Across all disciplines, business cards remain as the most practical method of introducing one’s business or services among prospective clients. They are a timeless, tangible gesture that have been exchanged for years, and continue to do so. However, many business cards meet their fate by being thrown into an obscure pile, or even worse, the trashcan. To avoid this dilemma, designers think outside the box and explore different forms of the business card, which leave a lasting impression of the ingenuity of the brand or individual.

This example from Form: Architecture & Design is a whimsical take on the business card, which can be folded to create little houses that can be used as desk décor. It’s a crafty and low cost way to showcase the playful side of architecture.

Mitsuori Architects’ business cards feature a prominent crease, which prompts users to fold it in order to create a three-dimensional shape. The card is also able to stand on its own and mimics contemporary architecture with its simplicity and manipulation of light and shadow.

Breaking from the normal business card material of cardboard, Techkeys, a keyboard company, uses printed circuit boards (PCB). These business cards, which are primarily a component for keyboards, can be developed into switches, displays or anything that the end user can put together with the chip’s capability.

This letterpress-folding business card for Bentply, a London-based furniture retailer, perfectly represents the company’s product offering. Designed by artist, Richard C. Evans, the card folds into a scaled down version of the Gerald Summers’ 1934 plywood armchair.

Technology is always evolving, and consequently so does business. Now that business processes and our preferences to consume media have become increasingly digitized, the common practice of handing someone a business card still remains. Through great design and innovation, a business card is more than a logo and a name; it’s a keepsake that prospective clientele will always remember.

Images and information courtesy of © Arch Daily and Creative Bloq.