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1-2-3

Card Design

Ready to create your own awesome deck of cards? Whether it’s playing cards, trading cards, tarot, or something totally new, this project lets you design your very own deck from front to back!

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Your Mission is to bring your ideas to life with cool illustrations and eye-catching designs that tell a story and fit together as a set. It’s all about mixing creativity with smart design to make cards that are not just fun to look at — but also feel like they belong in a real game or collection.

​Project Goals 

  • Create visually cohesive designs that connect the card face and back through consistent use of colour, style, and motifs.

  • Develop clear visual hierarchy to communicate card information quickly and effectively.

  • Apply illustration techniques to produce engaging and original imagery suited to a themed card deck.

  • Experiment with pattern, symmetry, and layout to design an appealing and functional card back.

Level 1

Pick and Do 2 Exercises:

A

Motif Practice
 

Learn how to create, repeat, and refine simple visuals.

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Skills Built:​

  • repetition

  • unity

  • variation

B

Elements & Principles of Design

Practice mindfully using the EoD's.

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​​Skills Built:

  • visual hierarchy

  • contrast

  • balance

C

Line Control Practice
 

Develop your hand-eye co-ordination using a drawing tablet.

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Skills Built:

  • line confidence

  • pressure control

  • precision

D

Colour Theory
 

Learn about the relationships between colours.

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Skills Built:​

  • colour harmony

  • blending

  • contrast

    Each exercise should ONLY take 1-3 classes to complete.    

LVL1 CHECKPOINT

AFTER completing BOTH exercises,
but BEFORE moving on:​
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1) Name your files correctly:

  • Firstname-Lastname-CycleNumber-Project-Level-WhichOneYouPicked​

    • ex) Laura-Ulrich-1-CardDesign-1-AMotif

  • Failure to follow this naming protocol will lead to a missing mark.

  • Use hyphens in image or file names --- no spaces.

    • Even though Windows and Mac computers allow spaces, the web is built on systems that do not handle spaces well. When a file name has a space, web browsers often change it to %20, which can cause broken links or make files not load correctly.

    • Using hyphens (-) instead of spaces helps your files work properly online.

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2) Do the level 1 reflection

  • Download the template.

  • Move it to your Media Design folder in your OneDrive.

  • RENAME IT

    • Firstname-Lastname-CycleNumber-Project-Level

    • ex) Laura-Ulrich-1-ActionFigure-1

  • Answer the questions. You can focus on one exercise or answer for both.

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3) Hand in all 3 files

Click here.

Level 2

​BEFORE YOU BEGIN

​1) GET the level 2 DESIGN BOOKLET

  • Download the template.

  • Move it to your Media Design folder in your OneDrive.

  • RENAME IT

    • Firstname-Lastname-CycleNumber-Project-Level

    • ex) Laura-Ulrich-1-ActionFigure-2

    • Failure to follow this naming protocol will lead to a missing mark.

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2) Choose your level 2 assignment (below)​

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3) Start the booklet before starting your assignment

  • Answer the questions in the following sections:

    1. The Assignment-ID and timeline questions.

    2. KNOW WHAT YOU’RE PRACTICING​

    3. FEEDBACK

    4. PLAN YOUR APPROACH

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4) do your assignment​

Pick and Do 1 Assignment:

A

Symbolic Icon Challenge

Design symbols with meaning.

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Focus On:

  • symbolism

  • visual language and storytelling

  • creating a set that belongs together

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Choose this if you like designing symbols with meaning and want your cards to clearly communicate ideas.

B

Visual Spectrum

Explore contrast, mood, and style

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Focus on:

  • showing contrast in mood or style

  • visual decision making

  • consistency within each version

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Choose this if you want to experiment with mood, style, and contrast to give your card deck a strong personality.

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C

Patterns and Card Backs

Create a repeating design system.

 

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Focus On:

  • repetition and unity

  • layout logic

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Choose this if you enjoy repetition and organization and want your deck to feel cohesive and professional.

LVL2 CHECKPOINT

AFTER completing your assignment,
but BEFORE moving on:​
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1) Name your file(s) correctly:

  • Firstname-Lastname-CycleNumber-Project-Level-WhichOneYouPicked​

    • ex) Laura-Ulrich-1-ActionFigure-2-CTextureStudy

  • Failure to follow this naming protocol will lead to a missing mark.

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2) FINISH the level 2 reflection​

  • aka the last section in the Design Booklet.

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3) Hand in BOTH (2) files

Click here.

Level 3

The Project

It's time to shine! For this project, you will create 3-5 cards, plus the back, for your own custom card deck. Your cards could be playing cards, trading cards, tarot, or something else (just clear it with your teacher first).

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Your goal is to design cards that work together as a set and clearly communicate your chosen theme or concept.


Each card should be visually unified with the others, while also standing out as an individual design.

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​​​​​​BEFORE YOU BEGIN

​1) GET the level 3 DESIGN BOOKLET

  • Download the template.

  • Move it to your Media Design folder in your OneDrive.

  • RENAME IT

    • Firstname-Lastname-CycleNumber-Project-Level

    • ex) Laura-Ulrich-1-ActionFigure-3​

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​2) fill out the booklet as you do the project.

Your Card Deck must include:

  • 3 to 5 unique cards, each with distinct but related designs

  • A back design that ties the deck together visually

  • Clear use of symbols, motifs, or icons that support your deck’s theme

  • Thoughtful use of colour, typography, and layout

  • Designs that are readable and effective at card size

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Focus on:

  • Consistent and cohesive visual style across all cards

  • Clear, meaningful design choices that support your theme

  • Effective use of space, colour, and hierarchy

  • Attention to detail and craftsmanship without losing simplicity

 

Ready to Make?

​Set Up Your Document:

  • Canvas Size for...

PLAYING cards = 63.5 x 89 millimeters

TAROT cards = 70 x 120 millimeters

  • Make sure you tick the Artboards box (next to Orientation)

  • Click Create

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  • In the Layers Panel, you will see a special Layer Group called "Artboard 1".

  • Right-click it and choose "Duplicate Artboard".

  • Change the name to "Artboard 2", "3", etc.

  • Repeat until you have an artboard for each of your cards AND your back.

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Keep your layers organized and named.

One card design per Artboard group.

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​Want to draw on paper?:

 

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To Help You Get Started:

1) Define Your Deck’s Purpose & Theme
Is your deck for playing games, telling stories, or exploring ideas? What mood or style fits your concept?

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2) Plan Your Cards
Sketch thumbnails of your card designs. Think about what symbols, numbers, or images each card needs.

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3) Build Your Visual Vocabulary
Create motifs, icons, or patterns that will appear across the deck for unity.

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4) Design Your Cards
Focus on clear composition, readable text, and balanced use of colour and space.

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5) Design the Card Back
Make sure the back design complements the front cards and reflects the overall theme.

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6) Reflect and Revise
Use your Design Booklet to track your choices and make improvements.

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This project brings together everything you practiced in Levels 1 and 2:
you've got this!​​​

LVL3 CHECKPOINT

AFTER completing your project:​
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1) Name your file(s) correctly:

  • Firstname-Lastname-CycleNumber-Project-Level

    • ex) Laura-Ulrich-1-CardDesign-3

  • Failure to follow this naming protocol will lead to a missing mark.

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2) FINISH the level 3 reflection​

  • aka the last section in the Design Booklet.

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3) Hand in BOTH (2) files

Click here.

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4) Return to the Media Design page and repeat the 1-2-3 cycle with a new project!​​

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