Business Cards & Stationery Business Cards 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which piece of information is generally considered essential on a business card?
- A personal photo
- Name and contact information (Correct answer)
- Company mission statement
- List of all services offered
Correct answer: Name and contact information
A business card's core purpose is identifying who you are and how to reach you.
Question 2: Why should designers avoid placing text closer than 1/8 inch from the card edge?
- It looks cluttered to recipients
- Cutting tolerance may trim the text off (Correct answer)
- Ink cannot adhere near edges
- Printers charge extra for edge text
Correct answer: Cutting tolerance may trim the text off
Trimming machines have slight variance, so text near the edge risks being cut off.
Question 3: A networking consultant wants recipients to instantly access her website from her card. What is the most direct solution?
- Printing the URL in bold
- Adding a QR code linking to the site (Correct answer)
- Using a brighter card color
- Listing her social media handles
Correct answer: Adding a QR code linking to the site
A QR code lets recipients scan and open the website instantly with a phone camera.
Question 4: What is the main risk of using very small font sizes (under 7 pt) on a business card?
- Higher printing cost
- Text becomes hard to read, especially for contact details (Correct answer)
- Ink bleeding is more likely
- The card takes longer to print
Correct answer: Text becomes hard to read, especially for contact details
Fonts below about 7–8 pt become difficult to read, defeating the card's purpose.
Question 5: Which practice best maintains brand consistency between business cards and other stationery?
- Using different fonts on each item for variety
- Using the same logo, colors, and typefaces across all pieces (Correct answer)
- Printing each item at a different vendor
- Changing the tagline on every piece
Correct answer: Using the same logo, colors, and typefaces across all pieces
Consistent logos, colors, and typography across cards, letterhead, and envelopes reinforces brand recognition.
Question 6: A designer places white text on a pale yellow background. What design principle is being violated?
- Alignment
- Contrast (Correct answer)
- Repetition
- Proximity
Correct answer: Contrast
Low contrast between text and background makes the text nearly unreadable.
Question 7: What is the benefit of leaving white space (negative space) on a business card design?
- It reduces ink costs significantly
- It improves readability and gives a clean, professional look (Correct answer)
- It is required by printing regulations
- It makes the card lighter in weight
Correct answer: It improves readability and gives a clean, professional look
White space prevents clutter, directs attention to key information, and conveys professionalism.
Business Cards & Stationery Business Cards 4
Which piece of information is generally considered essential on a business card?