Business Cards Produced Using Unusual Materials

Posted by Henry Jones on Apr 6, 2009 | 22 Comments

As many of you know, I also run Card Observer, which is a site that showcases beautiful business cards. A few weeks ago, I showed you some of the best Letterpress cards that have been featured on the site, but lately I have been noticing more and more cards being submitted that are being produced using uncommon materials, such as plastic, wood, metal, and even some cloth.

Here are some of my favorites. If you want to see more details about the cards, just click on the images.

Fifth Floor Gallery

Wunderburg Design

Zanzibar

Grafanna

Sterling Design

Duffy & Partners

Catalyst Studios

Sack Wear

Dreamten Studios

Plain Joe Studios

Jake Mates

NGAP

Geyrhalter Design

Murillo Design

Here's some other articles that you will definitely find useful.

51 Unique Business Cards That Will Make Your Mind Explode

Amazing Examples of Paper Art

20 Clean White Letterpress Business Cards

A Showcase of Beautiful Packaging Designs

15 Creatively Cut Business Cards

22 comments

Johnson Koh
April 6, 2009
These are really cool. Clearly shown that namecards are not restricted to just paper but can be printed with many other materials.
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charliedoodle
April 6, 2009
This kind of stuff makes your business memorable.
Smart and creative.
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Steve
April 6, 2009
While aesthetically interesting, bar the Sack Company (and perhaps the fifth floor, wood… floor), I don’t think the materials used reflect the business of the holder. Which is a shame.

Lots of business cards look good, but just because you can diecut – blind emboss, doesn’t mean you should.

As an aside some of the most ‘interesting’ looking business cards I’ve had given to me have belonged the the most vanilla of companies.
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joyoge designers' bookmark
April 6, 2009
very nice b.cards thanks for the list
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Finola Prescott
April 6, 2009
Interesting, I don’t see that correlation in the materials and work is so important – the materials support the feeling the business is looking for, their branding, that’s what it’s all about isn’t it?
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Tessea
April 6, 2009
awesome portfolio // love zanzibar wood inspiration
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claire stokoe
April 6, 2009
Nice cards, i’m a sucker for business cards even before the whole Moo thing. Plain Joe Studios is my fav..
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The Producer
April 6, 2009
Defiantly a good way to get your business card noticed, whether good or bad it still got noticed.
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printclick blog
April 6, 2009
The clear cards look awesome. Don’t see those too often. Thanks for sharing.
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Taylor
April 6, 2009
Love the NGAP dog tags. Very clever.
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Wade Jackman
April 7, 2009
Those are some very good examples of using different materials, I wish more clients were open to it. Unfortunately some of those cards will cost you a small fortune.
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T
April 7, 2009
I see these posts all over the web, and they all have some great ideas.. my question is where are these being printed or etched or engraved?
Is there a site that anyone knows of where you can order cards like these? Perhaps have them laser etched, this info is always left out and I think it would be helpful to share that info.
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eyankulov
April 7, 2009
Amazing & creative!
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aledesign.it
April 9, 2009
Beautiful..very interesting. some card are really fantastic…Good examples!!
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Gnibbt
April 16, 2009
This list misses the memorable (and practical!) cards handed out by Kevin Mitnick, security consultant and rather infamous cracker.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ranh/106709219/
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jhankar
April 17, 2009
thx for the post it makes a lot of difference in my ideas… thx again.
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Jarek
April 22, 2009
Does anyone have any info on where most of these were printed?
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George Nimeh
May 2, 2009
I’ve seen them on meat, have you?

And then, there’s this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YBxeDN4tbk
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Elio Assuncao
May 5, 2009
Great stuff,

http://twitter.com/YODspica
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tabiji
August 4, 2009
Some of these are cool but can you add which materials are used for these cards?
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divinefusion
August 31, 2009
fun! have you seen these crazy cards? laser etched on beef jerky!
http://www.meatcards.com/
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Barbara Kadzinska
July 8, 2010
Wow, these are very beautiful.
Our company just had new business cards made and even thought they are very stylish, they’re not as unique as these.
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