Polaris Card Deck

FALL 2024 | ROLES: ILLUSTRATION, CHARACTER DESIGN, BRANDING, PACKAGING

A deck of cards inspired by space.

THE BRIEF

The primary objective for this project was to develop a graphic concept for an original deck of cards comprising of 52 cards, four suits of thirteen ranks, a joker and packaging. The deck also needed to contain a coherent visual language and implement the design within the fixed framework of the cards.

THE CONCEPT

The Polaris Playing Cards is based on a cosmic narrative centered around the celestial rulers of the galaxy:

The Moon Queen rules the of the night.
The Sun King reigns over the day, both bringing light and balance to the universe.
Their Star Child is a being of light, balance, and curiosity, traveling between both realms.
The Joker who embodies black holes: chaos, unpredictability, and the hidden forces of the universe.

Every card in the deck reflects this story, inviting players into a greater cosmic world. The deck blends traditional card structure with this celestial theme, creating a unique playing experience.

THE PROCESS

I began by conceptualizing the backstory and roles of each character in the myth. From there, I sketched out preliminary designs, creating distinct visual traits for each character to reflect their personalities. I was inspired by my favorite storylines involving space or just magic in general such as Sailor Moon, ACOTAR, Genshin Impact, music (Red Velvet’s Cosmic to be exact), and even Nordic Mythology.

I began by developing the backstories of each character. I wanted the figures in Polaris to have deep, meaningful roles within the universe, so I started with the Moon Queen:

She was born into a noble family and began as an ordinary prophetess devoted to a life of holiness. When the old queen passed away (more like faded into obscurity and stardust), the council selected her as the new queen due to her extraordinary purity and reverence. Upon retiring from her position, the Moon Queen will become the High Priestess, transitioning into a spiritual role, guiding the temple and remaining a figure of wisdom.
Once she ascends to the throne, her eyes remain shut, but through magic, she can still “see.” She is responsible for rising and setting the moon, regulating tides, and overseeing the stars, with the assistance of her star aides who serve her.

Next, I moved onto the Sun King:

His position is for life, and he must keep his eyes open forever due to magic. He governs the rise and set of the sun, as well as regulating the temperature of the entire galaxy. As the ruler of the cosmos, he carries immense responsibility and power.

Afterwards, I wanted to make the Jack card more interesting than having a regular “Jack” position.

I decided to create the Star Child:

Their gender is unknown, adding an element of mystery to the character. They could choose to rule the cosmos from either position, but instead they wish to create a new role: leading the stars.

Finally, I developed the Joker, the Moon Queen’s older brother:

He controls black holes, a powerful and dangerous ability that makes him the cosmic disruptor. Despite his troubled relationship with the family, he has promised not to cause chaos.
He serves as a necessary but enigmatic figure. He is the black sheep who still has his loyalty to his family but struggles with unresolved conflicts.