Adobe Illustrator
Playing Cards
This project involved designing and producing a fully custom deck of playing cards from concept to print. By reimagining traditional card elements through illustration and symbol transformation, I explored how to balance creativity with clarity. The goal was for each card to feel unique while still functioning within the recognizable structure of a standard deck.
Symbol Development
I began the process in Illustrator by designing the four suit symbols. Establishing these foundational elements first was essential, as they would be repeated and integrated into the more complex card compositions later on. I focused on creating cohesive, balanced symbols that maintained the integrity of traditional suits while allowing room for creative reinterpretation.
Design Development
The goal here was to transform each traditional suit symbol into a complete piece of artwork. Rather than simply redesigning the icons, I wanted each symbol to become embedded within a larger visual composition while maintaining its recognizability. I began with rough sketches to explore how the core shapes could naturally translate into new imagery.
Artwork Development
Adobe Illustrator
Each individual symbols artwork was developed as its own individual vector composition. Using shape-building tools, pathfinder functions, and precise anchor point adjustments, I constructed clean, scalable graphics that could be consistently applied across the deck.
Card Design
Once all artwork was complete, I assembled the full deck in Adobe InDesign. I created a consistent grid system to ensure proper alignment, margins, and bleed for print production. The final layout was prepared and formatted for in-class printing, resulting in a fully realized, custom-designed deck of cards ready for production.
Face Cards
I crafted the face cards in Procreate for the flexibility and texture it allows in artwork. These paintings are borrowed from Isabella Cotier. I redrew select paintings with small adjustments to align them with the roles of King, Queen, Jack, and Joker.
The final layout was prepared and formatted for in-class printing, resulting in a fully realized, custom-designed deck of cards ready for production.
