Design Language for Your Business

This week I re-designed a business card for a restaurant. Before I tell you more, take a look at their original card.

Now, think about what information you get from this card. What is the restaurant called? What kind of restaurant is it? Did you even think it was for a restaurant at first glance? Where is the restaurant located. Etc.

At first we thought this was a mexican restaurant called Il Localino. Actually, first we thought the card didn’t have a business name at all, but was located in IL (Illinois), Localino. There are many things wrong with this card and I’m sure you are having a hard time looking at this and reading it without squinting your forehead together in confusion and astonishment. The most important problem this card has is it’s poor branding. Essentially, the designer should have taken up coffee making rather than design.

We found out that this was actually an Italian restaurant called Il Localino off N Highland Avenue. Below is the re-design of this business card.

First of all, this looks like an Italian restaurant’s card with the fresco background and color scheme. The most important information is large and dynamic so the reader immediately understands the purpose of this card: $10 off at Il Localino. The hours, location, website, and phone number are all easy to read and find. The Facebook and Twitter icons convey the message “Follow us on Facebook and Twitter” without having to write it out.

This is an example of how to design and not design for your business. Your designs have to relate to your business and show immediately whatever message you want to send. Also, show your designs to someone that does not know what it is to get their initial thoughts.

To see what Blueprint can do for your business’s cards, look here.