When it comes to your credit cards, do you really care what they look like? After all, what’s in a credit card design? Isn’t the important thing the credit card terms and making sure you have the convenience and spending power you need?

While worrying about credit card designs might seem silly to some consumers, to others it really does make a difference. So today let’s take a look at a few common credit card design options, and what your credit card’s look can say about you.

1. Brand Advocacy

Sometimes a design element on a credit card is more about branding than style. This is common when you use store-specific credit cards or rewards cards with rewards focused on a certain retailer (like the Citibank BP credit card).

These types of credit card designs are a way to say “I support this company,” or “I shop here enough to want my rewards here.” It tells others who see your credit card that you’re a brand advocate for the company (even if just a passive one).

2. Personal Interests

Your credit card design can also tell people a little bit about you and your interests. For example, if you’re a heavy traveller you might want to show it off with a card like the Earth credit cards — some of their cards feature images of the sky.

3. Status Symbols

Flashing a credit card can also be a status symbol, and the “design” plays a big role in that. For example, let’s say you have a blue standard card, a gold card, and a platinum card. Whipping out your platinum card at your favourite restaurant or store can give the instant impression that you have more money (even if it’s not the case). That’s because the spending power of the specific card can be much higher when you use platinum cards like the Westpac 55 Day Platinum credit card.

What does your credit card design say about you? Does it matter if you have design choices? Do you like a more personalised credit card or a more generic one? Are you the type of person who looks for the status symbol associated with a gold or platinum credit card, or does the look of a card not play any role when you compare credit card offers?