Flyer design basics

Most business cards get thrown away. A few get kept. The difference is design.

The anatomy of a memorable card

A card that gets kept has three properties:

• Clear hierarchy — the most important information is the most visible
• Distinctive feel — weight, finish, or detail that makes it tactile
• Useful information — what the recipient needs to remember you

Hierarchy

The eye reads top-to-bottom, left-to-right. Place your name and role prominently. The contact details are secondary.

A common pattern:

• Name (large, top-left or centred)
• Title and company (smaller, below the name)
• Contact details (phone, email, website) (small, bottom or back)

What to include

Required:

• Your full name
• Your role
• A way to contact you (at least one of: phone, email, website)

Optional but useful:

• Company name and logo
• A short tagline (one line)
• A QR code linking to a calendar, portfolio, or vCard

What not to include

• Your home address (privacy)
• Too many phone numbers (decision fatigue)
• Social handles that are not professional
• More than two fonts (visual noise)

The tactile element

The most-kept cards have a distinctive physical feel:

• Heavy paper stock (300-400 GSM)
• Spot UV or foil on a specific element
• Letterpress or embossing
• An unusual shape or size (within reason)

You do not need all of these. One is enough to make a card memorable.

Layout and bleed

Standard business card sizes:

• US: 3.5 x 2 inches
• International: 85 x 55 mm

Always set 3 mm bleed. Keep all text inside the safe zone.

Practical checklist

• [ ] Name is the largest text
• [ ] At least one contact method
• [ ] Bleed and safe zone are set
• [ ] Paper is 300 GSM or heavier
• [ ] No spelling errors (proofread, then proofread again)

FAQ

Should I have a back side?

Yes, if you have something to put on it. A blank back is fine. A QR code or a brief tagline is better.

How do I include a QR code on the card?

Design the card in Print Studio, add a QR code image generated for your link, and place it on the back. The card file with the QR code is sent to print.

What paper weight should I use?

300-350 GSM is the standard for a quality business card. Below 250 GSM feels flimsy.