Biz Cards Continued

I didn't say I wasn't going to put up ANY biz cards, just not my own for a while.

I DO want to continue talking about biz cards however, as I am interested in them as an art form and I find it challenging to try and create something "out of the box" considering how much thought people have already put into it.

Also, I'd like to share stories about some of the interesting people I meet when appropriate.

Here is the "back" of a biz card from a very interesting person (Cherie) that I met during our E3 trip to LA.  I'll post the front later and tell that story then (you can peek ahead on flickr if you like).

One thing that interests me is the dimensions.  The standard business card  I have encountered is two inches by three and one-half inches.  This one is 1.75" (45mm) by about 4" (10cm).  (Click the pic to enlarge it)

This interests me because the first questions that occur to me in "card design" concern the shape and dimensions.  I seem to think that there is a cost associated with breaking away from the standard size and shape.  I guess I'm too anal. I like all the cards to stack up.

When I asked Cherie how she felt about the shape, she indicated that she liked that it stuck out from a stack (still fitting within the normal "width" of two inches).

So maybe it's "ok" to exceed one dimension.  What about two?  Is it still a "biz card" or does it become a postcard at some point?

Seems like there could be interesting possible connections between biz cards and mail art.

I want a to create a new spinflow card.  I have only a vague idea so far and think I will initially work within the "standard" size for the moment, but I want them to be viral (preferably fun or interesting) and so I am thinking of a perforated set of two or three cards that fold into standard shape, present a triptych and yet stand alone and are something you either want to pass on or are so fun that you want to keep the whole set (I think that could be viral in it's own way).

What do you use for a biz card?  Send me one and share a good story and I'll post it for you.

I know jack about biz card design.  Anyone know of some great related articles.  I know; google it!

Click the pic to view the photo(s).

Addendum: Jan is talking about stamps and that is also on my mind.