Cardistry: 3 Questions With Joe Feldpausch of 3DOTDECK

Now on Kickstarter, the 3DOTDECK is conceptualized and designed by Joe Feldpausch. For the past decade, Joe has been pursuing cardistry and this interest led him to pursue a degree in creative arts. His dream has always been to integrate his passion for cardistry with his design degree to create something truly unique and special for the cardistry community. On the design of the deck, Joe told Kardify,

I fell in love with intentional design and solving creative problems through reason-based form and shape. My dream has always been to integrate my passion for cardistry with my skill in design to create something truly unique and special for the cardistry community. From that dream, the 3DOTDECK was created!

This unique fully custom cardistry deck features the displacement of three white dots on a black background, adding extra movement and one-of-a-kind visuals when the cards are shuffled or riffled.

Earlier this week, we had a chat with Joe about the inspiration behind 3DOTDECk, the support from the community, and his favorite flourish and playing cards.

What is your inspiration behind the 3DOTDECK? How did you come up with the idea?
I have always loved understated designs, designs that are both practical and fueled with intent, yet also visually striking and meticulously beautiful. When brainstorming ideas for my first deck of cards, I sought to create a minimal, practical focused, timeless design that would aid in enhancing the cardistry artform in every aspect possible. I wished to design a deck that no matter what order, direction, or orientation the cards were facing, the conceptual idea behind the design would not fail. With this vision in mind, and through much trial and error, the 3DOTDECK was born. A visually striking, meticulously designed set of 55 playing cards created solely for the artform of cardistry.

We first noticed the deck on Instagram. What do you think of the playing card community in terms of the feedback and support that you’ve been getting so far?
Sharing my designs with the playing card community has been quite a daunting yet gratifying experience. The 3DOTDECK is very (okay extremely) minimal, which some people no doubt despise. However, understated design is what I am truly passionate about. I wanted to create a deck that I myself would personally love, I could only hope that others see value in the design as well.

Upon sharing the campaign with the community, I am very grateful for the support and kind words which have been coming my way. When others show appreciation for the concept and intentionality behind the design, it truly is the most gratifying experience. Releasing an original deck of cards has been a dream of mine ever since being introduced to cardistry a decade ago. I am hopeful that soon many people around the globe will be able to hold and use something which I have poured my entire heart, time, and efforts towards for the past year.

Finally, what are your favorite card flourishes and decks?
I have always gravitated towards flourishes that are either highly visual, showcase a clear intent, or demonstrate an understanding of unity, rhythm, and visual balance. My move Waterbend (totally not biased here) is one of my favorite flourishes as it represents a highly visual move with clear intent. Regarding rhythm and visual balance, many of the moves created by Nikolaj Honoré demonstrate this beautifully. Take Barolo 2 for example, despite very simple grips he is able to create a beautifully unified flourish through repetition of similar movements and a perfect understanding of visual tension and timing.

Regarding a few of my favorite decks, I really enjoy a nice minimal and bold design (imagine that). Many of the playing cards produced by Lotusinhand stand out amongst others. In particular, I really enjoy their Flux, Duo, Normal, and Solid line of decks. I have always admired their bold designs and their efforts to rethink what a deck of cards can be through their experimental uses of inks, materials, and concepts.

If you want to support Joe and the 3DOTDECK, head over to the campaign page on Kickstarter here! Pledge starts at $10 and the deck will be printed by the USPCC on Classic Bicycle stock, traditionally cut with air cushion finish.

Top 12: Playing Card Decks Selected by Jeremy Griffith

The custom playing cards market has boomed over the past year, investment in crowd-funded decks have surged and new designs and concepts are pushing the boundaries of the simple constraints of one tuck x four suits x thirteen cards.

A real “expert at the card table”, Jeremy Griffith or popularly known as @lost_angelus on Instagram is one of the most knowledgeable card men around. With his background in mathematics, Jeremy has an unparalleled understanding of different card mechanics. Here are his Top 12 playing cards (Jeremys' comments in italics):

12. Gemini Casino: Vegas Blue

Gemini is a fictional casino deck inspired by classics like Jerry's Nugget and Dunes Casino playing cards. Created by Estonian designer Toomas Pintson, Gemini was made to look like a vintage deck you might find in an old Las Vegas warehouse from the ’70s.

Jeremy: This is a throwback deck that just won't give up. The longest lasting deck I've used so far.

11. Three Little Pigs

Produced by Pure Imagination Projects (PIP) and designed by Joe White of Ye Olde Studio, the Three Little Pigs playing cards are inspired by the classic fable. Featuring original hand-drawn artwork, the story of the Three Little Pigs is brilliantly translated into cards.

Jeremy: Few people pull off 'Whimsical' better than Derek McKee. This deck has a gorgeous back paired with a great storybook face.

10.  Cherry v3

The Cherry Casino Playing Cards is a modern take on a retro casino-styled deck. Simple and effective, the backs are minimalistic and features a white swoosh and twin cherries design.

Jeremy: Also a PIP / Derek McKee deck, this one has one of the most luxurious stocks I've ever used, crushed Bee stock from USPCC.

9. Bee "Erdnasium" Squeezers

From Conjuring Arts Research Center and Dan&Dave, the Bee "Erdnaseum" Squeezers deck is an exact reproduction of an early 1900′s classic. The card backs have been imprinted with an original Scott Kim ambigram that says, “S.W. Erdnase” or “W.E. Sanders” when turned end-for-end.

Jeremy: This is my Go-To borderless deck. It's just well made and very very affordable.

8. Mint Limited Edition

From 52Kards, the Mint Limited Edition playing cards provide a merger of form and function. The elegant borderless back design features beautiful tri-color design with gold line accents and masks an incredibly intuitive marking system for the clever magician to take advantage of. The deck showcases gorgeous semi-custom courts, custom pips and indices, custom Ace of Spades and a minimalistic custom tuck box with embossed gold foil and interior printing.

Jeremy: This deck is so hard to come by that I barely use it. But if I had a heavy stock of it, this would probably be in my top 3.

7. The Casual Deck

Simple, sleek and modern. Designed by Paul Robaia, the Casual Playing Cards features a minimal geometric back-design with simplified face cards and a soothing color palette throughout.

Jeremy: Odd looking and totally "Everyday Carry" worthy

6. Road House

From Ellusionist, The Road House Playing Cards are a version of the classic Steamboat deck. Designed with gamblers and card players in mind, but also smooth for magicians. The deck features borderless designs on high quality, thin stock and.traditionally cut, soft-glide finish.

Jeremy: Oban and Daniel made a borderless deck that has a quality out of all proportion to its price point.

5. VISA

VISA Playing Cards is a collaboration between founder Alex Pandrea and magician Patrick Kun. The concept of the deck is based on travel, discovery, and exploration. The deck features a Japanese artwork which represents Asia and includes simplified standard court cards with metallic ink accents along with custom Ace of Spades and Jokers.

Jeremy: Crushed stock that feels like the original Absolute Vodka deck. It just feels like the cards meld into whatever my handling style is.

4. Green Monarchs 

Released by Theory11, the Green Monarchs was the latest edition of the popular luxury deck back in 2015. The deck feature brilliant gold foil on an embossed, forest green tuck case and composed of two layers. It is the most durable tuck case Theory11 has ever made.

Jeremy: I enjoy the cards very much, but for this one, it's the re-enforcement on the tuck box that had me buying bricks of these

3. Vintage Plaid v2

From the Buck twins, the Vintage Plaid Playing Cards is a classy deck that features an embossed tuck complete with gold lettering, and in addition, all around back-design printing within. Not only have the tuck box been recreated, the Buck twins have gone a step further and created an all new Ace of Spades along with two Jokers and an all new typeface that adds a sleek component to the deck’s already rugged yet refined feel.

Jeremy: This deck speaks for itself. It's harder to come by, but worth every penny. Simple, elegant and just a damn good deck of cards.

2. Fulton's Casino v1

Reminiscent of vintage playing cards from casino's like Jerry's Nugget, the Ace Fulton's Casino Playing Cards combine that retro style with a modern stock and finish. Fully custom, no detail was left unnoticed, including a few "security". Printed by the US Playing Card Company

Jeremy: I was gifted a bunch of these by my friend Elliott on my Wedding Day, and from the moment I opened them, I knew these would be ones I only opened on special occasions 

1. Republic No. 02

Republic #2 is the second release in the Republic brand from the Ellusionist Playing Card Co. The clean and simplistic theme and layout draws the eye and makes fan and color change stand-out! Everything about Republic #2 has been distilled to deliver a pure experience.

Jeremy: Long out of print, this deck is still one of my favorites. If you know me at all, then you know me and this deck have a long history, and I created its sequel out of a love for the original. 

Deck View: High Victorian Playing Cards

Grand. Intricate. Ornaments.

Produced by Theory11 and designed in London by Joe White, High Victorian Playing Cards is a stunning deck inspired by the intricate, breathtaking style of the Victorian era. This is one of the most detailed decks we've ever seen. Every element was designed from scratch with painstaking, relentless attention to detail - the Aces, Jokers, and court cards exude the grand excess of ornamentation quintessential to the Victorian era.
The unique back design is intricate with lots of detail. The tuck especially oozes grandeur with incredibly detailed ornamentation in stunning gold and green foil as well as an elegant pattern that embellishes the interior of the stunning tuck.

Available now from JP Games.

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Theory11: Contraband Playing Cards

Another beautifully crafted deck brought to you by the folks at Theory11. Designed in the United Kingdom by Joe White, Contraband Playing Cards were inspired by secret societies, conspiracy theories, and everything unknown.

The Contraband tuck case features gold and black foil and the interior, an elegant black foil design. From the store description: Secret imagery is hidden within the design: the lines of the inner flap construct a face of mystery... literally. 

With over a year in the making, each card within the Contraband deck are custom, from the Aces, Jokers, to the court cards and the backs.

Contraband Playing Cards is available now from Theory11 for $7.95.

Deck View: Three Little Pigs Playing Cards

Ornate. Classic. Fable.

Produced by Pure Imagination Projects (PIP) and designed by Joe White of Ye Olde Studio, the Three Little Pigs playing cards are inspired by the classic fable. Three Little Pigs deck is the next installment of the PIP story series, following Les Méliès and Sleepy Hollow.

The story of the Three Little Pigs is brilliantly hand-illustrated into cards, with each pig representing an ace and the wolf as the spade. The Jokers depict the bubbling cauldron the wolf falls into at the end of the story so ironically, but intentionally so, the “most important” and “least important” parts of the deck are occupied by the wolf.

Some of the most beautiful artwork was found in vintage woodblock prints, and that inspiration definitely shines through the ornate, floral back design of the deck. The Three Little Pigs playing cards were printed by the U.S. Playing Card Co. in a limited edition of 2,500.

Available now from JP Games.

Watch: Theory11's High Victorian Playing Cards on Kardify Spotlight

We've partnered up with @thegentlemanwake on a series of 'spotlight' videos to give you the rundown on some of the latest and unique decks of playing cards around. We aim to publish the 1-minute spotlight video weekly on social media (Facebook: Kardify) and in addition, a link to @thegentlemanwake's full video if you want to have a more comprehensive look at a particular deck.

This week we have the stunning High Victorian Playing Cards from Theory11 and designed by Joe White. The deck is inspired by the intricate, breathtaking style of the Victorian era and features fully custom artwork with intricate details. Find out more in the video below featuring the Target exclusive Red Edition High Victorian Playing Cards. Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE (YouTube: TheGentlemanWake)!

News: Theory11 Just Released High Victorian Playing Cards

Theory11 just released High Victorian Playing Cards and it is STUNNING! Designed in London by Joe White, High Victorian Playing Cards were inspired by the intricate, breathtaking style of the Victorian era.

Eighteen months in the making, every element was designed from scratch with painstaking, relentless attention to detail - the Aces, Jokers, and court cards exude the grand excess of ornamentation quintessential to the Victorian era. The unique back design is intricate with lots of detail.

The tuck oozes grandeur with incredibly detailed ornamentation in stunning gold and green foil as well as an elegant pattern that embellishes the interior of the stunning tuck.




Images are taken from theory11.com

Deck View: Contraband Playing Cards

Elegant. Gold. Unknown.

A beautifully crafted deck by Theory11. Designed in the United Kingdom by Joe White, Contraband Playing Cards were inspired by secret societies, conspiracy theories, and everything unknown. With over a year in the making, each card within the Contraband deck are custom, from the Aces, Jokers, to the court cards and the backs. The face cards are pretty much standard except for a faded look to the spots and this effect is carried over to the custom court cards.

The Contraband tuck case features gold and black foil and the interior, an elegant black foil design. The intricate line work on the tuck back mirrors the eye-catching back design which depicts a world map of sorts. Theory11 state that secret imagery is hidden within the design: the lines of the inner flap construct a face of mystery.

Printed by the USPCC, this deck handles beautifully and perfect for any card enthusiasts, sleight of hand artist and cardist. Available at JP Games.

Three Little Pigs Playing Cards by PIP

Pure Imaginations Projects have recently launched their new deck of playing cards, Three Little Pigs on Kickstarter. Founder Derek McKee has long been inspired by classic stories. The idea for a Three Little Pigs themed deck came to mind as a continuation of PIP’s vision of transforming classic stories into playing cards.

Derek said,

From Les Méliès to Sleepy Hollows, the Three Little Pigs deck is the next installment of the Pure Imagination Projects story series. I always thought that some of the most beautiful artwork was found in vintage woodblock prints, and that inspiration definitely shines through our ornate, floral back design.

Beautifully illustrated by London-based illustrator Joe White, the story of the Three Little Pigs is brilliantly translated into cards, with each pig representing an ace and the wolf as the spade.

Staying true to the classic portrait style of face cards, The Three Little Pigs shed new light on a common image, integrating the theme seamlessly into the court cards.

The Jokers depict the bubbling cauldron the wolf falls into at the end of the story so ironically, but intentionally so, the “most important” and “least important” parts of the deck are occupied by the wolf.

In collaboration with Clove St. Press, the tuck case is sure to impress. With four metallic foils and multilevel embossing and debossing on a premium paper stock, The Three Little Pigs’ tuck case is reminiscent of Victorian-era book covers. Stunning!

The deck will be printed by the USPCC on Bee stock using their Q1 Casino-Grade Standards. At the time of writing, the project is only 8% funded with 29 days to go. If want to support the Three Little Pigs Playing Cards, you can find it NOW on Kickstarter! Pledge starts from $12.

News: Pure Imagination Projects' Three Little Pigs Playing Cards Now on Art of Play

Produced by Pure Imagination Projects (PIP) and designed by Joe White of Ye Olde Studio, the Three Little Pigs playing cards are inspired by the classic fable. The deck was originally on Kickstarter but the campaign was abruptly canceled earlier this year. Now, it's popped up on Art Of Play, which is great news because it means you're able to get your hands on it right now.

The idea for a Three Little Pigs themed deck came to mind as a continuation of PIP’s vision of transforming classic stories into playing cards. From Les Méliès to Sleepy Hollows, the Three Little Pigs deck is the next installment of the PIP story series.

Featuring original hand-drawn artwork, the story of the Three Little Pigs is brilliantly translated into cards, with each pig representing an ace and the wolf as the spade. The Jokers depict the bubbling cauldron the wolf falls into at the end of the story so ironically, but intentionally so, the “most important” and “least important” parts of the deck are occupied by the wolf.

Staying true to the classic portrait style of face cards, the Three Little Pigs shed new light on a common image, integrating the theme seamlessly into the court cards. Some of the most beautiful artwork was found in vintage woodblock prints, and that inspiration definitely shines through the ornate, floral back design of the deck.

The Three Little Pigs playing cards were printed by the U.S. Playing Card Co. in a limited edition of 2,500. Now on ArtofPlay.com for $12.

Top 12: Playing Cards of 2015

It's been another busy year for playing cards. From big magic companies to independent designers, 2015 has been filled with excellent new releases, and to celebrate we've compiled 12 of our favourite decks right here. Compiling the list has been a lot fun but really challenging as there are just so many amazing decks this year. If you think we left your favorite deck out, let us know in the comment section below. :)

Note that the selection expressed in this top 12 are solely those of the author and the list is in no particular order.

Avernum

Produced by Passiones Playing Cards and designed by Stefano Protino, Avernum is inspired by Italian poet and philosopher Dante Alighieri's eerie vision of the afterlife seven centuries ago. His vision has been included into one of the masterpieces of the Italian culture: the Divine Comedy (La Divina Commedia). Fully custom, each court card is a work of art by itself and weaves metaphor into an intriguing visual that captures the imagination.

Draconian

Designed by Randy Butterfield, this mesmerizing deck of playing cards are inspired by a time of legendary dragons and features beautiful dragon scales, gorgeous colours and borderless back design. Also, the Faces incorporate a clean design that keeps them very functional and provides the highest level of playability. Draconians are available in 2 different edition, the Lightning (blue) and Spitfire (red) decks.

Omnia Suprema

From Thirdway Industries the Omnia Suprema Playing Cards are meticulously designed by Italian graphic artist, Giovanni Meroni. This stunning deck represents the dimensional plane where Gods live in the Omnia Universe. The gorgeous courts in Suprema depict the ascendency to the divine and show their power with elaborate armors, jewel and wings. Also, the tuck features an elegant red foil plus embossing giving it a very luxurious look and feel.

Heretic

Another incredible deck masterfully created by Stockholm17. Heretic Playing Cards features intricate design and artwork based on alchemy and the hermetic world. The deck is fully custom, from the pips, backs to the court cards. The back design is bright and embellished with intricate sphere's and ribbons in the negative space, making the back very eye-catching. The tuck has a subtle embossing on it with a unique long flap design that tucks into a lip on the tuck. A nice elongated Red seal wraps itself around the bottom of the tuck to secure the flap and features sequential serial numbers.

Scarlett Tally-Ho

Kings Wild Projects has brought us some of the most beautiful, collectible decks in the industry in the last few years. The Scarlett Tally-Ho does not disappoint! Inspired by the iconic brand as well as Jackson Robinson’s daughter (Scarlett), the deck is a beautiful reworking of the classic Tally Ho’s. The Tuck is a deep red with Gold Foil accents and embossing as well as a “Lattice” like pattern that embellishes the interior of the tuck to complete the custom case. The cards themselves have completely custom courts with 2 gold metallic ink accents on the face cards as well as 1 gold metallic ink accent on the back design presented in the bold, intricate design style that we’ve come to expect from KWP. The Ace of Spades as well as the Jokers design, are an homage to the original key card design and concept.

Contraband

A beautifully crafted deck by Theory11 and designed in the United Kingdom by Joe White, Contraband Playing Cards were inspired by secret societies, conspiracy theories, and everything unknown. Each card within the Contraband deck are custom, from the Aces, Jokers, to the court cards and the backs. The Contraband tuck case features gold and black foil and the interior, an elegant black foil design.

Hive Limited Edition

Stunning! The Limited Edition Hive 2 Playing Card is designed and illustrated by Brendan Hong. Hive 2 does a wonderful job in picking up where the original Hive decks left off. The style and design connects them without being the same. This gorgeous deck features all new custom courts in Brendan’s signature style as well as custom pips, Jokers and Ace of Spades. The tuck is fully embossed with Gold Foil accents and the interior features a gold foil, repeating, “Honeycomb” design that is very striking.

Arcana

One of the most funded deck of the year, Arcana Playing cards blend the traditions of standard playing cards with the secrets of the Tarot. This stunning deck is intricately illustrated by Chris Ovdiyenko. Each royal is illustrated with an unprecedented amount of detail in an engraved style. Elements in the deck includes 12 uniquely crafted Royals and Aces, 4 Major Arcana cards (The Fool, The Lovers, Death, and The Tower), and standard pip number cards. Also, Arcana features a natural pearlized tuck, with embossing and a luxurious blue foil on the tuck interior.

Superior Brand Classic Reserve

Recently available as a limited offering few weeks ago from the Expert Playing Card Co,  the Superior Brand features EPCC's new Robusto Finish and tucks designed by Jackson Robinson. What truly made this deck impressive is the full foil, shimmering back design. Truly eye-catching! Also, the tuck was stamped with a very expensive matte red foil followed by gold foil on top of that.

Tendril Ascendant Special Edition

From the mind of Paul Carpenter, the elegant Tendril: Ascendant playing cards incorporate all the refinements over the years and mixes those with the organic symmetry first seen in the original Tendril. The colors are bold, the borders are intense, the faces are dark and the level of detail has been increased. The Special Edition tucks are individually hand made with personalized die cut on a soft-touch black paper with gold foil.

Joker & the Thief

The Joker and the Thief playing cards is an impressive deck! The design invites attention while striking a balance between style and functionality. The tuck is peppered with lavish touches, and adorned with incredible silver foil. It is embossed on all sides and has a foil stamped interior. The back design is not only intricately beautiful but aesthetically and sentimentally appealing. The themes and connotation from back design continue throughout. The court cards are all fully custom and the Ace of Spades is unique, bold and iconic of this design.

LUXX Palme

From JP Playing Cards and designed by Rick Davidson, creator of the beautiful Origins Cards, Palme is a deck inspired by the beautiful Paisley pattern, which has roots and heritage across the globe. The Palme backs features full-bleed, borderless design, giving this deck a unique look and style which is carried through the deck and onto the tuck. The eye-catching tuck box features a wrap-around design and embossing complete with matte foiled LUXX logo.

Honorable mention: SEASONS by Alex Chin, Classic by UUSI, Antler by Dan & Dave, Kings of India by Humble Raja, Golden Spike Black Ink by Black Ink Playing Cards and Fuego! by Cellar Window.