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A design service offering affordable letterpress-printed business cards for good people.
This all started when my next-door neighbor came over to help me move a bookshelf and then laughed at my command center
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This story would be more charming if I told you my neighbor made
me that walnut desk. The truth is, I never did get a new desk. He moved away, although I still printed his cards and then mailed them to him. And even though I was already self-aware of my un-pro desk, the encounter made me realize the blind-sighted side effects of one-track-minded professional craftsmen, including myself. We like making things. However our skills and priorities are generally very limited.
At the time, I was working from a large folding table, the 1970s hand-me-down kind with the brown faux-wood laminate flaking off, exposing gnarly patches of naked fiberboard underneath. My neighbor informed me that he was a furniture designer on the side, little did I know, and could hand-craft a real wood desk for me. He handed me his business card… I promptly returned the criticism with all of my endearing graphic-designery candidness.
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While I still very much enjoy collaborating subversively with artists to draw attention to social problems in our community through pranks and rants and throwing rocks at walls,
I also very much enjoy making things for people, regardless of whether they want what I make or not. Cards For Humanity is an ongoing collaborative experiment to promote all types of artists (creatives, craftsmen, entrepreneurs) through custom-made business cards.
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OBJECTIVES.
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1. Promote un-established, emerging artists.
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2. Develop an alternative advertising method through a barter system of trading creative goods and services.
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3. Improve the quality, originality, passion, cultural relevancy, and intellectual acumen of vernacular art and design scenes, starting in St. Pete.
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4. Create an opportunity for interdisciplinary collaboration amongst artists and designers.
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5. Conduct this project with students to teach self-promo survival tips and practical advice that helps students construct their own custom communities through do-good initiatives.
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6. Create a distinct branded movement based on the distribution of affordable calling cards.
FAQ.
How do you define “artist?”
Creatives, craftsmen, entrepreneurs! All flavors are welcome.
What if I’m not a very good or established artist?
Even better! I work for humans not egos. And even if you're a good person, but don't consider yourself an artist, I'll probably make an exception.
How much is it?
What is it worth to you? Tell me your budget and we'll negotiate a reasonable price.
Why letterpress?
Tedious printmaking production keeps me off the streets at night.
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Can you design/print things other than business cards?
Yes! Have something else in mind? Hit me up.
Can I tell you what I want to be printed?
Maybe. But only if you’re kind and I like you.
Apply.
Do you like cool things? What are you waiting for?
Send me a brief description of who you are and how I can help:
Cards For Humanity
Proclaimer: Cards for Humanity is a passion project. Please address all camaraderie to:
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Elizabeth Herrmann
Assistant Professor of Graphic Design
University of South Florida
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