News: Bicycle Speakeasy Playing Cards Now Available To Club 808 Members

Today USPCC Bicycle released the third deck in Club 808, an exclusive membership based club for Bicycle's best fans. The new deck is called Speakeasy and is an homage to the prohibition era. There were only 5000 decks printed and Club 808 members are limited to 24 decks at $7.99/deck.

The deck was scheduled to be out on June 1st but was released a day earlier.

Here are pictures of the Speakeasy Playing Card Deck courtesy of Club 808:

News: Midnight Card Company Releases Both Joker Designs for Upcoming Imperia lDeck

The Midnight Card Company released two Joker designs for their upcoming playing card deck on their Facebook page this evening (5/30).  Midnight has been periodically releasing designs for the upcoming deck called Imperial on Facebook, which currently has no release date.

The entire deck's theme centers around Fabergé eggs or Russian Imperial eggs, which are extremely rare jeweled eggs created in the Russian Empire in the late 1800's to early 1900's.

Here are the Jokers courtesy of Midnight Card Company's Facebook page.



Follow Midnight Card Company on Facebook and on their website.

News: UnCommon Beat to Offer Portofino Hardcover Deck Case with Upcoming Kickstarter

From Uncommon Beat (5/30/2013):

We wanted to share with you the hardcover case we developed as a compliment to the Black Book of Cards deck.  We took the concept of a hardbound book to create an actual case that can be used to protect the deck in your pocket or used to store and display your deck collection creating a sleek library look and feel.  Take a look at the Portofino Hardcover Deck Case that we will be making available during the Black Book of Cards Kickstarter (Coming Soon).

The Portofino Hardcover is a case and not a card clip. Each hardcover case is handmade with quality materials from the inside book board to the outer cover. The Portofino case is covered in a soft and supple high end material that simulates a quality leather look and feel yet is exceptionally strong by being oil, water, and scuff resistant lending itself to be a superior material for the outer hardcover case. When we were experimenting with different types of closures, the long vertical elastic strap turned out to be the most effective option for securing the deck inside of the hardcover. Probably why you see this type of closure on many notebooks and portfolio covers on the market. Now it's available as a hardcover case for your decks as well! We are in the process of experimenting with the inside material and we are currently looking at a soft suede like material that you can see in the photos (Below). 

Card Radar: Eagle Themed Playing Cards by Evan Sykes

Designer Evan Sykes created an eagle-themed playing card design that is currently in the process of becoming a full deck of cards. Evan posted the design along with an early sketch and vector design on his website detailing the start of this deck. The design was originally made for the clubs and organizations section of Eastern Washington University's newspaper, The Easterner.

There is currently no information on when this deck will be finished, what stock/finish it will have or who will produce it.

Here are two court cards:





Early concept sketches and vector:





Here are the original plans for the deck that were meant for EWU's school newspaper. which was posted on Behance:

Kickstarter: ROYAL OPTIK Court Spades and Custom Seal Unveiled

The instantly backed ROYAL OPTIK Playing Card project by Uusi unveiled the custom seal and the court spades, including the Ace of Spades today on their Kickstarter. The seal was released in direct response to being backed 300% the initial goal amount. They currently have over $30K in pledge money and will cease taking backers on June 17, 2013.

Here is a look at the custom seal courtesy of their Kickstarter project page:

And the Court Spades:

Card Radar: Fogo Island Inn Playing Cards by Dan Perrella

Toronto designer Dan Perrella created a unique deck of playing cards that incorporates the culture and history surrounding an iconic hotel called Fogo Island Inn, located in Newfoundland. The deck is not regular deck size and breaks rules of playing card design much like the hotel is not your traditional hotel. The deck is unique gift to guests that stay at the hotel. You can not order these cards online.

Here are photos of the unique deck courtesy of Dan Perella's website:





The hotel courtesy of the Fogo Island Inn Facebook page:

TuckCase: 10 Reasons Why Your Playing Card Kickstarter/Crowdfunding Project Failed

There are countless decks that are released on Kickstarter and/or other crowdfunding sites that do not reach funding. There are some that do not even reach 30% funding. I decided to dissect reasons that playing card Kickstarter/crowdfunding projects fail in order to help those that had a failed project and are looking for answers.

1 - The playing cards do not follow the rules: Aside from general design rules, there are also certain rules that should be incorporated into playing card design. It is possible you may have trouble getting funding if your playing cards do not meet the following:

• The Suicide King must be the King of Hearts.


• The Man With The Ax must be the King of Diamonds.


• One-Eyed Royals are the Jack of Spades, Jack of Hearts and the King of Diamonds.


• The back design should be two-way or bi-directional.

Tip: If you have to break a rule, give a reason and explain thoroughly.

2 - Design is not completed: Often times a Kickstarter is put live but the actual project doesn't have many designs to go by. For example, the recent Rabbit Rabbit project does not have a single complete design or known concept or theme even. It is very hard getting funding for a project that is nowhere near complete.

Tip: If you must go live before having a complete deck, make sure at the very minimum you have a back design and a court card design. Having a theme is step one to success.

3 - Poor card design: This is a very obvious reason why a project does not get funded. However, it is hard for the project owner to come to terms with as they usually feel they have a great design when they go live.

This can sometimes be considered a lazy design as well when the art looks like clip art.

Tip: With any playing card kickstarter project, get it critiqued and looked at by others before finalizing and going live.

4 - Low funding limit: This occurs when the project owners do not do research or contact USPCC before going live. A playing card project will cost well above $1K so if you put your pledge amount that low it will be very apparent to the card community that you do not know what you are getting yourself into. Playing card projects typically ask upwards of $7K to $8K.

Tip: Do research into playing card production costs. If you only need a small amount to go live, be open about where the other money is coming from to fund the project.

5 - Funding limit is too high: Don't be greedy! Similar to the last problem, the card community knows what a deck takes to be created. If you ask for over $25K for a playing card deck it may be a stretch for you to get the funding. It is possible to reach that goal as some decks have been funded well over that but they initially asked for less. This is somewhat happening with the Voyager deck currently on Kickstarter. Although they asked for a modest $12K, they only raised about $9K. With only a few hours left, they may make it but talk about a close call.

Tip: If you need more than what a deck run usually goes for, be transparent with people. Let them know what you will use the funds for and why you need it.

6 - No credibility: "Who are you?" A big reason why I don't pledge for projects sometimes is because the creator does nothing to show me who they are and why I think they will be able to get the job done. If a project has no credibility, it is most likely that they will also be guilty of other issues discussed in this post.

Tip: Show us a picture of yourself, join the community, make friends, pledge/support other projects.

7 - Very little or incomplete information: So the design is great but who is printing it? USPCC? Another company? Why do you want this deck? What is the story behind this deck? What stock are you using on this deck? Etc....These are the questions that backers want answered before hitting go!

Tip: Don't just put up a few pictures and be done with it. Give the details and be upfront. Explain the story behind your deck, the amount of work you put into it and what it is all about.

8 - Project is rushed: A lot of times people go live once they have a design. However, the design is only the first part. It will be clear if your project is rushed or not. For starters, the design will most likely be incomplete. It will also be clear that no research was done on playing card production. Add-ons and stretch goals were not thought out or planned.

Tip: Spend time getting the details figured out. Look at every possible situation that can occur from printing to the legality of the design to the event of over-funding. How will you handle it all? Take time and cover all the bases before you go live.

9 - No marketing/outreach: You can't just go live on Kickstarter and think everyone will come out and fund your deck. It is basic marketing that you must push your project out there in order for people to buy in.

Tip: Join card community forums, make friends and get everyone to believe in and share your project. Don't be afraid to create a blogspot or wordpress site to blog about your process. People love a good "behind the scenes" story, so give them one!

10 - Poor timing/competition: Despite getting everything about your deck right, you could just launch your project at a bad time. Maybe there are 5 other decks currently in funding that are getting the card community's attention, which is making your project an after thought.

Tip: Find out when projects are launching or when they are ending. Try to plan going live when a big project ends funding or when there is a lull in playing card projects to fund. Make room for yourself by not going live when everyone else goes live.

These were just 10 reasons playing card Kickstarter projects fail but I am sure there are plenty more. Feel free to comment other reasons.

Review: Custom Tuck Cases/Playing Card Boxes

Last week I wrote about a custom Houdini Tuck Case and ever since then I have been on the hunt for more custom/handmade tuck cases to share. Here are a few custom tuck cases that I found primarily on Etsy that would be great for any collection or as a gift. If anything they are perfect for protecting the cards we love.

Wooden Steampunk Tuck Case on Etsy

This tuck case is all wooden and uses craft materials along with various painting techniques to get the weathered look. This tuck case would be great for the Theory 11 Steampunk playing cards.





White Oak and Walnut Tuck Case on Etsy

This is more for the wordworking card collector. Big enough to fit two card decks, this tuck case is all wooden made out of white oak and walnut. It also features a decorative but functional latch to keep the cards secure.





Zebrawood and Peruvian Walnut Wooden Tuck Case on Etsy

Similar to the previous tuck case this wooden tuck case only holds one deck of playing cards. However, it is unique as it hold a small pencil and a pad for game scoring. It is also held together when closed by earth magnets.





Leather Tuck Case on Esty.

This leather tuck case was all hand sewn. This is much easier to carry around than a wooden box but still protects your playing cards in a classy display.





Vintage Leather Tuck Case on Etsy

This tuck case is one of a kind!!! It is a leather covered wooden tuck case with a floral design on the top. Unlike a lot of tuck cases that only hold two decks, this vintage tuck case holds three decks of cards.





Note: If purchased on etsy, the case comes with the three decks of cards in the first picture.

1950's 8 Playing Card Deck "Tuck Case" on Etsy

This is an interesting find on Etsy.  Although I am not sure of the exact value associated to the playing cards that come with this case, this case would be great for any collector's 8 best decks. According to the Etsy page, this case was a corporate gift from the Iron & Steel Company, Chicago.





Vintage Book Playing Card Tuck Case on Etsy

Trying to hide your favorite decks? This playing card case is disguised as two mini books (standard playing card size). These are metal covered in leather.





Velvet Book Playing Card Tuck Case on Etsy

In the same style as the previous "book" case, this case is covered in velvet.









Do you know of any interesting playing card cases or clips? Please comment below.

Card Radar: Motorcycle Culture Playing Card

LA based graphic designer Nils Davy created a motorcycle playing card design that mixes traditional court cards with cafe racer culture. According to his Behance account, Nils is pitching a personal playing card design project to multiple motorcycle accessory companies. However, his personal website states the cards were designed for the motorcycle club he belongs to but is currently looking for someone to back and produce the deck.  At this point, Nils has a concept and is in need of a publisher or producer.

Although still in early stages with a need for financial backing, this concept needs work but with some tweaking can be a very cool deck. It is clear Nils knows how to design. However, One huge issue with this deck is that the King of Spades is not the Suicide King. If Nils is going to get interest from the card community or the Kickstarter community or anyone that knows cards, he himself will have to learn a thing or two about cards.

News: Weekly News - 5/24/2013

Every Friday I've decided to write a weekly news post that will summarize events that took place in the week. It will range from Kickstarter launches to news/updates on other projects that I am covering.

• The Ultimate Zombie Deck reached its funding goal with 17 days to spare. There are current talks of a black deck being added as an add on if they can reach a certain amount by the date of funding.


• Rick Davidson launched the start of his project, Origins, with his website http://www.originscards.com/


• On 5/24/2013 Ellusionist announced an upcoming Playing Card Clip on their Facebook page with no date for an actual launch.

• The Blue Crown released the White Aladdin Playing Cards on 5/24/2013.


• Federal 52 released teaser images of Limited Edition Reserve Note Deck.

Kickstarter project launches:

• Today at 6pm EST/3pm PST, the Bicycle Elves and Orcs Playing Card Project launched on Kickstarter. The project is brought to Kickstarter by the same team that brought the Steampunk Cthulhu deck, which was funded this year. At launch there will be 50 early bird specials, this time for $6 each so head over there now to grab it up.

• Pippoglyph Playing Card project was relaunched on 5/24/2013 after an unsuccessful funding round in April 2013.


• Rabbit Rabbit Playing Card project was launched on 5/24/2013.


• Native Art Playing Card project was launched on 5/21/2013.


• Wealth Playing Card project was re-launched on 5/22/2013.


• E8 Garden Playing Card project was launched on 5/20/2013.

Kickstarter: Federal 52 Releases Teaser of LE Reserve Note Tuck Case

Jackson Robinson sent out an update through Kickstarter with two teaser images of the upcoming Federal 52 Part 2 Limited Edition Reserve Note Decks. All we know at the current time is that there will only be 1000 printed, individually numbered with Bee Card Stock.

These will be at the higher end of the pledge tiers.

Federal 52 Part 2 still has no release date but is supposed to be out in mid-June.

Review: Bicycle Club 808 Playing Cards

The Bicycle Club 808 Playing Cards are the intro cards exclusive to the newly launched "VIP" or membership fan club by USPCC/Bicycle of the same name. The club launched January 1, 2013 and gives members a "back stage pass" to exclusive content and limited edition playing cards from USPCC/Bicycle. The Bicycle Club 808 can only be acquired at the time of the membership purchase. It is not sold anywhere else on the site, even to members of 808. If you do not join, your best bet is to look on ebay, a forum or friend.



As far as being a collector goes, this deck is a must have simply because it is a one time only exclusive. If you are a collector but do not have this deck, or I should say membership, I would suggest getting it. Club 808, which launched with mostly positive reviews, targets "super" fans of the Bicycle brand. At the current time they have released two member only decks (Griffin deck and the Cigar deck) with plans to release more very soon. Performance and art aside, join this club simply because of Bicycle's history and to get these decks first hand or else you will need to look far and wide.

Some new to the industry or Bicycle may wonder about the number "808." Here is a little background about "808" from the Bicycle Playing Card site:

"The Joker is an American invention dating from about 1865 and has made different appearances in the Bicycle® card line. The first type represented a man on a high-wheeled bike. The bicycle later acquired two wheels of normal size. Then followed a series of playing card kings on bikes. These cyclists wheel past a milestone marked "808." Contrary to some opinions, this number has no mystical meaning. It is merely a reference number distinguishing this brand from others (such as "606") by the same company."

Now on to the deck....

The specs:

Name: Bicycle Club 808
Company:  USPCC/Bicycle 
Release Date: January 1, 2013
Stock: Standard
Finish:  Standard Air Cushion Finish
Colors: Standard face colors, Black and White
Face: Standard
Size: Poker

The deck comes with 56 cards including a double back and ad card. The design was done by designers Emily Webb and Ronny Young. The tuck case design is black and white that pulls in many elements from the Bicycle brand. In fact, the design somewhat modernizes a deck back from the start of Bicycle in the late 1800's as seen below.

Taken from http://www.bicyclecards.com/[

For example, the bicycle wheel that is featured on many Bicycle backs and Jokers is worked into the background of the Club 808 design. The floral and confetti-type patterns found on the historical deck are updated and swirl and fill in the background as well. However, the design's centerpiece and main focus is on a big typographical "Club 808" logo. I enjoy how they bring in the original "808" but in a modern new school design with a touch of history.

The typographical logo makes its return on the backs of the cards with the "808" being the turn point of the two way back. It doesn't matter which way you turn it because the "808" is always right side up.  As a branded deck for the launch of their exclusive membership, I love how they play up the Club's name and historical roots.



The court cards, number cards and the Jokers do not change a bit from a Bicycle Standard playing card deck. I suppose I would have liked to see more done with the court cards but it stays consistent with the Bicycle brand that everyone knows and loves it. A Joker also features the Bicycle guarantee, which in my book is a must for all Bicycle decks.

My one complaint with this deck is the Ace of Spades. It basically just repeats the "Club 808" logo. The only spade on the Ace of Spades, are the pips. Considering nothing about the face cards is custom, I would have liked them to just keep a Standard Ace of Spades.



These cards perform and are about as durable as any Bicycle Standard. However, I would keep these as a collector's item and wouldn't play with them. Since they were released as an "exclusive" deck for members, I would treat them as exclusive.

Notes on the Bicycle Club 808 Playing Cards:

• Released as the first deck to Bicycle's Fan Club (Club 808)


• Features a black and white design that is modern but takes elements from an original deck.


• No face card customization.


• At this time, can not purchase additional decks once a member of Club 808.

Final Assessment: Overall this deck is a great first deck to receive when joining the Bicycle fan club. It is not crazy elaborate or detailed but it introduces the brand of Club 808. It also reminds us where they came from. I think at a time when USPCC/Bicycle's quality is being questioned more than ever, this was a good move to secure loyalty and trust back from fans. This is a deck I would recommend that you just... collect. You can always find another deck to play with that is less "exclusive", meaning a deck that doesn't come with a membership fee of $19 and is easily replaceable.

Final Score:  8.5

Designers: Interview With The Artist Behind Ellusionist Playing Cards -Lee McKenzie

Artist Lee McKenzie has gone under the radar for some time. In fact, when most talk about the extremely popular playing card decks Arcane, Artifice and Infinity the only constant mentioned is Ellusionist. Often times when a playing card deck is released by a company, the artist takes a back seat to the entire project while the brand or company releasing the deck gets most of the attention. As the financial backer and driver of the project, it makes sense the company would get the glory. However, I thought it was time to shine light on the artist. Without the artist there is no deck. I was able to get in touch with Lee, the artist behind Ellusionist's best decks, and ask him a few questions...

Tuck Case: Can you give a brief background about your career? Education? Self taught? Years as an artist? etc...
Lee McKenzie: I've been creative for as long as I can remember. The short(ish) version is that I was a good drawer as a kid. I studied design and experimented further in high school. I got an A* in '98 and went to college for 4 years for my National and Higher National Diploma in graphic design, photography, film-making, 3D and new media. Adding a computer in the mix was exciting and opened up a whole new world of possibilities. I was even asked to teach classes there as the tutors didn't have experience in certain areas that I did, which was great.

After college in 2002, I schooled myself in motion graphics and visual FX. I did some TV work and short films with friends. In 2004, I eventually landed a job at a DVD production house designing everything from logos to print advertisements to DVD menus and visual FX for TV shows, movies for the BBC, and some crazy 70's horror films, which was awesome.

I met my girl and in 2008 I quit my job. We left the UK and I became freelance, trying to scrape a living together designing for my own clients. I've been designing professionally for 10 years, but I've been creative my whole life. Software was taught to me, but creating art with it has always been an experimental self-taught love-affair and learning from great artists around me.

Tuck Case: How did you get involved with Ellusionist?
Lee McKenzie: As a magician and lover of mystery and wonder for many years, I've grown to adore playing cards. But more importantly, how they can tell a story of their very own, just sitting there on the table or in the hands of a talented conjurer. They're a pandora's box, waiting to be opened. An amazing tale waiting to be told.

So as a magician, I was already aware of Ellusionist. I'm a big fan. When they put out the Ghost, Tigers and Vintage 1800 decks, I got a strange feeling in my stomach. I loved these cards! But I felt something more, like this was some kind of symbol to take notice of. Something came alive in me and gave me the green light to say, "Go and do it, design your own deck, this couldn't feel more right!" As I looked at these cards, I knew I wanted to create something just as amazing. Maybe even better, who knows? I had to try. I knew I was meant to pursue this, so I got to work designing a completely custom deck. It had more detail and creativity than I'd even seen in a deck of cards, and it was mine. I was so excited. I packaged it off to Brad at Ellusionist, along with a letter about how much they inspired me to do this. I wanted my deck to sit alongside their decks and finally pave a meaningful way to make a living with my real passions.

As it turned out, Brad loved the deck! I was so happy. I can't even begin to describe it. However, my deck didn't end up alongside theirs. It stayed undercover but they felt I was the right guy to finally design their very first completely custom deck. Not another Bicycle brand redesign, but a new custom deck all of it's very own. In 2008, I started designing the Arcane deck and I became the Ellusionist playing card designer. My dream of launching my own deck was put on hold for the next 5 years...but not for much longer.

Tuck Case: That first deck you worked on and sent to Brad, what happened to it? Is it still on the shelf?
Lee McKenzie: Yes, the first deck I sent to Brad is still on the shelf. My shelf though. I'd like to re-work a lot of it and one day maybe even release that, but right now I feel it's just not really finished.

Tuck Case: How many decks have you worked on with Ellusionist? Which decks are they?
Lee McKenzie: I worked on 5 decks for Ellusionist. The Arcane, Artifice, Infinity, Fathom and I created the back and ace design for the LTD. The Arcane Ace as was a concept I reworked, but was originally created by Jason Brumbalow. Also, the Artifice Joker was created by another artist as well. They look great.

Photo courtesy of Kenzii.com

Tuck Case: Were you given a lot of creative freedom with the Ellusionist decks or were you told from the start exactly what they wanted?
Lee McKenzie: Most of the time, just sharing the general vision they had for a deck was enough for me to actually nail the design, or at least come very close to that. After that, there's lots of refining and tweaking to make it really come alive. We had a mutual trust we had built up between us, which meant they were happy that I experimented and took the time to come up with something I saw fit, as most likely it was very useful, if not exactly what they wanted and still want. So yes, there was a lot of freedom, but within the scope of the vision. There were also times when we would completely misunderstand each other, and I wasted hours going in one direction when it should have been in another. Luckily, those were rare occasions haha!

Tuck Case: It is said that the Ellusionist decks were extremely challenging for USPCC to create. Did you ever have to change your work because of USPCC limitations?
Lee McKenzie: Never. We just weren't willing to sacrifice a design because the 'how' couldn't be worked out. I put a ton of passion and heart into everything I do. I can't help it. So if something was "undo-able", it was just a case of trying to figure it out because compromising the design was and is not going to please anyone. The design is the deck. Figuring out how to print something that complex and challenging would only serve to help USPCC prepare for more projects like that in the future anyways. Ultimately, it's of great benefit to them, and everyone else in the long run. Win-win-win. You can't push forward in the world by staying still.

Tuck Case: What was the most challenging deck for you to design?
Lee McKenzie: The most challenging deck for me had to be the very first, Arcane. The concept itself is something that is very hard to put your finger on. It's a dramatic combination of mysterious elements, all of which become very difficult when you attempt to define them on a canvas as small as a deck of cards.

Tuck Case: Out of the decks you made, do you have a favorite?
Lee McKenzie: Personally I have 2. Artifice and Infinity. The story behind Artifice is something I find exhilarating. The dedication to the art of deception. Being bold and taking the risk to win. A life pursued by the hustlers who live on the edge. Amazing! Also, something of deep personal interest to me as the path I've taken in life has not been without it's share of risk and bold action.

Infinity was a concept that I originally brought to the table, so maybe I'm biased, but I love the end result. Visions of early magicians at the turn of the century, dabbling in all sorts dark mystical fancies. It's a very old-world deck, almost like a special time travel device to take us into the past. It's depth, feel and the story it tells is something that really excites me. A genuine artifact of a time when magic was more 'real'.

Photo courtesy of Kenzii.com

Tuck Case: Do any other decks on the market stand out to you as a favorite? why?
Lee McKenzie: Rebels. Monarchs. Artisans. Split Spades. Beautiful cards! I love to see great art. The guys responsible for designing those cards are fantastic artists. I love their style and it's great to see so much effort being put into them. I'm also a huge fan of regular Bee backs simply because of their wild gambling roots.

Tuck Case: Who or What do you use for inspiration? Other playing card decks? Artists/designers?
Lee McKenzie: I'd love to say I look at XYZ for inspiration but I can't exactly pin point where my ideas come from. There's so much happening out there to be inspired by. My head is like a cinema, always turning my thoughts into visual stories and movie scenes that usually end up taking shape in reality as creative ideas and inspiration for design. Everything I encounter probably makes its way into my head and may eventually come out onto the screen in one way or another. As each project is so different, there's no one way to 'be inspired' for it. I'm always looking around the Internet for beautiful things, things that move me, feelings and images that tell me visual stories. The outside world, stepping out of your door and getting rid of the roof over your head is a huge tool I use for getting inspired. I can't tell you how many ideas I've had by simply, being outside. That is probably where a lot of visions for my work comes from.

Tuck Case: Other than cards decks, what other design work have you done?
Lee McKenzie: Motion graphics and composting for company ads, DVD menu design for TV shows and movies. Drink labels, various brand logos, website designs and t-shirts. That is the great thing about graphic design - it can be applied to many industries. However, I feel it's best to figure what you enjoy doing most, and frame your life around that as much as possible. Which is why I've decided to stop freelancing and finally move forward with something of my very own. It's an exciting and risky time for me, but I hope it works out. I'll share more soon. (Get Ready!)

Tuck Case: What advice can you give to someone looking to design a deck of cards?
Lee McKenzie: There's room for everyone in this world and I think that being creative is a great way to add value to it. There's 2 paths here: You either want to design cards just for yourself, or, you want to bring them to the world. If it's just for yourself, go for it. Grab a pad of paper or open up the computer and start trying to pour your ideas out and see what happens. It's great to actually make something of your own and enjoy doing it too.

But, if you intend to launch it to the world? What I'd say is to try to add something of your very own. Put enough time and effort in to it to do it justice. There's a lot of, in my opinion, very poorly designed decks out there. Art is subjective, and someone else may like what I don't. That is great, but the point is, don't add to the noise for the sake of it. Do something that matters to you. Just because company ABC is doing this, it doesn't mean that you should too. It's okay to learn from what already exists around you, but try and stamp your own mark in this universe and don't add to the clutter.

If you aren't capable of using the tools needed to design cards, get in touch with someone who can, work with them to fulfill your idea. Just because you can use Photoshop a bit, doesn't mean you should. If you don't have the ability to communicate your own idea in the best way you can, don't half ass it just because you don't know how to do it. Your idea will end up watered down and getting lost. Find someone who can help you realize the vision you have. Either that, or bust your ass learning how to use the tools to make your own vision come to life. The end product should be something that matters to you and that will add value to someone else. If it really matters to you, don't compromise that. Most of all, make sure it's something you enjoy doing. Life's too short for anything else.

______________________________________________________________________________

There you have it - some words of wisdom and insight from the man behind the industry's most intricate and challenging playing card decks. After going back and forth with Lee while setting this interview up, I realized that Lee is an extremely humble person that just loves design, the work that he does and constantly pushing forward for the next best thing in playing card design. Lee is not complacent or stagnant by any means. Without Lee pushing the boundaries with playing card design it is possible that the industry might not be where it is today. I am almost certain of that. With that said, in the coming weeks there will be more information about Lee McKenzie being posted on Tuck Case. For now I will call it a "follow up interview with a special treat" for everyone! Get excited!

In the meantime, check out Lee's work on his website: http://www.kenzii.com

And on Dribbble: http://dribbble.com/Kenzii