I wanted to create a stylish, yet simple, business card using some of the techniques covered in "How to Design Cool Stuff" by John McWade. I followed his steps for creating a business card that combines a portrait image with a gradient.

I used a number of techniques in Photoshop, including:

• Filling a layer with a color pulled from the photo background.

• Adjusting the opacity on the photo layer.

• Adding a gradient to blend the background and the image more seamlessly.

• Adding text to the top layer and adjusting the sizing and spacing of the text.

Color and Repetition

I pulled all of the colors from the background of the image to make a cohesive graphic that repeats colors throughout.

Proximity

I kept all of the contact information together to suggest they are one element on the card. I set the name of the business apart to make it stand out more.

Typography and Contrast

I used a Sans Serif font to keep the look very modern and simple. I used a bold setting for the name of the business and a light setting for the contact information to create contrast.

Alignment

I used the top left alignment to ensure the information on the card was the first thing viewers would see and read.