United States Playing Card Company
Spring 2025, Fall 2025
Concept
Develop a 90s theme deck to appeal to the “Kidult” target audience. Focused on creating a balance between nostalgia and originality.Approach
Researched about technological advancements in video games during the 1990s. Analyzed 90’s video game art styles, thick lines, gradients, expressive typography, and limited colors.
Court
Explored a pixel art style to design the court cards in. Avoided looking like other pixel art decks by utilizing Bicycles reimagined court called “new era” to create a unique and dynamic court. Challenged myself by limiting colors to the default colors.Mini Court
Added a storytelling element by designing some number cards to be “scenes” in a side-scrolling video game. Developed mini versions of the court cards. Card Back
Tuck Design
Explored package design of the 90’s and combined it with the traditional playing card tuck.
Final designs
What started as a simple concept design became a fully built-out deck with engaging storytelling, a style inspired by nostalgic 90’s video games, and a creative reimagining of the company's assets.
Concepts
A retrace of an old card back, recolored. Utilized the “New Era” court faces to complement the detailed back.
A fun holiday deck oriented around decorated houses and a retro cartoon style.