Final Reflection: Business Card & Letterhead

Three weeks ago in PR Publications we started the process of learning how to design a business card and letterhead using InDesign. First, we learned the basics of InDesign by recreating a newsletter that Adam previously created. Then we were asked to put our knowledge to the test by creating a business card and letterhead for an organization of our choice. I chose my Dad’s company, McDowell & Company. It provides custom manufactured metals, plastics, seals, and O-Rings.

The next step of the project was to research our company, its competitors, and design elements we liked. The goal of this was to learn our company’s goals and visions so that the business card and letterhead design could work cohesively with these elements.

Once our research was finished, the next step was to begin designing our business card using InDesign. I started off slowly with my design. I was having trouble getting my ideas actually onto the InDesign template. I would start designing something that in my mind looked good but on the template just didn’t look right. My first draft was really rough. It didn’t have any of the design elements included on my final business card.

Once I got past the idea that my business card had to look perfect before adding any other elements, I began to work mush faster. I just started putting down all my important information and playing around with different fonts. Then I played around with different design elements until my business card looked how I wanted it to. My business card is simple and doesn’t include any fancy design elements or pictures because McDowell & Company is a B2B (business to business) company. B2B marketing and design is more simple and more straight forward than other companies because they aren’t targeting to a mass audience. Below is the final version of my business card. I am very pleased with how it turned out and am excited to show McDowell & Company my work.

Once the design of my business card was finalized it was easy to complete my letterhead design. I just incorporated the same elements from the business card with a few other ideas. I wanted the business card and letterhead to complement one another so they can be easily recognized as McDowell & Company designs. Below if the final version of my letterhead design. I am also very happy with how it turned out and will be showing it to McDowell & Company.

After working on this business card and letterhead I feel pretty confident in my ability to use InDesign. I also enjoyed just learning basic design rules like what fonts look best together and what colors looks appealing. I look forward to learning more as the semester continues.