The Process
The first step in my process was finding inspiration and creating sketches. I opened my Pinterest app, and I realized the most ubiquitous pictures on my feed were fashion and outfit pictures. Therefore, I decided to incorporate my passion for fashion into this design.
Using the inspiration I collected, I began creating different illustrations of silhouettes using the pen tool in Illustrator. I created 12 different illustrations for each number (2-9, Ace, Joker, Queen and King), and I created three extra illustrations for the back design of the cards. Then I decided I would create the same number of illustrations as the number on the card. for instance, the card including number three would have three copies of an illustration. I also used the pen tool to create a heart, a diamond, a spade and a club.
After I completed designing the individual cards, I had to design the back side of the cards. I decide I wanted a similar look, so I used similar illustrations and colors from the same Adobe color library. I decided to include a quote to make the cards more playful.
The next step was to transfer the designs from Adobe Illustrator to Adobe InDesign. I spent a considerable amount of time changing small details because the designs looked slightly different in Adobe InDesign. I completed the process by preflighting the final file and making my PDF ready for print. These cards were imposed work and tumble style.
The final step was to design the box for the playing cards. I decided to use a similar design and color as the playing cards in order to maintain consistency. I made certain to design inside the die-line and to use generous margins. In the end, I printed the cards and box using a Konica Minolta printer. Now I have a special customized set of playing cards!
