NODE

A stylish endless business card alternative

Role: Product Designer
Duration: 2 weeks
Team: Me
Tools: Fusion 360. Premiere. Illustrator.
Context: Masters Intro to Branding

Background

The Lifecycle of Business Cards

Roughly 88% of business cards end up being discarded within the first week of receiving them. Business cards can range from 10 to 500+ dollars depending on what you get, and they are not infinite, you will have to buy more eventually.

As a young individual in collage, who wants to network, doesn’t really have a lot of money, and doesn’t want to carry a bunch of cards in his coupon overflowing wallet, I wanted to find an alternative to the traditional business card.

“How might we create an renewable, easily transportable, and customizable alternative to business cards?”

What is an NFC tag?

Answer: The solution

An NFC tag is a tiny, battery-free microchip attached that stores a small amount of data. It uses radio waves and magnetic induction to transfer tiny bits of data over a very short distance without needing a battery.

But I honestly think its just magic.

The Cost

For this project I need to get a tag that was small but also durable because I know its going to be moving around a lot. NFC tags come in many shapes including cards, stickers, and small chips.

A small pack of 30 NFC tags cost around 9 dollars on amazon. But for this to work, you technically only need one tag.

Round NFC tag measured at 25 millimeters across and 0.8 millimeters thick

Palm holding a handful of round white NFC tags

The Enclosure

Fusion 360 model of a puffy star NFC enclosure

Fusion 360 model of the puffy star enclosure from another angle

The Swag

White star NODE charm clipped to jeans with a chain

Close-up of the white star NODE charm hanging from jean chains

White star NODE charm worn as a necklace

White star NODE charm clipped to olive pants

White star NODE charm hanging from a suit pocket against brick

White star NODE charm on a suit chain with a hand in the pocket

White star NODE charm on a keychain against brick

The Node Brand

Nodes @ like logo

The @ symbol which is commonly used for online identities, is altered to utilize an N instead of the A.

The logo can be made with any font, truly aligning with the customizable aspect of the product and how it can take any shape.

Marketing

Phone mockup showing You Node Your Style

NODE magazine spread with You Node You Best and Never miss a connection

Who do you node campaign with repeating suited figures

Who do you node campaign with a single suited figure

Node-ing For Others

Studio Sessions Event

Blue square NODE charms printing on a 3D printer bed

Finished blue square NODE keychain on a wood table

Butterfly for Friend :)

Fusion 360 model of a puffy butterfly NFC enclosure

Fusion 360 model of a flat butterfly NFC enclosure

Grey 3D-printed butterfly NODE charm clipped to a backpack

What I would do next time

Find a better way to produce more

Although I love 3D printing, I wonder what other methods and materials I could make these with. Could I resin print them? Laser cut? Something else I can’t think of at the moment?

Pricing work

When in a situation where you are being payed to create a product for someone else, making sure there is clear communication at the start for the needs, wants, and the pricing. When this is unclear, it creates a very uncomfortable situation.

Thanks for looking at my portfolio. If you are able to, I would love some feedback on how I can improve this case study. You can enter below or shoot me an email at kaigfranks@gmail.com