STARGAZE Cronus & Rhea Playing Cards

STARGAZE Cronus & Rhea by Unique Playing Cards is an immersive sci-fi-inspired deck designed by Max Jung, co-founder of Unique. Drawing from retro anime, cyberpunk, and iconic sci-fi like Cowboy Bebop and Evangelion, the decks merge bold artistry and storytelling.

The collection features two editions on Kickstarter: Cronus red and Rhea in sleek blue colorway. Both showcase minimalist back designs with radiant vertical stripes cutting through a deep black backdrop.

Aces serve as narrative centerpieces, blending space, cybernetics, and organic elements, while the court cards feature striking characters that merge functionality with art. The Jokers, or "Anomalies," depict mysterious beings from the depths of space, adding an enigmatic allure.

The tuck boxes boast intricate cyberpunk designs with Japanese-inspired typography, vibrant Pantone colors, and black hole motifs. Exclusive features like embossed boxes, holographic gilding, and collectible Emblem No. 5 elevate the collection further.

Available NOW for $16 on Kickstarter.

First Look at ASCEND XIX Playing Cards

Unique Playing Cards and designer Tony Aranda collaborate on ASCEND XIX playing cards. Tony Aranda, originally from Buenos Aires, now based in Madrid, is an Industrial Design and Product Development student, showcasing early promise in his creative journey.

ASCEND XIX draws inspiration from the 19th century, a time characterized by various artistic movements like Art Nouveau and Impressionism. It also incorporates elements from the steampunk subgenre, which derives from that era.

Tony’s design approach merges these styles into a meticulously crafted, fully customized deck of playing cards, encompassing everything from the pips to the tuck box. The deck is rich in references that resonate with both the magic and card-playing communities.

The back design of ASCEND XIX encapsulates the elegance and enigma of the 19th century, drawing inspiration from the captivating architecture and intricate details of that era. The deep black background, chosen specifically to evoke the allure of the 19th century, conjures images of top hats, ballroom gowns, cobblestone streets, and gaslit alleys. 

Also, golden patterns adorn the back of each card, paying homage to 19th-century architecture. Delicate filigree and graceful flourishes weave together to create a tapestry of timeless elegance.

The face cards of ASCEND transport you to the 19th century, featuring portraits of distinguished personalities from that era, including elegant ladies and refined gentlemen. These face cards aren’t just symbols of a card game; they are windows into the lives and stories of individuals who defined this epoch. 

The deck is packaged in a tuck case adorned with high-detail foil techniques and is crafted with matte paper that includes inner printing, enhancing its visual appeal.

Ascend XIX launches tomorrow (15th of September 12:00 ET) on Kickstarter.

Easy Playing Cards Mock Up by Unique

The team at Unique Playing Cards is back on Kickstarter with a fascinating project for design enthusiasts and playing card collectors. This time, they are offering a digital bundle of mockups, a deck protection case, and a limited edition Unique Emblem #3 IDD pin to celebrate International Design Day (IDD). Also, the exclusive IDD package contains various products related to playing cards and their design. 

Firstly, the Unique Emblem #3 IDD pin represents the love for design, creativity, and turning ideas into something tangible. The pin is the third addition to the Unique Emblem Collection System and is exclusive, rare, and high-quality.

Secondly, the single-deck acrylic display case by Unique Playing Cards is designed in collaboration with Carat Case Creations and comes engraved with the Unique logo. 

Thirdly, Unique Playing Cards is offering a digital bundle of mockups that includes various layouts. These versatile and affordable mockups will help bring your deck ideas to life with ease. 

The mockups are based on real photos to achieve intentionally imperfectly realistic results, and the package is designed to be used commercially, either to promote your own deck or to sell and showcase your design services to clients.

Finally, the digital booklet “Cards in Your Favor” offers a step-by-step guide for anyone interested in creating a unique and compelling deck of playing cards. The guide takes you through the entire process from ideation to marketing, offering valuable insights and practical tips to ensure your success.

The IDD package is available for $58 and the mock-up bundle for $40 on Kickstarter.

Find Out More About Unique Playing Cards and Their New Deck, NEVERMORE

Introducing Unique Playing Cards, a brand new company working with exceptional designers to make premium the new standard. Unique was founded by Sergio Roca who has been involved in the card community for more than 10 years as a cardist, designer and card producer. During its early stages, Max Jung joined the team as the brand’s strategist and designer. According to Sergio,

We want to provide passionate artists the spotlight of attention that they deserve. And by that, we dedicate ourselves to enhancing the recognition of card designers from all over the world and strengthening their connection to the card community.

After 3 years of development, the Unique team is now more than happy to announce their first deck collaboration NEVERMORE. Crafted from scratch with passion & exceptional skill by the designer Antno Creative. Sergio continued,

This deck has a special place in our hearts. We have been working on it for the last 2 years. Thanks to Antno Creative, who designed this beautiful deck, Unique starts his journey featuring the three most important characteristics in our designs: elegancy, exclusiveness, and quality.

The designer’s intent and influence on this deck are clear. Behind every line, there is a dark passenger who led him to create Nevermore. The American writer Edgar Allan Poe. This deck is a nod to the work, The Raven, written in 1845 by the master of horror. Sergio explained,

antnO is passionate about mystery and everything that surrounds what the human being is not capable of explaining. We seek to reach an understanding, to be able to discern between what is real and what is generated by our subconscious. This sentiment is reflected on the back of his new deck.

The designer wanted to be a continuation of his linear and elegant style. The design of this deck stands out for the simplicity of its shapes in every detail, but looking back, we will see that these simple elements are part of a more complex whole.

The use of dark blue represents the colors of the raven and the night, the red velvet of the divan, the white reflection of the moon and the stars that enter through the window, and the golden tinkle produced by the lamp and fireplace that filled the room. Sergio concludes,

Moving forward we do not want to become “just” a brand that showcases its products, instead, we highly believe in inviting you to take a look behind the scenes. We will guide you through our whole process when creating a deck of cards. We are thrilled to welcome you to enjoy this unique journey with us. You can’t even imagine what is about to come your way…

NEVERMORE launches on Kickstarter on Friday, 12th August. Don’t miss out!