The KIT-Card

The card layout

The KIT-Card layout has to meet many, sometimes conflicting requirements. For example, the validity must be legible from a distance, since the KIT-Card is also used as an access pass on Campus North. Belonging to a certain group must also be very easy and memorable to recognize. Nevertheless, different KIT card layouts must be immediately recognizable as KIT cards. At the same time, the size and thus the space that can be used for a layout is limited by the standard size of the card. In addition, elements must be provided on each card that are specified, for example, by the characteristics of the European Student Card, the design guidelines of the KIT and others.
The result is a very successful compromise that meets all requirements and at the same time has a high level of identification.

The chip

The KIT-Card has an internal chip that has RFID functionality, i.e. a card approach to a reader activates the chip and data required for the IT service can be read out via RFID. This functionality can be used, for example, to control access to buildings and certain rooms at KIT, to use different services of the KIT library and to use it as a payment card at KIT and the Studierendenwerk Karlsruhe.