Kickstarter: 7 Questions with Peter Uscanga of Tasty Playing Cards

 

A year in the making, Tasty Playing Cards is an eye-catching deck inspired by one of the most delicious desserts in the world- ice cream! This delicious looking deck is designed by Peter Uscanga and Lizzie Domínguez from Mexico and spots a pink-light brown colorway that will sure to draw attention when the cards are fanned or flourished.

The deck comes with an melting ice cream card backs, custom Ace of Spades, and ice cream jokers. The courts and pips are standard but with updated color palette to match the theme of the deck. The cards are packaged in an original looking ice cream display tuck case.

Just prior to the launch, we were able to catch-up with Peter for a quick Q&A about himself,  the inspiration & design process behind the Tasty deck and his future plans for the series.

For those of us who don’t know, can you tell us about yourselves and what are your design background?

Well, this deck is being launched by myself (Instagram: @Peter_Uscanga) and Lizzie (Instagram: @Lizziedguez), each focused on a specific area, in order to achieve the best effect in the launch and production of the deck, I am the designer and the creative part of this brand. I studied 4 years in communication focused on advertising, marketing and therefore, have been in the middle of design for a while. On the other hand, Lizzie takes care of the logistics part, having studied Business Administration, and have experience in logistics services. Her experience will be handy for this project. Although it’s our first deck we have clear creative and logistic objectives to be able to carry out this project successfully.

Can you describe the TASTY Playing Cards? and why you're passionate about it?

Tasty Playing Cards are the first decks inspired by one of the most delicious desserts in the world, ice cream. Previously we have seen many very original designs but none as sweet as this one. This is derived from the process of change and separation that is doing the magic of Cardistry. 5 years ago, who can imagine that there will be cards with designs of galaxies, abstract, with textures without borders. The Tasty Playing Cards continues the trend, where a deck is no longer designed to play poker but an extension of one's personality. This is where our passion is born, create a design that complements the fresh personality of the user that will undoubtedly steal the gaze of more than one spectator.

Talk to us a bit about going from the first draft to the final version. How did you get to this finished product?

It was a very long process, after 3 months we did tests with different textures, colors, comments from magicians and cardists to whom we showed the deck. We managed to hit the nail on the head when we created a daring and undoubtedly original design. We made a combination between the risky design of the back and the classic pips and court cards. 

What was your most brilliant breakthrough when designing the deck?

No doubt, the box. Have a look. An ice cream-themed deck wouldn’t make sense if we can't see the full ice cream, and on the box we found it. We use the cut of the box to create a display that will look amazing every time you take your Tasty Playing Cards to action.

With so many playing card projects competing for funding, why should potential backers choose your deck?

No doubt for the originality of the deck, the design, the box and the colors, as we said before. We want to be part of that gap between classic designs and innovative designs of playing card decks. Besides, this first edition will be extremely limited, the goal is to print 980 decks and 20 uncuts. Whoever supports the Kickstarter can have in his hands- a piece of all the effort, dedication and passion that we are making to launch this deck

What’s next? Can we expect more deck designs in the future?

Of course, we seek to consolidate the Tasty Playing Cards as a brand recognized by the cardists and magicians around the world, we now have a second version of the deck ready, with another design of back and with pips and court cards fully customized. It will be a much more risky design. Releasing it or not will depend on the support we have in launching this first version.

Finally, what are your favourite playing cards?

We have many favorite decks, but I think that if we have to choose only one, we would choose the Oddysey playing cards V1, the design is literally out of this world, colors, pips and court cards are a piece of art.

Thank you for your time, Peter and all the best! At the time of writing, the project is only 40% funded with 42 days to go. If want to support the Tasty Playing Cards, you can find it on Kickstarter here.

TASTY Playing Cards will be printed by Hanson Chien Production Co. on Luxury Stock and Magic Finish (similar to Oddysey Playing Cards Boreal Edition). Pledge starts at USD$13.50 on Kickstarter.

First Look: Verana Virtues and Seronda Sentiments by Seasons Playing Cards

In a digitally connected world, Alex Chin of Seasons Playing Cards wanted to explore the non-digital by taking the intangible and making them more physical. The Verana Virtues and Seronda Sentiments playing cards are the second half of the Apothecary Series launched in 2017, based on the idea of capturing these invisible concepts like a feeling, or an idea, and then transforming them into very real items.

On the design, Alex told Kardify,

Each pack is represented by a different suit, color, season, concept, and ingredient type. The full matrix of all of this was mapped out at the beginning but the designs didn't come in for these last 2 decks until later. In this current campaign, the packs being represented is the Heart of Fall and Diamond of Summer.

Like Alex's previous campaign there will be Kickstarter exclusives including custom numbered and autographed gold and silver engraved wraps as well as a new black ebony cabinet of curiosity to house them in.

I'll also be having White Label decks that infamously color change to the touch. Each deck comes individually numbered, signed, and will be gilded by hand (no joke). They were best sellers last year so instead of waiting for a stretch goal this is my first time trying it out to offer them out the gate.

We were told that there will be some standard stretch goals as well as some exciting new stretch goal surprises as the campaign continues. Alex teased,

.. but we won't open that box until later (shhhh).

The campaign will be available on Kickstarter this January 18th, Thursday at 2:00pm CST. You can follow Seasons Playing Cards on Facebook, Instagram, and Kickstarter to get direct notifications on launch.

News: Issue Eight of Kardify Magazine Now Available!

Issue #8 of Kardify magazine is now available to Patrons who pledge $3 or more on our Patreon page. The first issue of 2018 will be a compilation of selected articles we’ve published over mid-December to mid-January. Our goal is to help you stay on top of playing card news.

Funds received from the magazine will help us keep the site running and growing, and bringing new quality content to you. Our aim is to support designers by backing on crowd-funded projects and supporting magic and playing cards retailers with their new releases. If you want to support us, please head over to our Patreon page.

If you have an idea for an article you would like us to pursue, do get in contact with us. We hope you enjoy the read. In this issue:

+ Queens Playing Cards: Find out what we think about Murphys Magic's latest release.

+ 7 Questions with Keshav Mongia: Q&A with the desginer of Millennium Playing Cards.

+ First Release of 2018: VIEWS Playing Cards: Incredible first release of the year from Got Magic?

+ Yellow Fontaines: New collaboration with streetwear brand Chinatown Market.

+ Kings Wild's Flywheels Playing Cards: New limited release (now sold out) from Jackson Robinson.

+ Delirium: The Lost Decks: These adorable little creatures are back with 3 new decks on Kickstarter!

+ Outlaw by Kings & Crooks: After nearly 4 years, Lee Mckenzie is BACK with Outlaw Playing Cards. A fully custom deck... with a bad attitude!

+ Preview: Diamon No 5 Playing Cards: A quick look at the new deck by Artedame Dutch Design Studio.

… and more! 37 pages of articles and deck images. Enjoy!

Kickstarter: Outlaw Playing Cards by Kings & Crooks Launches on Kickstarter

After 4 years, Kings & Crooks are back with a brand new deck! Outlaw Playing Cards is a fully custom deck with a bad attitude and big cojones.

On the design, founder and desginer Lee Mckenzie told Kardify,

Inspired by the wild, ride or die attitude of rebel motorcycle clubs, I got hooked exploring the notorious world and iconic culture of these rule-breaking road warriors and began a mission to create one of the most bad ass decks of playing cards on the planet. A savage, no-holds-barred design that captured the authentic, uncaged outlaw spirit and the fierce freedom these born-to-ride rebels live for.

Complete with motorcycle club Ace of Spades patch and a custom rebel crew of court cards, these are some of the meanest looking Jacks, beautiful Queens and toughest Kings you‘ll ever deal with.

This one is for the hell-raisers. The wild ones, trouble-makers, rebels, and risk-takers. Outlaw playing cards will be printed by the US Playing Card Co. and are available NOW on Kickstarter. Pledge starts at $14.