive so you’ll have to pay every month.If you are familiar with this platform, it’s a great place to create business cards.
Whatever design package you decide to go for, the main goal remains clear. You want to attract customers that will remember you. So take full advantage of the tools found in your design software.
For more information on design, please follow our blog on mastering PVC card artwork design.
Canva's Design Features for Plastic Business Cards
Canva offers a huge amount of templates and design features that can help you create a card that stands out and reflects your brand. Canva's user-friendly interface allows you to design your cards quickly and easily.
At Card Monster, we believe this is the best platform to design clients cards because of its versatility. Customers can design cards for free with the correct sizing and requirements for us to print.
Check out a few templates that we have created as ideas for you to use for your business.
By following this tutorial below you will be able to produce your ideal card within minutes.
Follow the steps below to ensure you have a business card that meets your needs.
Choose Your Card Size
Start by selecting the appropriate canvas size for your plastic business card. Make sure you are designing your card in the correct format of 86mm X 54mm. A landscape design would be 86mm W X 54mm H. A portrait design will be 54mm W X 86mm H.
Based on the dimensions you choose, you can then select a template you like and add your branding to it.
This is the most important part of designing your card. If you do not have the sizing right, we cannot design your card.
Colour Palette and Artwork Size
Choosing the right colour pallet is of utmost importance when you’re designing your card. You want to convey your brands identity and choose the colours that go well with your branding.
If you do not know your colour pallet for your brand yet, experiment with various colours and find the one that aligns with your brand. You will usually go with one that meets your logo’s colours so it helps correlate your brand.
You can create your own brand kit in Canva. It is free to pick the colours of your brand but you will have to pay to upload logos and documents to your brand. On canva, navigate top your brand kit and add your brand colours, texts and logos to make designing easier when you are designing your business cards.
Once again, make sure your canvas is in the correct size before continuing.
Incorporate Your Branding Elements
If you haven’t done so in your brand kit already. Upload your company logo, choose suitable fonts that match your company's profile, and incorporate any other branding elements that reflect your business identity.
Consistency across all your branding materials, including business cards, helps reinforce your brand image.
Whitespace
Use whitespace strategically to create a clean and balanced design. Whitespace allows the elements on the card to breathe and makes it easier for recipients to focus on essential information.
High quality images
Ensure that your business card has high-quality graphics and images. Make sure that the graphics on your cards are vectorised. This means that your image does not pixelate when you zoom into it.
Incorporate relevant visuals or imagery that align with your brand and industry. Whether it's a photo, an illustration, or a pattern, visuals can add visual interest and help convey your message.
Images must be clear and taken with a good camera, otherwise images may come out grainy when printed. We know that images will pixelate, but it’s important to make sure that images are checked before sending them through.
If you’d like free stock images you can use Canva’s free photo tool. There are many other tools like pexels or unsplash that you can choose from.
Check out our artwork guidelines for more information on how to correctly design your cards for our factory design if you are designing in bulk.
Bleed and Saving
Make sure to have a 3mm bleed area around your card if you are printing with us at the factory. We expect you to have bleed so that none of your design is cut off when we die cut the cards and finish them.
Add a 3mm bleed to your design before you save it. Do this by saving it as a pdf print format with CMYK colour format (best for professional printing) and select crop marks and bleed. This will automatically add a bleed to your design.
Why CMYK?
We select CMYK for printing because it matches the digital colours and looks more realistic than choosing RGB.
CMYK provides colours that ensure a consistent and accurate colour production for your cards. CMYK is also much more cost effective and versatile.
Stand Out with Unique Finishes
In addition to the design elements, consider the different ideas that Card Monster provides for your plastic business card. Our range of finishes ensures that your cards not only stand out but also leave a lasting, memorable impression.
Plain White PVC Cards
For a classic and clean look, opt for plain white PVC cards. This timeless choice ensures that your design takes center stage.
This design can have any colour printed on it. It’s the most popular choice for our customers.
Clear or Frosted 460 Micron Cards
Embrace transparency with clear or frosted 460-micron cards. These modern options add a unique touch, making your business card visually distinctive.
The transparency of these cards make the card very unique, our customers simply love this design and cannot get enough of it. The thinner cards also add to the design of the card making it easy to slip into a purse or wallet for safe keeping.
Embossing
Add a tactile element to your cards with embossing. This technique raises specific areas of the card, providing a sophisticated and textured feel.
If you want a unique touch of your card's information you can have raised letters or numbers on your card.
Spot UV Coating
Enhance specific parts of your design with spot UV coating. This glossy finish creates a striking contrast, drawing attention to chosen details.
Perfect for black coloured cards, the spot UV highlights important information on the card and makes it stand out.
Foil Stamping
Elevate your design with foil stamping, adding a touch of luxury and elegance to your plastic business cards.
These unique finishes transform your business card into more than just a piece of contact information – they become a work of art, leaving a long-lasting and memorable experience for those who receive them.
Business Card Etiquette and Best Practices
While a well-designed business card can make a great first impression, it's essential to follow proper etiquette and best practices when exchanging cards. Here are some guidelines to keep in mind:
- Always carry cards: Make it a habit to carry a stack of business cards with you wherever you go. You never know when an opportunity to network might arise, so be prepared to exchange cards.
- Exchange cards strategically: Be mindful of when and how you exchange business cards. Wait for an appropriate moment, such as after a conversation or at the end of a meeting, to exchange cards. Avoid thrusting your card upon someone without establishing a connection.
- Present and receive cards respectfully: When presenting your card, do so with both hands and ensure that the recipient has a chance to examine it. Similarly, when receiving a card, accept it with both hands and take a moment to read it before putting it away.
- Take notes: When you receive a business card, take a moment to jot down any relevant notes or details about the person or conversation on the back of the card. This will help you remember the connection later on.
- Follow up: After exchanging business cards, make it a point to follow up with the person. Whether it's sending a personalised email or connecting on social media, following up shows that you value the connection and are interested in furthering the relationship.
By following these etiquette guidelines, you can ensure that your business card exchange is respectful, memorable, and leads to meaningful connections.
Creative Ways to Use Business Cards for Networking
While business cards are traditionally used to exchange contact information, there are many creative ways to leverage them for networking. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Include a call to action: Instead of just providing contact information, consider adding a call to action on your business card. This could be an invitation to visit your website, join your mailing list, or download a free resource. By adding a call to action, you encourage recipients to engage further with your brand.
- Use the back of the card: Don't neglect the back of your business card. Utilise this space to showcase your expertise, share a testimonial, or include a mini-portfolio. This additional information can pique the recipient's interest and lead to further conversation.
- Integrate technology: Leverage technology by including a QR code on your business card. This code can direct recipients to your website, social media profiles, or a specific landing page. By incorporating technology, you make it easier for recipients to connect with you digitally.
- Create a referral program: Encourage recipients to share your business card with others by implementing a referral program. Offer incentives or discounts for every new client or customer that comes through a referral. This not only expands your network but also rewards those who help spread the word about your business.
By thinking outside the box and using your business card creatively, you can make a lasting impression and open up new networking opportunities.
Our Order Process
Ordering your custom plastic business cards with us is a straightforward and efficient process.
STEP 1: Send Us a Quote
Start by sending us a quote detailing your desired quantity, unique finishes, and the thickness of your business cards. If you already have artwork, please attach it to the email.
STEP 2: Receive Your Quote
Upon receiving your order and artwork, we'll promptly send you a quote for your required business cards, including the unique finishes you've chosen.
STEP 3: Digital Proof Approval
Once you've received the quote, we'll send you a digital proof of your business card. You can either approve it or request a single amendment – ensuring your cards are perfect for you.
* Note that you will be charged for every artwork change after the first approval.
STEP 4: Await Your Custom Cards
Sit back, relax, and await the arrival of your custom plastic business cards. Our streamlined process ensures a hassle-free experience, from design to delivery.
Please send us artwork as per our artwork guidelines. If you have multiple cards and would like to create a database, click here to find out how to create a database.
If you'd like us to design your cards for you; we charge R450.00 for artwork and R850.00 for database creation.
We understand that database and artwork creation will be difficult if it is your first time so let us help relieve the stress off of you.
To sum up
Creating plastic business cards on Canva is an exciting process and we’re here to help you along the way to design them from scratch.
With a focus on simplicity, creative design features, and unique finishes, your business cards can become powerful tools for making a lasting impression.
Increase your networking game, showcase your brand, and leave a memorable mark with our high-quality plastic business cards.
Order your customised cards from us today and never be disappointed with our support team on hand and fast delivery.