A lesson in design

How do you promote yourself when you're a maths genius with a clutch of degrees to your name? We spotted Matthew Handy's cards and think he's cracked the code!

Matthew Handy is a private maths teacher, providing tuition to individuals and small groups to help them pass their Maths and Further Maths A-levels. He helps with undergraduate courses with mathematical content, and advises pupils on UCAS, including Oxbridge.

His cards (shown top right) feature mathematical theorems and diagrams in classic red, black and white, turning what might have been a potentially dry and challenging business card into a beautiful visual object that can also, of course, double up as a study aid.

We love the design of your cards, what kind of reaction do you get when you hand them out?

The first print run (of 200) ran out within a week! Students love them because they cover the topics that they have the most difficulty remembering. Although mathematics is about understanding, it is much easier if you've learnt the building blocks. For younger students it's the times tables. At A-level, it's the material that I've put on my cards. I got so frustrated at writing out those formulas over and over again and this seemed the perfect way of promoting my services and demonstrating how useful they could be.

You seem to have quite a flair for design and marketing, how do you come up with your concepts?

I've always been fascinated by page design. As a young kid I used to collect headed note paper. I would write to big companies, just so they'd write back and I could add to my collection. I first discovered the Apple Mac at university - it blew me away - and since then I've worked on a number of design projects: from books and newspapers, to corporate image work for schools, a restaurant and a record company.

I love the whole process of producing something printed. Watching the first copies of a magazine I'd worked on coming off the presses was incredible: this huge room-sized machine, manned by half a dozen people, churning out tens of thousands of copies of something I'd created. It was like watching the birth of my first child. I love print!

Speaking of print - paper finish: Green or Luxe for your Business Cards?

I've so far always opted for the Luxe. It's beautiful. That's part of the pleasure I get from print: the physical feel of the material. I like the thickness of the cards - and the smooth matte laminate means they stand up to students sticking them on the wall, using them as bookmarks or carrying them in their pockets. I really should try the Green, though! The small print runs also allow experimentation and flexibility, which is terrific for a small business like mine.

How did you get a long with our creation and ordering process?

I'm a control freak, so I love the process. I can change things as often as I want without annoying anyone! I uploaded a variety of custom images for the front, and opted for the full upload on the reverse too. That way, I'm able to keep the look of all my marketing materials consistent, whether they're printed at MOO or elsewhere.

Any plans to use MOO cards in other ways in the future? For example, have you thought of doing a set of 50 and giving / selling them as a complete set of study tips?

That's certainly on the cards (excuse the pun!). I've also thought about using the MiniCards as key-ring crib sheets, they'd work really well as a set in a MiniCard holder.

Thanks to Matthew Handy for chatting with us - for more information about his tuition or to book yourself a lesson, visit his site.

Written on:

18 Jun 2013

Categories:

MiniCards, Business Cards, Illustration, Pre-prepared Artwork