Despite being around for years on end, business cards are still considered a must-have, irrespective of what line of industry you are in. But while some people assume that business cards simply function to communicate the contact information and physical address of a business, the reality is that these cards offer potential clients a glimpse into your company's personality.

With that in mind, it is essential to try to make your business cards stand out as much as possible so that you can set your company apart from the competition. The best chance of achieving this is by working with a reputable graphic design company. To help with the creative process, here are just two graphic design elements that you can consider for distinctive business cards.

Use of textures

The use of high-quality paper is the first step towards printing business cards that will make a great first impression. However, most business owners are aware of this, so they will not skimp on printing paper. So how do you make your cards look posher? You should deliberate on the inclusion of textures to the cards. Textured paper will make your business cards more noticeable for various reasons.

To begin with, the textured paper stands out among the myriad of smooth business cards that are stacked together. Second, the texture adds tactile interest to the business cards, and people are more receptive to touching the card repeatedly, whether consciously or subconsciously. Discuss with the graphic designers on what textures would be ideal for your particular business cards — for example, consider three-dimensional letters.

Prioritise negative space

Granted, there is no limit to the type of information that you want to include on your business cards. Nonetheless, while you could be thinking that over-communicating would be ideal for your business prospects, the reality is that less is steadily becoming more. In the current digital time where people are continually bombarded by information, your business cards should not contribute to this sensory overload.

When you prioritise negative space, the business cards draw the eye to information that is essential since you eliminate fluff. If plain white seems cliché to you, consider making the most of negative space by having your business cards printed on transparent plastic. The transparency distinguishes both the business card and the information on it while the plastic ensures that the cards are water-resistant too.

Overall, when printing business cards, you should ensure that the final product speaks to the brand image of your company. Hence, hiring graphic design services will be a great investment since the professionals will know how to tie in all the elements for a personalised touch.