A card game with an ace up its sleeve. It's like if Uno and the movie Inception had a child.
This project aimed to create a uniquely designed set of 5 cards and a card deck. The project had to have physical prototypes printed and cut out, along with digital mock-ups demonstrating the product. There is a vast history regarding the origins of card decks, so a primary focus was placed on changing how it is played and bringing to question form and function.
- Creation of a unique card deck that is physically and digital mocked up.
- Minimum of 5 cards must be designed (front and back).
- This project housed a total creation of 9 cards along with a deck, plus a motion graphic.
Initially, various research was conducted to investigate the history and origins of card decks; however, the concept of dimensions that questions the usage, user experience and the form and function of cards was extrapolated from research into some encryption machines, coding, and cyphers during World War II. These ideas and puzzles helped to influence much of the overall design, and the early concepts of a game-within-a-game that ultimately sprang into life. The results combine a standard-looking card deck/game with added layers of depth or dimensionality to allow its usages and purpose to be more than a singular input. Initially, all suits within the card deck were going to house the concept of changing suits, but a change was made to strictly only allow the ace card to serve this functionality as user testing demonstrated an overly complex design that was difficult to follow along with. This user testing process ensured that the final product spoke toward its original intent and design features while balancing usability. Audiences can now ideate upon this card deck and create new games. The possibilities are as endless as their combinations and outcomes.
Lead designer & creator: Greg Gulyas
Software: Illustrator, Photoshop, Blender.
Hardware: Fujifilm X-T4 with 16-80mm lens in a studio environment.
Enigma can allow audiences to appreciate its sleek aesthetics and enable players to create and develop new game ideas with its inherent design feature found within the ace cards. It takes advantage of this extra level of depth by making the ace cards potentially different suits; as the users, players, and opponents interface with the ace, they will find layers of changing suits. This design characteristic allows for a much more memorable experience than a standard typical deck of cards as the users can create various other games to make use of its design features, but it also fundamentally ties into branding, purpose, and meaning regarding the definition of the word Enigma.
Reach out to me at greg.gulyas@hotmail.com to discuss project scope, or alternatively if you are looking for some consultations on how to achieve your ideas, or if you wanna just chat, thats cool too!
