Stationery Poll
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- gramme
For my personal business card and letterhead, I'm doing a short run, mainly for interviews and resumes. In the event that I get another FT position, I'll have plenty of letterhead left over, even if I only print 250.
Poll: for 250 cards and 250 letterhead, I'm looking at using a heavy black cover weight for the card and a bright white for the letter. I really can't afford more than 1 color right now, so I'm doing silver. My dilemma is this: I would *love* to engrave my logotype and litho the contact info, but I'm looking at the cost going up from $270 to $540. Do you guys think I should just lower my expectations for this initial foray, or is it work the money, when I have no idea if I'll need this stuff for more than a couple interviews??
- gramme0
*ahem, "...is it worth the money..."
- NotByHand0
Depends... say you have an interview, and things don't work out... are you going to second-guess the quality of your cards?
If so, then go all the way.
- doesnotexist0
only 250? I feel like it would be the same price for 500, and then after that 1k isn't much more.
- 7point340
how's your resumé?
solid? are you confident in your ability?
the cards wont mean that much, especially in a oneoff run. let the work sell itself. go cheaper.
- nocomply0
Dude... definitely not worth it!
That's just my opinion though. I probably wouldn't even plunk down the $270 in the first place.
I would get some biz cards made cheaply for like $80, print out a resume on some nice paper on my home computer, and call it a day.
- doesnotexist0
maybe go completely digital then or maybe some kind of hand made card that's silkscreened if you don't want to waste...you could set up a screen with a letterhead/business card layout on it and swipe away 1/2 up at a time.
- magnificent_ruin0
spend the extra... no matter what it will look good on your website
- at one point in my life I had $550 to my name and spent $275 on a self promotionmagnificent_ruin
- ha, thanks for the advice Rand :)gramme
- That was Tuesday, wasn't it?NotByHand
- no, yesterdaymagnificent_ruin
- gramme0
My resume is great, and I have plenty of nice, tactile print samples to show. Thing is, if the interviewing proves to go slow, I need business cards and l'head, immediately.
- tparsons0
You can do some really trick stuff with thermography and its quite inexpensive...
- nocomply0
Actually to elaborate on what I said... it's not that I don't care if I look "cheap", it's that I agree with 7point34 and I think if you have solid skills and a solid folio it just doesn't matter.
I think you can achieve something tasteful and professional for less than $270.
- gramme0
The other kick in the pants is that I just dropped 3k on a new computer, had no choice since I had to give up the work laptop. However, without elaborating I'm being taken care of until April, so things could be much worse.
- I sense some mob connexionsdoesnotexist
- ha! I wish.gramme
- "taken care of" = gimp boxzenmasterfoo
- Hand in Jesus' pocket.. tssk.Nairn
- tparsons0
Pay the extra and get it done...
I have a self promo piece that uses a florescent ink... budget has slowed down the printing of that piece because of the ink and the size.
- play0
your work, your personality and how you will fit in to the studio will triumph your business card in my opinion. I'm all for great looking business cards, but if your interviewing for a designer position it might make you seem a little self-important.
in other words, I don't think the potential employer will judge your worth by how tricked out your card is.
however, if you have the money and desire it would be pretty cool wouldn't it?
- Nairn0
Do it, invest in yourself. Assuming the design is not too specific, or you don't change your details too soon, they'll come in handy for years.
- xencinas0
ask for letterpress process. It will cost less and you can "engrave" your logo by putting some pressure on the form in the machine.
You can check out mine.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rum…700gsm Sirio Black Black Paper+silver ink.
- joeth0
In this economy, modest is the way to go. Most employers will appreciate an effective design that doesn't scream "look at me." Find a way to do a small, inexpensive run that still looks good.
- gramme0
well, either way I'm looking at one color. Granted, if I engrave my logo that puts the work on two machines rather than one, but I can use the engraving die again. Do you guys think a one-color job, with the engraved bump on my logo would look pretentious as play says? I can't help but feel that just 1C litho, even if it's silver, will look a bit bland without some texture. Gah, I hate these decisions!!
- GetRefresh0
pay the extra as it will certainly pay off.