playing cards
Playing Cards — YSDN Student Edition
This deck was conceptually designed to represent YSDN students by combining character archetypes with beverage motifs, integrating visual storytelling with functional design elements.
Jack (“Last Minute Worker”) employs coffee imagery to symbolize the dependence on caffeine typical of design students working intensively on digital platforms.
Queen (“Pretentious” Person) uses tea as a thematic device, invoking cultural associations with sophistication. The inclusion of a computer mouse subtly references ongoing digital work.
King (“Pub Nighters”) incorporates mixed alcoholic beverages, with a pencil integrated into the composition to link social life with design tools.
Ace (“Messy Worker”) visualizes the spontaneity of the creative process through a coffee spill on a sketchbook, adding a layer of narrative authenticity.
Number cards feature a printing dialogue box interface element—an integral aspect of design workflows within YSDN—where the displayed number dynamically corresponds to the card value. The suit icon is a light bulb, selected for its symbolic representation of ideation and creativity.
Cards are intentionally non-rotatable due to layout considerations; aligning numbers and icons unidirectionally disrupted the overall composition and balance. The design challenge included choosing a unifying symbol to represent YSDN students amid diverse tools and workflows; this was addressed by pairing suit symbols with relevant design tools and thematic beverages to convey group identity.
To create visual hierarchy and contrast, intricate pattern designs complement the cards’ otherwise flat graphic style. A restrained color palette was chosen after extensive experimentation, culminating in a peach-toned scheme that enhances cohesion and readability.
