| Business Card Lesson Plan 2 |
When business people meet they exchange business cards. Business cards are a relatively modern invention designed to quickly introduce a person and provide at least a minimum amount of information about themselves or their business. Some individuals and businesses have simple cards. Others get very creative using business cards with unusual colors or shapes that reflect what the person does.
|
What if (fill in name of assigned or selected character) had a business card. What would it say? Would have a serious, formal card or something fun and whimsical? What title might use to describe themselves or their job? What pictures would you expect to see on their business card?
Task
Create a business card for . The card should help others know and remember . Ideally it should convey a sense of who was and what they did.
A business card generally focuses on a single facet of an individual or business. If was known for many different accomplishments, single out just one of those activities for their business card. You may choose to focus on a well-known aspect of or on some lesser known achievements or interests.
Resources
Business Card Checklist and Resources
Steps
- First, become familiar with through books, papers, classroom discussion, or other research materials.
- Describe in a few paragraphs. After deciding on what aspect of his or her life or activities that you want to focus, make a list or write a description that tells about that part of life.
- Decide if you want a "serious" or formal card or something more light-hearted or informal. What is most appropriate to your subject?
- Using the Business Card Checklist, list the major components of your business card. Mark out any components you wish to omit from your card. If appropriate, come up with a title for . To put everything you want on this small card you may need to come up with different ways to say the same thing. Look for shorter words in place of long ones. Use a single word in place of two or three different ones. Experiment with abbreviations.
- Look at sample business cards you or your class have collected. Identify those that have a style you might like to imitate or borrow.
- Sketch out some rough ideas of how you want the business card to look — including any graphics you think you want to include. (Your software may come with a collection of clip art; if you have access to a scanner you may be able to scan artwork from clip art books; if you have access to graphics software you may be able to draw your own graphics.)
- Using the page layout or business card software available to you, transfer your rough sketches to the computer. Your software may have templates or wizards that will provide you with even more ideas.
- Print your final design on business card stock, index card stock, or plain paper. Tear apart or cut with scissors or paper cutter as necessary.
Evaluation
When you give your teacher your business card, attach the following checklist with your answers.
- What is the focal point of this business card? (What part is supposed to catch the reader's eye first?)
- What job, role, or activity does this business card describe? Is this a commonly known or less known role of .
- Is this supposed to be a formal (serious) or informal (casual) business card?
- Why did you choose these colors, graphics, text, layout, and style for a business card for ?
Conclusion
"The business card... is kind of an extension of yourself. It's a little bit of giving yourself to someone else."
— Ken Erdman, founder of the Business Card Museum, Erenheim, PA
It is not easy to condense a person down to the size of a business card but doing so may help you to focus on the most important aspects of someone. It can also help to develop your vocabulary as you search for new words to describe a person or their job. It should also be clear that it is almost impossible to tell everything there is about a person from a single piece of paper.
