I decided it was high time I had a business card for the freelance work that I occasionally do. I also happen to have access to laser cutters, so they're going to be laser cut cards. I'll point out that business cards was a very popular use of the laser cutters when I was in architecture school, so I realize this approach is fairly unoriginal. Originality, however isn't my chief aim. I just want something simple to hand out, with my contact info and a link to my work (i.e. the Featured section of this website.) With that (and some design help from my roommate) I had the following basic layout.

It gets the job done, but is a little too minimal. To give it a little texture, I decided to use Rhino's contour command on a wavy surface I whipped up. This command makes a contour map of whatever object you give it in whatever direction you set. I also find the command itself mesmerizing:

Cool! Lets throw that contour in as a background to a grid of cards; each card will therefore be completely unique with its own section of the same pattern.

Now it's time to get to the fabrication. Lasers are cool, but they can take a very long time when cutting small things like letters. Originally I'd wanted to etch the letters, but they weren't showing up as prominently, so I left the background as an etching and cut the letters out completely.

And presto! I've now got myself a card. Nice to meet you!