Welcome to the design innovation lab of Beam Brand Studio.
We're dedicated to card design and marketing.
Few attachments matter more than our relationship with money. Which makes credit cards the beating heart of brand relationships.
As designers, we aim to clearly see the brand relationships you have, and to deliver designs which capture what your members value most about you.
Though best known for card design and marketing, first and foremost, we are brand distillers, concentrating the essence of your brand in your member’s hearts and hands.
And we love every drop of our work.
Brand-BUILDING: THE BEATING heart of our DESIGN & MARKETING solutions
Introduced Bank One to over 1400 credit card partners
See client testimonials
Played a key role in the re-design of the Chase card portfolio.
See case study
Created Amazon gift cards for North America, the UK, Germany and Japan.
See case study
Helped reshape the Butterfield Bank brand from the Caribbean to the UK...
See case studyOur Process
For more than 25 years, credit card issuers, fintech innovators and community credit unions have relied on Shamlian for payment card design and marketing. Our independent credit card design studio has been privileged to work with and learn from the nation’s most sophisticated issuers and program managers. Clients and their agencies count on us for a wide range of strategic, creative and production needs, and we welcome collaboration at every level:
- product development
- branding and naming
- card and packaging design
- technical / print support
- new product launch
- multi-channel marketing
Whether you’re introducing your first credit card or seeking to grow your program, we’ll help you cultivate more valuable member relationships.
Our Process
For more than 25 years, credit card issuers, fintech innovators and community credit unions have relied on Shamlian for payment card design and marketing.Our independent credit card design studio has been privileged to work with and learn from the nation’s most sophisticated issuers and program managers. Clients and their agencies count on us for a wide range of strategic, creative and production needs, and we welcome collaboration at every level:
- product development
- branding and naming
- card and packaging design
- technical / print support
- new product launch
- multi-channel marketing
Whether you’re introducing your first credit card or seeking to grow your program, we’ll help you cultivate more valuable member relationships.
Step 1
Discovery
What are the key factors which enable us to create successful card designs and achieve your program goals?
Our research and discussions seek to understand your...
• business objectives
• customer relationships
• branding & marketing
• ideal customer experience
• desired brand perceptions
The data and brand insights we gather help us to clearly see the relationships you have, and the valuable relationships you want.
Step 2
Strategy
To craft a high value brand relationship, we distill the satisfying ways you connect with your members into a clear brand promise.
Brands resonate with your people when they’re rooted in something known, vital and trusted. Fusing that positive association with your card begins by envisioning the voice and idea that our designers will bring to life.
Step 3
Design
Our design process begins with a range of concepts, shared via notes, mood boards or other visuals.
Designs and refinements follow, based on your feedback. For audience testing, we provide the realistic credit card mock-ups you need.
Once a favorite is selected, we meticulously polish every detail, applying our talents in typography, illustration and image compositing to arrive at the optimal designs for both your card(s) and mobile payments.
For a deeper dive into card design, see the ebooks, case studies and FAQ on our Making Members page.
Step 4
Production
Having an experienced partner who knows the ropes can expedite the entire production process.
From creating card art for Visa / MC approval to providing printer files and production notes, we’ll help you avoid errors and delays - and sleep soundly. Count on us to:
• recommend print options
• review printer proofs
• create art and printer files
• attend press checks
• archive your files
Card Production Options
A title about Card Production goes here.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Confer status with a metal card.
Metal and encapsulated metal cards offer an elite look, feel, and sound. For exclusive products, a 20 gram tungsten card in PVC offers a choice of edge colors. At 10 grams - roughly twice the weight of a standard credit card - steel cards encased in PVC are an economical alternative. Options may include a custom EMV chip, foil treatments, spot gloss, and a choice of laser, digital, thermal and inkjet personalizing for cards and carriers.
Make it pop with bold edge color.
Want your card to stand out in a wallet? Catch the eye with a bold edge color. Solid color PVC is available in hundreds of colors and shades. Typically, printers must order enough solid core sheets for at least 25,000 cards. For smaller runs, ask your printer if they have solid core left in stock. You may not get your ideal color choice, but you could make a big impact - at a great price.
Light up your card with reflective foil.
Full foil cards offer a mirror-like printing surface to light up a wide range of visual styles, from black & white photography to cutting edge designs. Fine lines of metallic silver against a dark background produce vibrant type and graphics, while specialty inks and finishes enable you to highlight key design elements, adjust how reflective the image is, and make light play across matte and gloss surface in mesmerizing ways.
Print on layers to add depth.
Not so very long ago, clear or translucent credit cards were the pinnacle of cool. While that trend has faded, printing on a clear layer of plastic on top of a second printed layer is a brilliant option for achieving eye-catching depth. “Dual core” printing can be subtle, so it’s best reserved for designs where the effect will elicit a double take. Add pearl to inks for shine, and a raised varnish for added depth to make your card a standout.
Achieve the illusion of depth with 4-color printing.
With specialty materials, inks and print techniques being used on so many cards today, you may think you need a big print budget to make an impact. But with today’s design tools, a talented graphic artist can create incredibly dimensional designs using standard four-color or on-demand printing. Whether your goal is a card that feels like a one-of-a-kind object, or a memorable image and message, count on us to light the way.
Marketing
Achieve the illusion of depth with 4-color printing.
With specialty materials, inks and print techniques being used on so many cards today, you may think you need a big print budget to make an impact. But with today’s design tools, a talented graphic artist can create incredibly dimensional designs using standard four-color or on-demand printing. Whether your goal is a card that feels like a one-of-a-kind object, or a memorable image and message, count on us to light the way.
"Thanks so much for our new Visa cards. The entire Shamlian team has been spectacular to work with."
John Smith
Our History
Highlights
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Experience
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Capabilities & Process
Concept
Strategy
Design
Production
Marketing
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
America's Credit Union
Can a credit union even
the playing field with the big issuers?
ACU requested a truly special card series that would speak to both military families and the neighboring communities which support them.
See Case StudySouthwest
How do you create true Objects of Desire?
For a new Southwest Airlines Visa card series, Shamlian was asked to provide production support for the airline’s ad agency.
See Case StudyNational Geographic
How do you balance
two brands on one card?
How do you balance two major brands on one card while respecting the world’s most admired photos?
See Case StudyButterfield
How we moved the
brand upscale from Bermuda to the UK.
ACU requested a truly special card series that would speak to both military families and the neighboring communities which support them.
See Case StudyAmazon
How do you inject personality into a global retail brand?
When gift cards were Amazon’s only branding beyond its online store, the global redesign of its pre-paid cards and retail packaging was described as its “most significant brand initiative ever.”
See Case StudyHeading
Heading
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
105 West 3rd Street • Media, PA