How your business card can get you noticed : It’s no longer enough to hand over a simple piece of card. As Lego executives unveil personalised figurines bearing their names and contact details, we round up the most innovative business cards around.

Lego has raised the bar on unusual business cards

For more than three hundred years, we’ve been blithely handing out business cards with barely a thought as to how boring they are.

Europeans caught on to the Chinese trend of business cards in the late 17th century, when they were used to announce the visits of aristocrats.

Since then, the great and the good have all relied on these little cards - including Lady Gaga, Fidel Castro, and Abraham Lincoln.

While psychologist Sigmund Freud's card was framed in black, Andy Warhol turned his into a mini masterpiece, writing his details in a creative scrawl. And Houdini was one of the early business card innovators, preferring to give out his details on a triangular card.

But even this is no longer enough. Slipping colleagues a piece of paper with your name and phone number written on it will seemingly no longer grab their attention.

So some enterprising companies have decided to transform the custom by coming up with some unusual alternatives.

Lego has raised the bar by issuing employees with tiny Lego figures that are personalised to look like them and are printed with their name and number.

Lego executives have the option of using the figures alongside standard business cards, and their mini-me Lego creations are made with precise details, including glasses, freckles and hairstyles to match the real person.

And it's not just Lego that's coming up with eye-catching ways to promote its business.

Event photographer Norris Mantooth has created a transparent business card that looks like a camera's viewfinder, while a dentist, Dr Lechmann, created a cut out design that looks as though a cavity is removed when you pull the business card out of its envelope.

And all of the following weird and wonderful ideas have been handed out as genuine business cards by companies worldwide. Maybe it's time to ditch the rectangle of cardboard and try something a little more creative.

UNUSUAL MATERIALS

An Indian finishing school printed their business cards on sandpaper.

The material could be a little rough for other companies who can't make use of the pun, but be prepared to think outside the box.

A landscape architect firm created a business card that could grow awatercress garden, a Greek restaurant printed theirs on smashed plates, and a yoga company printed their cards on felt, to look like ayoga mat. Heat sensitive business cards are great fun, while a cleaning company printed their details on a handy sponge.

Inspire your clients to stretch with a business card that looks like a yoga mat

Edible business cards

Both cakes and biscuits have been used as business cards, which works well unless the foods are especially delicious. In which case, better grab an old fashioned pen and paper if you want to keep track of the details.

Who could resist a business card made of cake?

Strange shapes

Pop up cards featuring a photo of yourself work well for everyone. More niche options—that have all been put to good use—include a ninja star(a Japanese throwing weapon that's shaped like a star and often used in action films) and picture frame. Extra points if you can build something with your card, such as a model car.

No need to buy a model car when you could just make one from a creative business card

Dual use

Business cards are all well and good, but why stick to one use when it could have two? Easels, bottle openers, cheese graters and combshave all been doubled up to create an unusual and memorable business card. Tea bag business cards make sure your details won't be abandoned in a neglected wallet, while a tobacco shop created a business card that peels off to create cigarette rolling paper. And nobody would forget the plumbers who printed their contact details onminiature plungers

A cheese-grater business card would work best for dairy-related companies

Tearable

You'd be surprised by how much mileage you can get from easily-tearable cards. A divorce lawyer created a business card that can tear in half, while a fitness trainer created a card printed with a man's torso - one tear removes the belly to create a sleek silhouette.

Even divorce lawyers can present their business details in imaginative ways

Interactive

Interactive business cards are sure to be passed around in the pub, so your details will be shared with as many people as possible. A yoga company created a card printed with a woman doing a shoulder stand - but with two holes where her legs should be. Poke your fingers through the holes to complete her leggy look and some impressive displays of flexibility. Meanwhile, a hairdresser’s created a card printed a face printed on and cut along lines. Once cut, the card looks like a happy customer with a wacky hairstyle. Who said business can't be fun?

A creative hairdresser doesn't need to hand out their details on a simple piece of card

The Telegraph