5 Things You Should Know About Tangram Playing Cards

Designed by Kiran Kuruvithadam and produced by Murphy’s Magic, the Tangram Playing Cards deck is a tribute to one of the most popular dissection puzzles in the world. What makes this deck truly unique is that every artwork has been designed using Tangram shapes. 

From the card back featuring 2 koi fish swimming in an aqua blue-green pool to the pips, courts, and Ace of Spades- all creatively created utilizing the 7 Tangram shapes. Due to the subdued color palette used, the deck is unassuming at a first glance but when you take a closer look at the artwork design, it is brilliant! Here are 5 things you didn’t know about the Tangram Playing Cards.

1. The design was inspired by Knights Playing Cards. 
Kiran was inspired by Daniel Madison and Chris Ramsay's Knights and by the principle of creating a tabletop game themed deck of cards. Kiran explained. "I wanted to create another 'puzzle/game' themed deck, but no game came into my mind that could be useful for designing a deck of cards until I found my old elementary “arts-project”: a Tangram set that I made out of wood."

2. This is the first deck of cards, where everything has been designed using the Tangram Puzzle.
The ancient game originated in China. The seven tiles are called trans, and according to the game's rules they all have to be used and they have to be positioned without overlapping.

3. Kiran originally thought to contact ArtofPlay 
"Given Dan and Dave’s passion for puzzles as Tangram can be seen on their shelves at the ArtOfPlay headquarters, but I put the project on hold until I was approached by Murphy’s magic for my previous Kickstarter project Papilio playing cards. I took the opportunity and pitched the idea of the Tangram playing cards."

4. The deck includes extra cards for people to solve the Tangram Puzzle.
One card includes instructions and can be cut along the guidelines. Another card contains tangram-silhouettes of creatures from the Chinese calendar and sea related figures that have to be solved.

5. This water-themed deck of cards could have a follow-up edition.
"Probably air or fire themed…. but no spoilers…!"


Available right now from your favorite Murphy’s Magic retailer!