Designing Pokémon-themed playing cards for cardistry — and the process that goes along with it.
Being a hobby collector generally allows me to pursue projects that may not be as obvious, or relatable to most. But having varied hobbies leads to some really interesting opportunities and unique combinations, and this project is one such combination of my passion for design and cardistry.
What is Cardistry, you may ask.
The term ‘Cardistry’ stems from a blend of the words ‘card’ and ‘artistry’. The actual term is described as a performance art that entails the flourishing of playing cards, meant to be visually impressive while appearing hard to execute.
I’ve been deeply intrigued with Cardistry for about a year and a half now, slowly realizing how fascinating it is to watch, how painstaking it is to learn, and how rewarding it is to master.
Understanding the project.
I’ve been primarily using the Bicycle deck (Rider Pack) of cards as I explore the world of cardistry. In recent times, I’ve tried to better understand the different types of decks used by professionals and the nuances that come along with them — whether it be the material or the finish of the cards.
This prompted me to combine my expertise in graphic design and my passion for cardistry to try and print my own custom set of cards and use them to perform some of the flourishes I’m learning. The thought of using my own set of cards to learn those tricks, fans and springs felt very refreshing and complete.
Why Pokémon-themed? Well the real question is, why not?
Jokes aside, being a 90s kid brings its own nostalgic tendencies, of cartoons I’ve watched, toys I’ve owned and games I’ve played. But the one thing that stuck with me through all these years has been Pokémon.
It’s the one franchise that has adapted to the times, constantly releasing games, expansions and even movies. Needless to say, this has kept fans entertained and hooked through the years.
The Process.
Step 1: Picking a Pokémon roster for the design
Having grown up with the first generation of Pokémon, I wanted my card designs to be inspired by them. I also decided to do away with the regular suites of playing cards and replace them with energy types, found in the Pokéverse — namely fire, water, grass and electric.
In order to complete my deck, I needed 13 gen 1 Pokémon of each energy type. Since Gen 1 alone did not suffice, I had to dip into some of the more popular generation 2 and 3 Pokémon to fill in the gaps I had. I also applied a couple of other rulesets which determined which Pokémon would take up what number, for example —
- Generation 1 3-step evolutions would take up the Jack, Queen and King card slots
- The legendary generation 1 birds would take up the Ace card slots
- All the Eevee-lutions would take up the same corresponding card number
Step 2: Creating the Illustrations
Now comes the fun part. Here’s when I started exploring different illustration styles, looking at what currently exists and also giving some thought to what I’d like to see on my deck of cards.
I decided to go with a more minimal and clean approach when it came to my illustrations, since I wanted the cards to be playable. Having illustrations that are too detailed or sophisticated may take the attention away from the actual number on the card. I also added whitespace strokes between parts of the illustrations, to add depth and breathing space.
After creating illustrations for all the 52 Pokémon, I worked on the layout of the information on the playing card. A few highlights were added for the Jack, the Queen, the King and the Ace to make them stand out from the rest. Card backs also play a crucial role in how the deck looks and I experimented with a few different patterns, before picking one that felt most suitable.
Step 3: Researching Card stocks and finishes
The process of learning card flourishes has been fascinating in its own right but understanding why cards move the way they move has been even more satisfying. Cardistry requires the cards to have just the right amount of friction between them, allowing them to glide over each other when needed but also not be too slippery. Balance is key.
Card stocks generally vary in price and in quality, with each of them having a particular use case.
- The ‘S series’ of card stocks is a relatively affordable option, where in their smooth, glossy finish makes them great candidates for marketing and other promotional collaterals.
- The ‘M series’ on the other hand, is traditionally a lighter and a softer card stock. This makes them easier to handle thereby perfect for cardistry! The micro-texture on its surface allows for air pockets to form between cards, reducing friction and card slippage at contact points.
- Lastly, the ‘P series’ falls under the premium card stock category. The durability offered by this stock is unmatched as it is made from plastic, thus making resistant to dust, humidity and spills.
I finally decided to go with the M32 card stock, and as I’m typing this, my cards have been sent to print. It was a challenge to find a company that provided high quality printing and did not ask for high print-quantity, but makeplayingcards.com offered both. The process overall, was a fantastic and thoroughly enjoyable experience of blending my hobbies. Now, I await for the final deck to arrive to see how my pet project has panned out.
