Case Study: Playing Cards for Kids
Medium: Illustrator
Size: 2.5x3.5”
Client: School Project, Ideas & Images
For this project, we were asked to create a new playing card concept and design. We were left with complete freedom, and we were encouraged to think outside the box. I created a set of playing cards for kids between the ages of 3-6. This was a unique challenge, because I had to simplify the concept and pare it down to something that could be easily understood by a child. With this audience in mind, I re-imagined the standard suits into simplified geometric shapes. The face cards were replaced with 3 animals, whose features match the suit they are a part of. Additionally, the number cards have a subtle pattern in the background to reinforce the suit that they are in. The ace card is a star that fits within the designated suit shape, and the Joker card is the “Magic Box”, which combines all of the shapes into one box. All of these elements were thoughtfully considered and designed in order to reinforce the child’s knowledge of shapes, numbers, colours and animals across different forms in a simplistic and straightforward way.
Key Skills Demonstrated
Pattern design
Vector illustration
Concept development