Isabella Acuña | Portfolio

Branding & Motion Design | Graphic Artist

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1. The Research
2. The First Cards
3. The Card Back and Joker
4. The Color Revamp
5. The Updated Card Back + Joker
6. The Final Look ART DECO


Assigned to create a set of cards with a theme of my choice, I created this collectible card set inspired by art deco illustration of the 1920s, with a modern twist. My goal was to upend the traditional look of playing cards, with a focus on appealing to collectors.



Scroll for the full project


The Research

To begin, I compiled a moodboard of several iconic artworks from the Art Deco movement. I wanted to combine the geometric, precise linework of the Art Deco era with flat colors and smooth graphics for a more modern twist.

See left for the moodboard.




The First Cards

I came up with the idea to invert the standard look of playing cards: rather than keeping the back of the card complex and the front simplified, I designed an incredibly intricate card front that would be paired with a minimalist back.

See right for the first card fronts.




The Card Back 
+ Joker 

To complete the standard card fronts, I designed a much more minimalist backing that each card would feature, shown on the left with the “Art Deco” logo.

For an additional twist, I created a joker card that would invert the color palettes of the standard card fronts, shown on the right.

See left for the “Art Deco” card back, along with the inverted Joker card.




The Color Revamp

Unsatisfied with the neutral colors of the original cards, I designed a revamp of each suit’s color palette. This not only added a bright, modern-day twist to the Art Deco look, but also helped each suit of cards stand out.

Keeping in mind the 1920s source inspiration, I made sure to keep each palette colorful, yet muted for the perfect balance between modern and vintage.

See right for the color revamp.




The New Card Back + Joker 

With the new color palettes, I revamped the Joker card’s color palette to match the more vibrant, colorful look. I also altered the new card back to utilize an updated monochromatic color palette, taking the backseat while the front of the cards use the most color.

See left for the updated cards.




The Final Look

With all the necessary elements in place, all that was left was to put everything together. The final result was a vibrant, intricate, and unique combination of vintage and modern styles. With the intent for use as a collectible rather than for playing, the card set is still fully functional and looks great.

See right for the final card deck.

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