Best Business Card and Stationery Designers

What a good stationery package includes

Stationery gigs are priced by item and number of concepts. Check that the package states:

• Items: business cards, letterhead, envelope, email signature.
• Sides: single or double-sided cards.
• Concepts and revisions.
• Print-ready files with bleed and correct color settings.
• Editable templates for letterheads and new staff cards.
• Source files.

If several people need cards, ask for a template where only the name, title and contact details change. It keeps every card consistent and makes adding a new team member quick and cheap.

How to brief a stationery designer

1. Exact details for each person: name, title, phone, email, address, website.
2. Logo and brand files.
3. Printer and size requirements.
4. Special finishes you are considering: rounded corners, foil, thick paper.
5. Examples you like.

Proofread every character before approving: phone numbers, email addresses and web addresses. Ask someone else to check too. It is surprisingly easy to miss a wrong digit in your own details.

Keep text readable. Very small fonts and light gray text look elegant on screen but are hard to read on a printed card, especially for older contacts or in dim light.

Ask for a digital version of your card as well, such as an image for your email signature or a contact card file for phones. Many introductions now happen online, and a matching digital version keeps your brand consistent whether you meet people in person or by email.

What drives the price

• number of items and people
• concepts and revisions
• special finishes that need extra files
• editable templates
• logo work if you have none
• the designer's experience with print

Think about how the card will be used. If you often write notes on cards, avoid glossy coatings on both sides. If you meet people at events, a bold design and a QR code may help you stand out. The right choice depends on your situation, not on what looks best on screen.

Red flags

• The designer does not ask for your printer's requirements.
• Files without bleed or in low resolution.
• Very small or low-contrast text.
• No proofing step before final files.
• No source or template files offered.

Order a small print run first if you are trying a special paper or finish. Colors and finishes look different in print, and a small test costs much less than reprinting a box of cards.

For your logo, see our logo design guide. For a full brand system, read our brand style guides page, and for other print items our flyer design guide.

Quick pre-order checklist

• I have exact details for everyone who needs cards.
• I have my printer's size and file requirements.
• I will proofread every character before approval.
• Text is large enough to read in print.
• I will get print-ready files and editable templates.