16 of the sweetest business card designs from some of the world's best designers

This is where you'll find comfort (or dread) in discovering some of the best business card designs out there, from some of the world's leading designers and studios. Prepare yourself for this sweet 16 rundown of our favourites, hand-picked by everyone at Creative Boom and a few peeps at Shillington too.

1. We Make Stuff Happen by Maddison Graphic

We Make Stuff Happen is a production company specialising in exhibitions and events. Maddison Graphic designed its new identity, stationery and website, including these lush business cards printed with foil blocking on Colorplan using typeface Merkury.

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2. Bec Brittain by Lotta Nieminen

Described on Lotta Nieminen's portfolio: "Branding and catalogue design for Bec Brittain, a New York based lighting and product designer driven by luxurious materials, intuitive forms and forward-thinking technology. The studio explores and experiments with new techniques and materials, pushing the boundaries of American-made, centrepiece lighting design." Product photography is by Lauren Coleman.

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3. Pino by Bond

The name of interiors shop Pino is a Finnish word meaning 'stack' or 'pile'. This inspired the whole store and brand concept, from the logo to the shop fixtures when Helsinki studio, Bond was called upon to develop its new identity. "The interior design, with its subtle colour and material palette, works as a neutral background for the playful, colourful visual identity and products," Bond explained. We especially love these colourful business cards.

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4. Mattias Jersild by BVD

Stockholm's award-winning studio BVD crafted this minimalist design for "Sweden's best copywriter" – Mattias Jerslid. Simple, beautiful with elegant typography, it's a minimalist's dream.

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5. Estampaciones Fuerte by Hey Studio

"The main objective was to design a new, modern identity for this metal stamping company," said Barcelona's Hey Studio, of its branding for Estampaciones Fuerte.

"Their industrial experience and professionalism are very important to the company and their clients. The identity needed to reflect these values in a straightforward way at the same time as showing the technical side of the business. The logo is made up of three metallic strips." Photography by Roc Canals.

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6. The Conference by Hvass&Hannibal

Copenhagen's Hvass&Hannibal studio recently crafted a new identity for The Conference by Media Evolution – Scandinavia's most important communications conference. It's a week-long event with a two-day conference packed with inspiring speeches. Along with posters and marketing materials, the studio created these awesome business cards. Photography by Jenny Ekholm.

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7. University of the Arts Helsinki by Bond

Another great offering from Helsinki studio Bond, this time for Finland's University of the Arts Helsinki.

Crafting a bold award-winning identity that included these colourful business cards: "The identity doesn’t play it safe. The deconstructed logotypes distinguish the university from business and science universities.

"The simple and bold anchor symbol 'X' has plenty of meanings, just like art does. The symbol can be seen, for example, as a starting point, a destination, a meeting place, a location, a signature, an unknown force, a warning, an irritant, a question and a solution. This holistic project covered all brand touch points."

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8. Rabbit Hole Café by The Hungry Workshop

Australian creative agency The Hungry Workshop created an identity for the Rabbit Hole Café, a co-working space for creative people. The business cards feature a "few fluoro green carrots for good measure, printed with a nice, deep impression". Parts of the card can even be removed. How's that for originality.

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9. Emma Magnusson by Lundgren+Lindqvist

Emma Magnusson is a Gothenburg-based architect who called upon Sweden's Lundgren+Lindqvist to design her new visual identity, stationery and website. "The wordmark is built around the fact that the two initial characters of the first and last name when joined form "Emma". By abbreviating the names, we emphasise the personal approach of Magnusson, who is just Emma to most of her clients.

"For the stationery, a number of grids and divisions were designed, echoing the spatial nature of architecture and Magnusson’s systematic approach. Within this system, the typographic elements are dynamically arranged in a variety of different combinations allowing for a controlled flexibility and playfulness throughout the visual identity."

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10. Cerovski Print Studio by Bunch

Design studio Bunch recently created a brand identity, bespoke typeface Frank and website design for Cerovski Print Studio: "The utility of the logotype and typeface provide a cohesive foundation for a wealth of material choices and print finishes," explained Bunch. Work photographed by Vanja Solin.

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11. Pink and Holographic personal business cards by Alexia Roux

For her own personal branding, French graphic designer Alexia Roux created "Pink & Holographic" business cards. Spangly, reflective and pink – what more do you need? Printed by Atelier Bulk a Bordeaux, paper by G . F Smith.

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12. Don't Try Studio by Quentin Monge of Don't Try Studio

For his own business card design, Parisian creative Quentin Monge of Don't Try Studio, an illustrator and art director whose muted colours, soft swirled characters and distinctive cheerful style has graced many magazine cover, product packaging and poster. We love the calming yellows and blues.

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13. Mitsuori Architects by Hunt & Co.

For Mitsuori Architects, Melbourne's studio Hunt & Co. created a very clever identity, taking direct inspiration from its client's name, which translates as 'threefold'.

"Through experimentation, we developed a folding system from a single A4 sheet of paper that uses only three folds," the studio explained. "The outcome was a triangularly shaped fold that was used as the cornerstone of the identity. The 45-degree fold was then applied to the business and with-compliments cards, enabling them to stand freely, representing an architectural form.

"The collateral was printed on a dark grey stock, with six passes of white ink on an HP Indigo printer. The result is a refined uncoated stock with a unique matte printed finish."

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14. East&Co by Parallel

When East&Co launched in London's E17, the new estate agents hired studio Parallel to come up with its identity. Where did they seek their inspiration for the branding? From the iconic graphics used at the legendary Walthamstow Stadium. "The colours used on the Greyhounds’ racing jackets and the graphic shapes on the original scoreboard all played a part in the iconic identity system we created."

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15. Sewing Thread Card for Matière Noire Studio by Burak Kaynak

This limited edition Sewing Thread Card style handmade business card was designed by Burak Kaynak for Montreal-based fashion label Matière Noire Studio.

"To reflect the high-quality and hard-working nature of the brand, materials were carefully picked and combined together," explained Burak. "Letter-pressed on 100% cotton Lettra Fluo White paper and each card hand-wrapped with natural black cotton thread that helped to connect raw materials used in the fashion directly with the brand identity." Photography by Ali Inay.

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16. Mary Hemming by A Friend of Mine

This fine specimen of a business card is a "personal calling card with a minimalist approach" for Mary Hemming, a consultant at Therapeutic Guidelines in Australia. Designed by Melbourne-based studio A Friend of Mine: "The bold and simple typography is softened by tactile blind embossing. Mary’s name is repeated as if in a continuous stream, aiding name memorability."

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