As we all look toward 2025, we can’t help but notice the innovative business card trends as they give a modern twist to traditional business card designs. You’ll find many fresh takes, like Creative QR Codes worked into larger patterns and Scrawled n’ Scribbled that creates a cool, layered look. There’s also a trend in tactile business card designs, like embossing and custom-cut silhouettes.
Small businesses can use these trends to help their brand feel relevant and entice potential customers or clients for further engagement. Read this article to find inspiration for your business card design as we explore the top 9 business card trends for 2025.
How did we determine which business card trends are topping the charts in this next era? We asked our pool of designers over on the 99designs by Vista platform and our in-house expert team!
The top 9 business card trends of 2025:
- Unusual Letterforms
- Heavy Imprints
- Creative QR Codes
- Loud Lettering and Clashing Colors
- On the Edge
- Custom-cut Silhouettes
- Off the Edge
- Scrawled n’ Scribbled
- Tranquil and Grounded
Take a look at last year’s business card trends here, or look back through our archives to see what else our global network of creatives have predicted would trend through the years.
1. Unusual Letterforms
Lettering is a type of art. In 2025, lettering is getting its moment in the spotlight as one of the most prominent business card design trends. These business card designs aren’t just cool fonts; they’re designs where the text is the graphic.
By using letterforms creatively, your business card becomes a unique representation of your brand and places most of the attention on your letterform, making it more memorable to potential clients.
These business cards often have a minimalist feel because the text is the focal point, rather than a complement to a graphic.
Source: Business card design with letterform logo by pecas™ via 99designs by VistaPrint
Source: Business card design with letterform logo by Terry Bogard via 99designs by VistaPrint
Source: Business card design by Maurojaurenart via 99designs by VistaPrint
That’s not to say these business cards designs can’t also contain graphics—as you see, plenty of them do. But the graphics complement the text, not the other way around, and that’s what makes unique letterforms stand out as one of 2025’s top design trends. In some cases, the graphic is a close-up of a letter or section of the text that turns it into an abstract image of its own.
2. Heavy Imprints
One tactile business card design trend that we’re seeing a lot is embossed business card designs that can be felt on the back of the card. This creates a “negative” on the back that spells out the business name backward and gives the holder an interesting, memorable texture to run their fingers across.
Source: Business card design with embossed name by HYPDesign via 99designs by VistaPrint
Source: Business card design with embossed text by logodentity via 99designs by VistaPrint
Megan Morahan, a Global Creative Director at VistaPrint, provides some extra context, “Letterpress printing has become a rising trend, largely due to its handmade nature, which conveys a sense of professional craftsmanship. The technique has deep historical roots, dating back to the 1400s, adding a layer of timeless elegance and tradition to any project.”
In its modern form, letterpress is recognized for its distinct, deep impression that provides a tactile, luxurious feel, synonymous with high-quality design. Incorporating letterpress or embossing into your designs will instantly elevates the overall brand, showcasing to your customers that you value craftsmanship and attention to detail— Megan Morahan, Global Creative Director – Product Creation & Experience, VistaPrint
Source: Business card design with embossed logo by a r t ^ s t a r via 99designs by VistaPrint
A key part of this design is that for it to work, the business card needs to be printed on thicker-than-standard paper stock. That instantly gives these cards a more luxe feel, which can lend credibility to the business or professional whose name is on it. It can also create a cool double-sided effect, since the embossed logo or text is visible and tactile on both sides.
Consider collaborating with a designer to create a custom letterform that reflects your brand’s personality.
3. Creative QR Codes
QR codes have been popular among business card trends for a while now, but in the past, business cards generally featured QR codes without necessarily making them part of their design. Now, we’re seeing designers make QR codes the focal point of their designs.
For your business, making a QR code a prominent part of your business card design is a way to make instant connection possible. The moment somebody takes your card, they can instantly be on your website or social media, keeping your brand top of mind.
It’s exciting to see people getting creative with QR codes on business cards, experimenting with new shapes, colors, and designs. Blending technology and creativity, these features elevate the business card from a static piece of paper to an engaging digital tool.— Candace Farias, Candace Farias, Head of NA Category Experience, VistaPrint
Source: Business card design with QR code by Alexandr_up via 99designs by VistaPrint
Source: Business card design with central QR code by maxgraphic via 99designs by VistaPrint
Source: Square business card design that would complement a QR code on the back by Vi. via 99designs by VistaPrint
We’re seeing designers play with QR codes in a few different ways. One is to print the QR code in one of the brand’s colors. Another is to feature it against a blank background so the negative space makes the QR code pop. It can also be part of a larger pattern, enhancing the rest of the card’s design.
4. Loud Lettering and Clashing Colors
There’s no shortage of dynamic business card design trends on the horizon for 2025, and one specific way we’re seeing this actualize is with designers pairing bold or mismatched letters with bright colours. In some designs, they’ve got both! Designs like these are a way for brands to show that they’re flexible, nimble and willing to mix and match to deliver a unique experience. Loud Lettering and Clashing Colors also bring modern vibes that clash against a traditional feel.
Source: Business card design with bright colors and mismatched, bold letters by artantoni work 99designs by VistaPrint
Source: Bold business card design by Razvan Postolache via 99designs by VistaPrint
A mismatched design can be a design featuring multiple shapes or lettering that’s not quite aligned. It could also mean a bold design with layering shapes and other design elements in unusual ways or featuring multiple weights, textures or levels of clarity within a design. For example, a dotted business card might feature some crisp, clearly defined circles alongside fuzzier, “out of focus” ones.
Source: Business card design with bright, clashing colors by Galaxiya via 99designs by VistaPrint
This energetic design style breaks the mold of traditional business cards,immediately grabbing attention and showcasing creativity. It communicates confidence, personality, and a willingness to stand out, perfect for industries where individuality matters.— Candace Farias, Candace Farias, Head of NA Category Experience, VistaPrint
Bright colors are exactly what they sound like—colors that pop! Non-traditional text alignment can create visual intrigue, and bright colors draw eyes toward names and logos. Both strategies keep viewers looking at business cards longer and make brands more memorable.
Here are some additional resources to help you nail your business card color choices:
- How to choose business card colors
- How to pick your brand colors with color theory
- Inspiring business card color combinations
5. On the Edge
Pinning a business card’s text to its outer edges is another trend we’re seeing take hold as 2025 approaches. Text can be pinned anywhere on a card: left-aligned, right-aligned, bottom-aligned or even center-aligned. Positioning text like this can make a business card’s design feel more like a composition than a traditional business card. By doing this, it can make the business card feel more like a piece of art.
For brands with artistic personalities that aim to make every design choice look and feel overtly intentional, this kind of design can be the perfect way to visually communicate that. Consider working with a designer whose style is similarly bold to achieve this look.
Source: Business card design with text on the edges by Cass Design 99designs by VistaPrint
Source: Business card design with text along the edge by Mrceladesigns 99designs by VistaPrint
Source: Business card design with a pink edge and text along the edges by Terry Bogard 99designs by VistaPrint
These designs guide viewers’ eyes around the card. To set a clear path for viewers’ eyes, a designer can use different fonts and font sizes to create a visual hierarchy, then use alignment to support this hierarchy and drive the reader to view the card’s sections in a specific order.
6. Custom-cut Silhouettes
A business card doesn’t have to be a rectangle. In fact, some of the most memorable, creative business cards aren’t rectangles. That’s the idea behind the Custom-cut Silhouette trend, which incorporates cards’ shapes into their designs. By deviating from the norm and offering up an unexpected shape, brands can infuse more of their personalities into their business cards.
Consider this trend if your brand is rebellious or cutting edge—because these cards’ designs are literally cutting edge. This trend can make your brand stand out anywhere, whether that’s a table with a bunch of other local business cards, a community bulletin board, a stack to be sorted through after a networking event or in your office.
Source: Custom-cut silhouette business card design by Terry Bogard 99designs by VistaPrint
Source: Circle business card design by Arthean 99designs by VistaPrint
Source: Camera-shaped business card design by bo_rad 99designs by VistaPrint
We’re also seeing a variation on this trend: rectangle cards that feature unique-shaped cutouts. These achieve the same goal as custom-shaped cards without running into the issue of cards potentially being awkwardly shaped or not fitting into cardholders. As you design your business cards, think about how important this is for you—if you’re concerned about your business cards fitting into card holders, a creative cutout may be the better option for you.
Source: Business card design with rounded corners by Arthean 99designs by VistaPrint
Unsurprisingly, using custom-shaped business cards or cutouts has a big impact on your card design. If you want to try out this unique approach, be sure to reference our handy guide to business card design.
7. Off the Edge
You may be getting deja vu right now, but this business card design trend is a whole other planet compared to our earlier one, On the Edge. Off the Edge disregards card borders with designs that extend beyond them for unique business card layout ideas. It gives a zoomed-out look that can make a brand feel bold, confident and boundary-pushing. Sometimes, the text and imagery on these cards simply grazes their borders, only suggesting a willingness to break out of them. Other card designs cut these off with their edges.
As a brand that pushes boundaries and prides itself on thinking outside the box, a business card that pushes beyond borders can be the ideal way to showcase your innovative, boundary-breaking spirit.
Source: Business card design with off the edge text by Terry Bogard 99designs by VistaPrint
Source: Business card design with off the edge text by Budiarto™ 99designs by VistaPrint
Source: Business card design with off the edge logo by HYPdesign 99designs by VistaPrint
In any case, designers are careful to keep text and logos legible in these designs. One way to achieve this is to use a repeating pattern background that appears to extend beyond the card’s edges. This way, the design is apparent, since plenty of its pieces aren’t cut off by the edges. Another way is to make the text or logo “zoomed in,” a bold choice that plays with scale.
8. Scrawled n’ Scribbled
Scribbles are unprofessional, and you would never want something unprofessional on a business card, right? Not in 2025. This year, scribbles are one of the top business card trends. But maybe they’re more than just scribbles. This year, one of the hottest design trends for business cards is a look that feels intentionally drawn over and anti-establishment.
As a brand, this kind of design can make your business stand out as one that goes against the grain and isn’t afraid to rebel when necessary. This kind of design can instill trust in potential clients that you’ll deliver a more personalized experience, even when that personalization means breaking away from the norm.
Source: Scrawling business card design by NeaDesigns 99designs by VistaPrint
Source: Business card design with scribbles by HYPdesign 99designs by VistaPrint
Source: Business card design with scribble logo by dotillusion 99designs by VistaPrint
These designs feel anti-corporate and like they’re breaking the mold. They’re perfect for any brand that’s punk rock or otherwise predicated on pushing back and sticking it to the establishment. In these kinds of designs, you can see the original base layer and the scribbles on top of it, and how the scribbling subverts the basic business card. In fact, subversion is the name of the game here—these cards buck trends and traditions and look fabulous doing it.
9. Tranquil and Grounded
Tranquil and Grounded branding is one of 2025’s top business card trends. These business cards bring together warm earth tones like browns and green and match them with simple, largely sans serif fonts to create a chill, down-to-earth vibe. This kind of branding can feel pared-down, rustic and even homey.
“Muted color palettes and organic lines only found in nature are perfect for a business that wants to feel soft, calming, and grounded”. Creative director, Megan Morahan, explains, “The soothing colors, often drawn from nature—soft earth tones, gentle greens, and dusky blues—create a sense of serenity and balance. Textures, such as organic linen, grainy paper, or subtle wood grain, add depth and understated visual interest without overpowering the design.”
This trend embraces simplicity, favoring various lines, minimalistic elements, and natural materials, making it ideal for brands that aim to evoke a sense of tranquility, trust, and connection to the environment.— Megan Morahan, Global Creative Director – Product Creation & Experience, VistaPrint
Source: Earth-toned business card design by Patricia Hunt 99designs by VistaPrint
Despite having some nods to vintage styles and color palettes, these business cards feel modern. That’s because in a lot of cases, they incorporate design elements like sans serif fonts, minimalism and other current design trends like pinned text to bring the earthy style into the 2020s. They feel fresh, but not in-your-face. They also feel grounding, warm and like a reconnection with the planet… they’re a great eco-friendly business card option.
Ready to bring these trends to life? Explore our personalized business card designs and make a lasting impression in 2025!
The best business cards 2025 has to offer range from fresh takes on familiar styles to ultra-modern cuts that feel like they’re reinventing the traditional business card. Wherever your business falls on that spectrum, we’re confident that at least one of these business card trends speaks to your unique brand.
