I have heard of such, but never personally encountered it.
Kind of a 1 dimensional policy. I can see it when there are a bunch of association membership type credentials. But when they represent a specific registration, license, or accredited skill specifically relevant to your role in the firm, then its short sighed for certain.
Who is running the firm, the marketing department?
William
We have the same issue here. Although I am a full-time specifier with lots of more pertinent credentials, I was “guided” into using AIA by marketing folks who are more familiar with those letters and what that designation implies. Most registered architects have AIA and engineers go with PE. Our cards also have a title line below the name on our cards that designate job function. Mine says simply “Specifications”. Out of the tens of thousands of employees in our organization, I am unique with that designation.
I have encountered this. Our external marketing consultant designed a card layout that did not allow much room for professional accreditations.
I challenged this, and asked my principles why they devalued our professionalism? I asked if they felt that our clients would appreciate knowing that our staff was professionaly competent? And then I asked if there was any benefit to firm having a public presence with our professionals participating in professional societies such as AIA, ASTM, CSI, USGBC, etc…
We changed our business cards…and fired the outside PR firm.
We had a similar situation, except with titles instead of credentials. We were instructed to use only our corporate title on our cards. I argued the it means more to people who get my card to see that Im the Specifications Manager than that Im a Sr. Vice President. It took a little persuasion but now I have both.
My last corporate gig said no titles nor job function. The before that said no “credential” designations other than state-registration or license; engineers could only use P.E., S.E., etc. but for some unknown reason (probably notoriety mentioned above) AIA was permitted, along with R.A. but no CSI, CCS, ASCE, etc.
William, you are correct about your closing statement. They are also using corporate titles instead of position titles as Doug mentioned. Anonymous puts forth a strong arguement.
I suppose I could use them to fill fish bowls and rely on my e-mail signature. Thanks for your insights.
My business cards are very expensive, compared to our standard ones, because (get this) my credentials don’t appear in alphabetical order! I’m a registered architect, an active CSI member, a CCS, and a LEED AP, but not a member of the AIA. The printer has to hand-input my credentials, so there’s an extra (gasp) $150 set-up charge for my “RA, CSI, CCS, LEED AP”. All my (presumably) alphabetical colleagues can input their credentials on a web-enabled form with no human intervention. So far, the finance folks have always approved the extra fee.
I haven’t tried Doug Frank’s plan, but I’d like to.
Which doesn’t solve Steven’s problem… I do think the email signature and “beamed” business cards are the wave of the future, but the years of experience, study, and dedication that “AIA, CSI, CCS, CCCA” represents are worthy of recognition on your engraved, graphically beautiful business card. I’ve never met you, but I can tell a lot about your skills and experience from your credentials. Your business card should tell me the same. You are a special case. I daresay you’re one of very few in your firm. Surely someone in the marketing department can find an attractive way to make your business card do its duty.
When I was an academic, I used to have fun with the initials thing.. “Your Name Here, BA, BArch, MBA, AIA, NCARB, CSI, CCS; Assoc. Prof., Interim Assoc. Dean”; my business cards would have had to be printed in 4 pt. type on on 3 by 5 cards. I think that is why I am so amused by SCIP’s EIEIO award. Some of us almost unconsciously collect credential of which different sets of those credentials are important to different people in different settings. In order to sign a purchase order, your corporate title might be more important than your functional title. When dealing with a rep, your functional title and (hopefully) CSI membership and certifications are important. In still other settings AIA (or RA) and LEED AP may be the useful in establishing yourself as a contributing member of the team.
You might see about getting different sets of business cards for different settings; I doubt it would happen, but you could ask.
For the last 25 years in two different cities, I have had enough visibility so that some people would see my name and already know my reputation without ever meeting me. I would be very surprised if a number of people contributing to this forum have not shared this experience. It remains a bit unnerving, but I have always found it somewhat amusing. In this instance, you don’t need titles or credentials behind your name.
Peter:
" . . . people would see my name and already know my reputation without ever meeting me."
Maybe that’s why they never met you? 
Well, there is that…
well, my boss has the best business cards ever.
all that’s on them, in 14 point Times Roman, letter pressed on a plain white 120 pound stock card:
FRANK
Neat, Ms. Whitacre, but that does require a little more of what Mr. Combs noted [2 above]!
um yes.
for the rest of us, the rules are pretty strict.
120 pound white card stock; sort of a dark grey Times Roman font 10 and 12 point letter pressed; and no initials for organizations at all. the only people who get “architect” on their cards are people who are licensed in the State of California (and I think their license number goes on the card in about 2 pt. type); otherwise, its your title in the office only such as “Senior Associate” or “Partner”.
I was sort of dissappointed at first to not be able to have the FCSI on my cards, but I do appreciate the simplicity of these. And I agree with Peter - after a while, people just sort of know who you are.
Occasionally someone will look at my business card and ask me what “AXT” stands for!
Little off the topic, but I had a friend who used his embossing seal [for his architectural registration] to impress about 1/2 of each card, so when he handed them out the receiver would “get the feel” of the card’s texture and not just another card.
David–
Tell that someone that you’re a member of an honorary design society, Alpha Chi Tau.
Maybe we should start a chapter. Sounds like a great organization!