Designers: Interview With The Artist Behind Ellusionist Playing Cards -Lee McKenzie

Artist Lee McKenzie has gone under the radar for some time. In fact, when most talk about the extremely popular playing card decks Arcane, Artifice and Infinity the only constant mentioned is Ellusionist. Often times when a playing card deck is released by a company, the artist takes a back seat to the entire project while the brand or company releasing the deck gets most of the attention. As the financial backer and driver of the project, it makes sense the company would get the glory. However, I thought it was time to shine light on the artist. Without the artist there is no deck. I was able to get in touch with Lee, the artist behind Ellusionist's best decks, and ask him a few questions...

Tuck Case: Can you give a brief background about your career? Education? Self taught? Years as an artist? etc...
Lee McKenzie: I've been creative for as long as I can remember. The short(ish) version is that I was a good drawer as a kid. I studied design and experimented further in high school. I got an A* in '98 and went to college for 4 years for my National and Higher National Diploma in graphic design, photography, film-making, 3D and new media. Adding a computer in the mix was exciting and opened up a whole new world of possibilities. I was even asked to teach classes there as the tutors didn't have experience in certain areas that I did, which was great.

After college in 2002, I schooled myself in motion graphics and visual FX. I did some TV work and short films with friends. In 2004, I eventually landed a job at a DVD production house designing everything from logos to print advertisements to DVD menus and visual FX for TV shows, movies for the BBC, and some crazy 70's horror films, which was awesome.

I met my girl and in 2008 I quit my job. We left the UK and I became freelance, trying to scrape a living together designing for my own clients. I've been designing professionally for 10 years, but I've been creative my whole life. Software was taught to me, but creating art with it has always been an experimental self-taught love-affair and learning from great artists around me.

Tuck Case: How did you get involved with Ellusionist?
Lee McKenzie: As a magician and lover of mystery and wonder for many years, I've grown to adore playing cards. But more importantly, how they can tell a story of their very own, just sitting there on the table or in the hands of a talented conjurer. They're a pandora's box, waiting to be opened. An amazing tale waiting to be told.

So as a magician, I was already aware of Ellusionist. I'm a big fan. When they put out the Ghost, Tigers and Vintage 1800 decks, I got a strange feeling in my stomach. I loved these cards! But I felt something more, like this was some kind of symbol to take notice of. Something came alive in me and gave me the green light to say, "Go and do it, design your own deck, this couldn't feel more right!" As I looked at these cards, I knew I wanted to create something just as amazing. Maybe even better, who knows? I had to try. I knew I was meant to pursue this, so I got to work designing a completely custom deck. It had more detail and creativity than I'd even seen in a deck of cards, and it was mine. I was so excited. I packaged it off to Brad at Ellusionist, along with a letter about how much they inspired me to do this. I wanted my deck to sit alongside their decks and finally pave a meaningful way to make a living with my real passions.

As it turned out, Brad loved the deck! I was so happy. I can't even begin to describe it. However, my deck didn't end up alongside theirs. It stayed undercover but they felt I was the right guy to finally design their very first completely custom deck. Not another Bicycle brand redesign, but a new custom deck all of it's very own. In 2008, I started designing the Arcane deck and I became the Ellusionist playing card designer. My dream of launching my own deck was put on hold for the next 5 years...but not for much longer.

Tuck Case: That first deck you worked on and sent to Brad, what happened to it? Is it still on the shelf?
Lee McKenzie: Yes, the first deck I sent to Brad is still on the shelf. My shelf though. I'd like to re-work a lot of it and one day maybe even release that, but right now I feel it's just not really finished.

Tuck Case: How many decks have you worked on with Ellusionist? Which decks are they?
Lee McKenzie: I worked on 5 decks for Ellusionist. The Arcane, Artifice, Infinity, Fathom and I created the back and ace design for the LTD. The Arcane Ace as was a concept I reworked, but was originally created by Jason Brumbalow. Also, the Artifice Joker was created by another artist as well. They look great.

Photo courtesy of Kenzii.com

Tuck Case: Were you given a lot of creative freedom with the Ellusionist decks or were you told from the start exactly what they wanted?
Lee McKenzie: Most of the time, just sharing the general vision they had for a deck was enough for me to actually nail the design, or at least come very close to that. After that, there's lots of refining and tweaking to make it really come alive. We had a mutual trust we had built up between us, which meant they were happy that I experimented and took the time to come up with something I saw fit, as most likely it was very useful, if not exactly what they wanted and still want. So yes, there was a lot of freedom, but within the scope of the vision. There were also times when we would completely misunderstand each other, and I wasted hours going in one direction when it should have been in another. Luckily, those were rare occasions haha!

Tuck Case: It is said that the Ellusionist decks were extremely challenging for USPCC to create. Did you ever have to change your work because of USPCC limitations?
Lee McKenzie: Never. We just weren't willing to sacrifice a design because the 'how' couldn't be worked out. I put a ton of passion and heart into everything I do. I can't help it. So if something was "undo-able", it was just a case of trying to figure it out because compromising the design was and is not going to please anyone. The design is the deck. Figuring out how to print something that complex and challenging would only serve to help USPCC prepare for more projects like that in the future anyways. Ultimately, it's of great benefit to them, and everyone else in the long run. Win-win-win. You can't push forward in the world by staying still.

Tuck Case: What was the most challenging deck for you to design?
Lee McKenzie: The most challenging deck for me had to be the very first, Arcane. The concept itself is something that is very hard to put your finger on. It's a dramatic combination of mysterious elements, all of which become very difficult when you attempt to define them on a canvas as small as a deck of cards.

Tuck Case: Out of the decks you made, do you have a favorite?
Lee McKenzie: Personally I have 2. Artifice and Infinity. The story behind Artifice is something I find exhilarating. The dedication to the art of deception. Being bold and taking the risk to win. A life pursued by the hustlers who live on the edge. Amazing! Also, something of deep personal interest to me as the path I've taken in life has not been without it's share of risk and bold action.

Infinity was a concept that I originally brought to the table, so maybe I'm biased, but I love the end result. Visions of early magicians at the turn of the century, dabbling in all sorts dark mystical fancies. It's a very old-world deck, almost like a special time travel device to take us into the past. It's depth, feel and the story it tells is something that really excites me. A genuine artifact of a time when magic was more 'real'.

Photo courtesy of Kenzii.com

Tuck Case: Do any other decks on the market stand out to you as a favorite? why?
Lee McKenzie: Rebels. Monarchs. Artisans. Split Spades. Beautiful cards! I love to see great art. The guys responsible for designing those cards are fantastic artists. I love their style and it's great to see so much effort being put into them. I'm also a huge fan of regular Bee backs simply because of their wild gambling roots.

Tuck Case: Who or What do you use for inspiration? Other playing card decks? Artists/designers?
Lee McKenzie: I'd love to say I look at XYZ for inspiration but I can't exactly pin point where my ideas come from. There's so much happening out there to be inspired by. My head is like a cinema, always turning my thoughts into visual stories and movie scenes that usually end up taking shape in reality as creative ideas and inspiration for design. Everything I encounter probably makes its way into my head and may eventually come out onto the screen in one way or another. As each project is so different, there's no one way to 'be inspired' for it. I'm always looking around the Internet for beautiful things, things that move me, feelings and images that tell me visual stories. The outside world, stepping out of your door and getting rid of the roof over your head is a huge tool I use for getting inspired. I can't tell you how many ideas I've had by simply, being outside. That is probably where a lot of visions for my work comes from.

Tuck Case: Other than cards decks, what other design work have you done?
Lee McKenzie: Motion graphics and composting for company ads, DVD menu design for TV shows and movies. Drink labels, various brand logos, website designs and t-shirts. That is the great thing about graphic design - it can be applied to many industries. However, I feel it's best to figure what you enjoy doing most, and frame your life around that as much as possible. Which is why I've decided to stop freelancing and finally move forward with something of my very own. It's an exciting and risky time for me, but I hope it works out. I'll share more soon. (Get Ready!)

Tuck Case: What advice can you give to someone looking to design a deck of cards?
Lee McKenzie: There's room for everyone in this world and I think that being creative is a great way to add value to it. There's 2 paths here: You either want to design cards just for yourself, or, you want to bring them to the world. If it's just for yourself, go for it. Grab a pad of paper or open up the computer and start trying to pour your ideas out and see what happens. It's great to actually make something of your own and enjoy doing it too.

But, if you intend to launch it to the world? What I'd say is to try to add something of your very own. Put enough time and effort in to it to do it justice. There's a lot of, in my opinion, very poorly designed decks out there. Art is subjective, and someone else may like what I don't. That is great, but the point is, don't add to the noise for the sake of it. Do something that matters to you. Just because company ABC is doing this, it doesn't mean that you should too. It's okay to learn from what already exists around you, but try and stamp your own mark in this universe and don't add to the clutter.

If you aren't capable of using the tools needed to design cards, get in touch with someone who can, work with them to fulfill your idea. Just because you can use Photoshop a bit, doesn't mean you should. If you don't have the ability to communicate your own idea in the best way you can, don't half ass it just because you don't know how to do it. Your idea will end up watered down and getting lost. Find someone who can help you realize the vision you have. Either that, or bust your ass learning how to use the tools to make your own vision come to life. The end product should be something that matters to you and that will add value to someone else. If it really matters to you, don't compromise that. Most of all, make sure it's something you enjoy doing. Life's too short for anything else.

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There you have it - some words of wisdom and insight from the man behind the industry's most intricate and challenging playing card decks. After going back and forth with Lee while setting this interview up, I realized that Lee is an extremely humble person that just loves design, the work that he does and constantly pushing forward for the next best thing in playing card design. Lee is not complacent or stagnant by any means. Without Lee pushing the boundaries with playing card design it is possible that the industry might not be where it is today. I am almost certain of that. With that said, in the coming weeks there will be more information about Lee McKenzie being posted on Tuck Case. For now I will call it a "follow up interview with a special treat" for everyone! Get excited!

In the meantime, check out Lee's work on his website: http://www.kenzii.com

And on Dribbble: http://dribbble.com/Kenzii

Designers: Behind the Walls of Lee McKenzie's Empire

First interviewed and profiled on TuckCase for his work with with Ellusionist in early May, Lee McKenzie is currently in the middle of his first ever solo playing card project - EMPIRE. One look at Empire's Kickstarter page and you will find out that Empire is not just about a design, Empire is about a man's self discovery. Empire is the passion and determination that is Lee McKenzie. Lee literally designed Empire on sheer will and drive with only a bootstrap budget and no real place to call home.

In this follow up to the first post on Empire over two weeks ago, we go deeper into what makes Lee tick. We also learn more about Empire and how it evolved from idea to a fully designed deck of cards and the sacrifices Lee made to bring it to life. What you will soon find out is that Empire is not just a deck of playing cards, Empire is a mentality and a vision for greatness.  Read further to learn just how Lee put it all on the line to pursue his dreams and build and Empire.


Tuck Case: This has been a year in the making, was Empire the original name for this deck?
Lee McKenzie: I must admit, I was leaning towards a few others, that I might still use, but Empire seemed to just fit perfectly for the bold story I wanted to tell with the deck. It's quite a common word these days, some might even say cheesy. However, I believe that when we apply the right visual story and meanings, and present them in the right way, they can take on a new, strong personality of their own. That is what I planned to do with Empire. For example, if you think of 'a galaxy far, far away', and then think of the word Empire, suddenly you have a completely different picture in your mind!

Tuck Case: How has the design evolved or changed over time since its inception?
Lee McKenzie: It has never really changed, strangely. When designing for someone else, there's always a vision to fit into and you're never really sure of what that is until you share it with them. It may hit or miss and then you go back to the drawing board. When designing for myself, I take the role of the critic, the cardist, the magician, the collector, the artist, hustler and the poker player. So if I don't like something, it is usually a good sign that others won't too. I could always end up being completely wrong on that, but so far it's really helped create work that many people appreciate as I edit long the way.

Empire was just built, naturally progressing from beginning to end. There are always small shifts and placements to figure out what works best where, but there was no big change of direction. There's not 5-10 different versions that didn't work, just one that slowly came to be 'the one' that I was happy with.

Tuck Case: A lot of collector's look for the Bicycle logo or only collect Bicycle decks, how did you decide to leave out the Bicycle name?
Lee McKenzie: I love Bicycle cards and I'm a huge fan myself. However, having another well known brand all over this deck really didn't sit right with me. I didn't feel that Empire could actually exist as powerfully as I wanted it to, as it's own identity, if the Bicycle brand was used. I didn't want to use it as a tactic to attract collectors, because I felt stronger about it as it's own identity. Now Empire is funded (which is incredible!), I hope it will lead the way to lots of new custom deck opportunities and new avenues to explore. I don't want to have to rely on using the Bicycle name to push me forward with that. I wanted people to like the decks for what they are, all by themselves. I'd never really know if people liked my work for what it is, or because it was just a Bicycle deck they had to have. I'm a great fan of the Bicycle cards finish and stock, which is what I'll be using on Empire. So in every sense of the word, Empire may as well be seen as a Bicycle deck, just without the brand name adorning the box.

Tuck Case: You mentioned the deck will feature Bicycle stock and finish. Can you talk more on why you went with that?
Lee McKenzie: Empires stock is to be the classic Bicycle paper stock with the air-cushion, magic performance finish. I love the weight of that stock, not too thick or thin and with the right amount of ink coverage that will make it a very nice deck to handle. Some of Empire's backers have suggested that they'd like to see an upgrade to Bee casino stock. Although it's a fantastic stock, it's also pricey. The deck already has a lot of care added to the details, which has resulted in a premium price to manufacture. However, if we manage to continue to sky-rocket the pledges, it may be something I'll look at doing.

Tuck Case: The tuck case/box will feature embossing, correct? Any other premium features?
Lee McKenzie: Yes, the tuck will have gold foil stamping on the front and sides and also embossing that raises that foil and highlights it even further. I only wanted to use gold foil as a highlight to accent certain features as I think that too much of it can really look tacky and cheap. The inside of the tuck will also be a deep scarlet red and will include a secret message that I haven't shown on the Kickstarter images. I want it to be a nice surprise for all of the backers :)

Tuck Case: What do you design with? Software? Hardware?
Lee McKenzie: I design using a pen and paper at the beginning. As soon as I have something looking pretty cool I jump on to Adobe Illustrator or Adobe Photoshop to trace and begin the process of designing the concept. I love the unlimited potential of using software. If you have enough experience, you can recreate any vision you see in your mind, which is amazing to me. As a motion graphic artist too, I used Adobe After Effects for all of the animation and composting you see in the Empire trailer. Some people think I had a whole team of animators and big studio help. I wish! It was all me, sitting at my laptop in the cold, using Adobe After Effects. When it's time to pull the story together, I edit with Adobe Premiere. I had some help from a fantastic 3D artist (Adam Sacco), who took my sketches of the Warrior Card Armour and created an amazing 3D render of it. I then used that and all the tools and software mentioned above, to create the epic Empire story and bring it to life in the exact way I had always envisioned.

View the video Lee created for Empire Playing Cards:

Tuck Case: Lets talk more about your vision. The design and concept are pretty epic, when and how did the concept come to you?
Lee McKenzie: I love cinematic themes and powerful names. Empire was inspired by some concepts I first came up with for Ellusionist a long way back. I created a few ideas revolving around grand epic names like Legend etc... but they didn't really go anywhere. When it came to start creating my own deck, I found the list of names I had written years ago. Seeing as though none of them were used, I decided to see what 'fits' best in my head, and what kind of theme I could build around and really create a vision that would excite people.

The theme of Empire seemed to really light me up and it was quite fitting, as I was just one guy, trying to take a bold leap forward and finally lead a greater, more passionate life. It was a reflection of what I was trying to do in my own life by actually creating the deck. As Morgan Freeman (done by impressionist Charlie Hopkinson) put it in the Empire trailer "Every man's life is his Empire...Live one worth remembering". That is a combination of an amazing Bruce Lee quote and what Empire stands for. When I really grasped what Empire really meant to me, and what a powerful message it could be for others to live by, no other concept mattered.

Tuck Case: You talk about putting a lot on the line for this playing card project, can you talk about some of the sacrifices or risks you are making in order to get this project off the ground?
Lee McKenzie: I left the UK 5 years ago with my Australian girlfriend when her visa had expired and we decided to travel and explore the world. I ditched my decent paying job, sold my car, motorbike, cut off my phone, etc... Everything. It was the first of many scary times I'd face in the coming years. It's at that point, I had gotten in touch with Ellusionist on a chance, with a deck I had been working on for about a year in my spare time. They instead hired me to work on Arcane, which was amazing! So I at least knew I had some kind of way to make a living on the road.

We traveled to many places the entire time I was freelancing, but it was incredibly tough. To be away from family and friends and to not really knowing where the next dollar is coming from is a hard way to live that almost pushes you over the edge. However, you learn a lot about yourself. You learn to live with your fears, to live outside your comfort zone and discover your resilience to keep going even when you can't see the next step.

We did this for the last 5 years and spent a lot of time living in places like Thailand, which may sound luxurious, but it was simply survival tactics. It was so cheap to live, which meant the pressure of finding the money for our food or for rent was lifted for a while. Eating one bowl of noodles per day because you're trying to save money (in a cheap country too), is not luxurious I assure you. But I wanted a life of freedom, creativity and experience. I wanted to try and figure out the bigger picture of myself and how to live a life of passion. How could I make a real contribution to the world and maybe even make a decent living so I wouldn't have to return to the "noodle diet"?

Bouncing to and from border to border from England to Canada to Australia and more, meant that we couldn't ever get things like a credit card, or a place we could call our own. Things that people consider very ordinary and things that help you feel a little more secure, weigh very heavily on you and restricts life a great deal.

We've been living with my girlfriend's parents for most of the past 2 years in Australia because we haven't been able to afford to make a start of our own. We've always been trying to figure out a way to combine our passions and build a pathway that would let us share those passions with the world. It's definitely not an easy road, but giving up, forgetting about those dreams and getting a job, was and still is something that I KNOW would kill my dream. We were just lucky enough to have such supportive people in our lives, but the guilt of not being independent is always hanging over us. It's a frustrating, limiting and soul crushing position to be in when you have to depend on others to help you survive, even if they wouldn't have it any other way.

Enough was enough. I started work on my own deck, Empire. I didn't know if it was the right move to make at that moment. However, after years of freelance and Ellusionist work, I just couldn't see a future for myself designing solely for other people, hired to help them build their dreams instead of my own. Empire became my mission and after around 6 months of starting it, I got word that my grandfather was in a critical condition in the UK. Cancer! We didn't even have enough money for flights back to the UK if we planned to continue living after the flight was over. After a nightmare dealing with the airline and prices being raised an extra $1000, we were in a bad way.

We got to the UK, in what turned out to be, just in time. Even though he couldn't speak, we knew exactly what he was trying to tell us when he clutched so tightly onto our hands. I'd never lost anyone before. It was chaos in my mind. At the hospice, the night my grandfather passed away, I made a commitment to dedicate Empire to him. That was what continued to drive me, no matter what. We were staying on a fold out bed on the floor of my friend's house. We couldn't afford an actual place to stay. It was here, for the next 2 months that I turned all the frustration and anger, inwards, towards working on Empire and I officially declared that I would not be doing anymore freelance work. I effectively cut off what small amount of income I had coming in. It seemed like the most stupid/best thing to do, but I had to focus my every effort if I was to make a real success of this deck.

With our very last savings dribbling away, our future was looking the most unstable it had ever looked. We'd become somewhat used to living with the unknown, but this was extreme. We didn't have a place to call home, almost no money left, a head full of dreams and a commitment I'd made to my grandfather resting heavily on my shoulders. We had no future as far as we could see in reality. With some amazing support from family and friends, Empire was finally finished. My commitment was complete and I was so happy I could share my passion and my Granddad with the world.

This has been a dream I've had for a long time. We're still scraping by on the actual last drops of resources we have. This is real. Empire launched over two ago, and about 4 days after that we reached our funding goal. I cannot believe it! Words can't describe the elation I'm feeling right now. It's been one hell of an emotional ride, especially even before Empire. For all of the sacrifice, effort and hardships we've been through to try and live my dream, I finally see a light at the end of the tunnel. If I can just reach that, the last 5 years was worth living every second of. I can finally get some kind of strange closure for my Granddad, knowing that Empire was dedicated to him and has been a success. The battle has been won, but the war isn't over.


Empire Playing Card Project will be in funding for 11 more days when it will cease receiving backers on July 18th. The deck is scheduled to ship in December 2013.

Click here to join Empire on Kickstarter! 

Kickstarter: Ellusionist Designer, Lee McKenzie, Goes Solo with Epic Launch of EMPIRE Playing Cards

Last month, Tuck Case posted an interview with the critically acclaimed Ellusionist playing card designer, Lee McKenzie. At the end of the interview, we hinted at an upcoming project that would blow you away.

"...in the coming weeks there will be more information about Lee McKenzie being posted on Tuck Case. For now I will call it a “follow up interview with a special treat” for everyone! Get excited!"

The wait is over for that special treat. Today, June 18, Lee McKenzie launched the EMPIRE Playing Card project on Kickstarter. This is Lee's first solo playing card project under the newly formed Kings & Crooks Playing Card Co. The project will last 31 days and cease funding on July 18, 2013. If funded, the project is estimated to ship in December 2013.

Click here to visit the EMPIRE Playing Cards Project on Kickstarter.

EMPIRE Playing Cards feature epic imagery that is completely custom from the pips to the backs to the tiniest details on the tuck case. EMPIRE turns traditional playing cards into a royal and majestic masterpiece that makes the perfect deck for any magician, hustler, gambler and/or cardist. The deck includes multiple Latin and English phrases and bold symbols of strength and courage. The entire deck is weaved together with one major theme that is written on the tuck case: "Be Bold. Build Your Empire. Carve Your Dreams On The Face Of The Earth." And that is what Lee McKenzie is doing with this brand new deck of cards.

If funded, the deck will be printed by the United States Playing Card Company (USPCC). It will also feature the finest stock and performance finish that USPCC has to offer. Although Lee is based in the UK, all decks will ship out of the US so as a US backer do not worry about additional shipping charges as you will not incur any. International/non-US backers have shipping costs posted with each reward level.

Because the project uses UK currency, the total US price of your pledge = [Pledge Amount] X [1.57].

Stay posted for Part II of this post as Tuck Case will post an in-depth interview with Lee about the EMPIRE Playing Card Project.

A preview of the deck is below courtesy of Kickstarter:

1-on-1: Lee McKenzie [Updated]

[Update] Yesterday brought some much anticipated news to the Playing Card community, something that’s already caused quite a bit of buzz and excitement, the long awaited follow up to the very successful Empire deck from Lee McKenzie. 

The new project is Empire Bloodlines and will be launching on Kickstarter on July 15th. In the meantime, if you would like to learn a little more about Lee McKenzie, take a moment to read our Original 1-ON-1 Series piece about his background and road to card design. 

 Enjoy!

I would find it hard to believe that if you’re a collector of playing cards, a magician or cardist that you don’t know who Lee McKenzie is. If by chance you don’t, you surely know his work. Lee supplied us with some truly amazing concepts and visions that materialized into some of the most recognizable decks created to this day. Designs such as the Arcane, Infinity, Artifice and the Fathom decks all came from Lee’s vision and creativity.

I truly enjoy talking to all these people; everyone has such a great and interesting story. They all seem to hit the proverbial fork in the road along their walk through life and I was sure that Lee was no different. Although, when the opening statement from your interviewee is…”I was almost arrested when I was 11, and I never felt more alive.” You just hold your breath and enjoy the story…so, enjoy.

Born in Manchester in the UK, Lee has always considered himself creative, although he really didn’t define himself as such, but more so was just being Lee. As a youth Lee was obsessed with Ninja’s, Magic, Spies, Martial Arts, Drawing, Movies and B-Boying, and by his own admission, these things still have a hold on him as an adult.

“Anything you could do with your hands, body and mind that seemed completely impossible or just incredible to see, fascinated me. Day dreaming about the possibilities and then trying to make it happen in reality was something so exhilarating”

So of course being the Ninja Lee was, or is, we all know that practice makes perfect, or almost lands you in jail because of it…

“I vividly remember one night 2 of my best friends and I almost got arrested because of it. After being chased for an hour over rooftops and around our local area, the police thought we were thieves trying to escape a robbery or something and we had been reported. The truth was we were just three 11 year olds on one of our regular ninja training missions. Somehow we were seen and failed to remain hidden in the shadows, but it was a hell of a ride. "They gave us a real run for our money" one of the police offers told my friends Dad. We felt so alive!”

During Lee’s early school years he started to lean heavily towards graphic design and really started to get a feel for what his future would hold, or at least the direction he wanted that path to go.

“…I knew that whatever I ended up doing after school had to involve creating some kind of visual delights for people. It's those obsessions I have that make me come alive.”

With an A* GSCE (UK high school qualifications) for graphic design in school, Lee went on to study Multimedia in College at ND and HND levels, graduating with a Distinction qualification. This opened up an entirely new world for Lee’s creativity. From photography, interactive design, animation, 3D Modeling, motion graphics, and editing web design, Lee found his passion and was in his element. He even ended up teaching underclassman…

“I loved it and ended up being asked to teach 3d design, along with my friend, to students in the year behind us! “

Shortly after College Lee interned at a design agency in Manchester, a job he landed when a college friend had given the agency a good word on his behalf. When funding ran dry at the agency Lee decided to get together with one of his best friends and his older entrepreneurial brother to launch their own design studio. To help spread the word and get their work noticed Lee entered competitions, and actually won many of them, garnering not only the attention they were looking for but enjoying the swag and prizes that came along with the award.
Entering competitions slowly took its toll. Lee realized it was part of paying your dues, but during that time he made sure not to lose sight of his current goal…learning to design movie titles.

During the same time period Lee came across a company in Manchester that specialized in DVD menu production, visual FX for TV and other video production processes. After getting his foot in the door spending a brief time subtitling the children’s TV shows, The Teletubbies and Chronicles of Narnia, Lee started feeling that he had hit a bit of a wall and wasn’t really getting anywhere. Spending his lunch and spare time leaving interesting little graphic treats on his computer for the company to “stumble upon” and not getting any feedback, Lee eventually parted ways with the production company. Later, standing firm on his goals Lee actually turned down the offer to produce a brochure for the company, which was the more graphical role he was interested in, but not exactly what he wanted. He was determined to stay the course and realize what his true ambitions were. 2 months later Lee was contacted once again by the same company, this time with a much more appealing offer, that of the DVD Designer position.

Not to sit back and relax, Lee kept busy on the side with a little help from his friends. Entering short film competitions, producing shorts for local TV stations, and teaching himself the ins and outs of visual effects. Just to keep things “bubbling” as he put it. During this time, and always loving magic, Lee learned about Ellusionist and got his 1st glimpse of the Black Tiger and 1800’s decks they were producing. There are those moments in life when you just have that light bulb go off…..this was Lee’s.

“Incredible. My mind was racing and my heart was thumping. I loved magic. I loved graphic design, why can't I do this? In fact I knew I could do something, maybe even better than what was there, because I had the burning passion and knew I had the ideas for it.”

After a visit to Rome, Lee came back inspired and was ready to set the wheels in motion for his 1st deck design. In an effort to have his deck alongside the other products he admired from Ellusionist, Lee sent his work to Brad Christian in hopes of not only showing his talent, but also start to break into the industry he loved and pursue his dream. With a lot of excitement and nervous nights, Lee got the news he was hoping for…Brad Christian loved Lee’s work, and that hard work was about to pay off. It was 2008 and Lee McKenzie was just about to start designing the 1st of a long and illustrious list of custom decks for Ellusionist, the Arcane deck. As time went by Lee focused and put all his energy into creating and designing some of Ellusionists best-selling products, all the while knowing that he wanted something more…

“I knew one day I'd have my shot, but I didn't have the balls just yet…Ellusionist was such an amazing experience”

In early 2013 Lee had left the freelance world and ceased working with Ellusionist with quite a list of credits to his name. This was also when he launched his 1st independent design on Kickstarter…Empire. At that same time, Lee found himself more determined than ever to realize his dream. We all have personal catalysts that move us along at times; during this time Lee was flying back to the UK to be with his Grandfather, who sadly had passed away while Lee was visiting. His Grandfather’s memory and life helped push Lee forward. As the Empire campaign progressed with all of Lee’s time, effort and income, Lee put everything he had into his dream…

“I had no more income and my girlfriend Megan and I were living on the floor of my incredibly gracious friend’s house. However, I was more determined than ever to prove I could do this, and with my Granddads memory powering me forward, I put everything I could into creating this future.”

That “Future” culminated with the funding goal for the Empire deck not only reached, but surpassed and the realization of Lee’s own company, Kings & Crooks. With the successful campaign, the enormous support from around the world and the “Humbling” compliments Lee received from people, his direction and focus for Kings and Crooks was never clearer.

“The future of Kings & Crooks will be heavily focused on pushing the playing card industry forward by creating fresh ideas and creating many accessories and lifestyle items to complement the magician, hustler and playing card connoisseur in raising their game in their art and life.Taking risks and breaking molds for our art so you can do the impossible with yours, that's my aim. For too long, magic and collectors have had to endure a less than favorable image in the press and minds of people outside the industry. I want to bring innovative style and substance to re-enforce a positive, stylish, powerful image by creating bold lifestyle products and tools to help complement and inspire the talented hustlers, artists and collectors among us. Give them the unique tools to express their passions, to help them come alive and make their mark.”

In the end Lee still has goals and an attachment to the item that has driven his dream for so long…Playing Cards.

“The smell, the feel, the sound. I love everything about playing cards and the possibility they represent.”

He is still passionate about magic, gambling, sleight of hand and still has a sentimental memory that he still hangs on to, memories of himself as a young boy getting his 1st Tally Ho deck. He still loves seeing amazing things done with cards. Whether it’s an amazing trick or well executed flourish. And of course with all of these loves and interests one can’t help but start to build a collection of cards of his own. His goals are very similar to a lot of people, but with a creativity and drive that’s all Lee…

“I want to do what I love, every day, for people who like it and in return make a living from my passions. To elevate the world of playing cards, evolve the industry and make awesome sh** for awesome people. To be able to continue to travel the world, injecting each day with creativity and purpose to enjoy a fulfilled and meaningful existence. To inspire others to take risks for their dreams, make them real and to show that not only is it possible, that it's worth every scary new step to get there. Kings & Crooks is bigger than just playing cards, and I hope in time I can show you all exactly what I mean by that.”

So here we are, 2014 and Lee is more driven than ever. He has great plans for Kings and Crooks, along with the follow up project to the Empire deck. The Kings and Crooks website will be up and running soon, if you haven’t checked it out and signed up for notifications yet, I would recommend doing so. Lee has some great sneak peaks scheduled along with some giveaways planned for this upcoming year and you don’t want to miss out.


Lee was nice enough to share his story and even nicer of him was answering a few more questions:

1. Was it difficult to leave Ellusionist and take that 1st step to fulfilling your dream?
It was difficult in the way that I was effectively cutting off all income, until; hopefully my Empire Kickstarter was successful. It was a risk quitting freelancing cold turkey, but what felt so completely right was that I was doing it for the right reason and every single bone in my body felt it. I had a great run with Ellusionist, but I wanted what seemed impossible for them to give, and something I know I couldn't ask for. To not just be a gun for hire, like any other freelancer, but to be a part of each product that I poured my soul into. If I didn't like magic or playing cards so much and I was just a random designer, things would have been very different, but I knew I wanted to make this a bigger part of my life. It meant so much to me. I felt I was hired to build someone else’s dreams, and I wanted to build my own. They gave me such a great experience and freedom to express myself and I enjoyed every second working with them. It was just time for me to take my shot.

Freelancing has been very tough which is why we went to live in Thailand to save money and live so much cheaper than we could anywhere else. The famous "noodle-diet" was our 1 meal a day and I lost so much weight. However, we loved living there and got a chance to really experience a new life, working on our future without it costing us everything. All I wanted was to share my passion with the world and make a living in return, but it's never that simple.

My Granddads passing shown me we don't have a lot of time here and that no matter what you believe, right now in this very moment, we all have this one life to live. You can spend it in regret, always thinking, “I should have done this… I should have done that…” Or you can take a step toward something much more. Do what makes you happy and brings happiness to others. Everything else is secondary. It's never easy, but nothing worth doing ever is. Plus, it’s so much more rewarding.

I believe you should earn your existence. Contribute to something greater than yourself in life and above all, don't live with regrets and "what ifs". When things around you are quiet and you can finally hear the little voice inside you, take note of what it says, take steps towards something happier and don't listen to anyone else who tries to stop you. There will always be resistance.

2. Do you have a “Creative Process” you go through when working on a new project?
Not so much a process, but a selection of things that help to realize a new idea. First of all, being under the open sky creates a powerful stream of imagination that opens me up to so much possibility. My best ideas for everything have always benefitted from some time outside. My head seems like a little theatre that plays movies of all the possibilities I'm thinking of. Joining the dots. Things just come together and I get so excited. Next, to solidify these thoughts and notes, I love to punch relative keywords into Google and see what random things show up. This creates further insight into strengthening and visualizing a much more real idea. Then, it's playtime. Crank up Photoshop or Illustrator, get a sketchpad going and let the floodgates open. Add, subtract, test, move, recreate, delete, and start again.

This is how it goes until something emerges and a story starts to be told in front of me. It becomes like a quest of perfection, creation and destruction over and over until something clicks and feels right. It's hard to nail down the way creativity flows, but that's a bunch of ways that seem to be common in my approach. If there was an actual "process" I feel things would be more efficient, sure, but maybe at the cost of being less inspired. Pumping out the same lackluster execution can definitely still “do well”, but I can’t sleep at night knowing I short changed anyone else, let alone myself. Some people can. I’m just not him. Betraying yourself or anyone else’s trust for dollars is a dirty game, wrapped up in nice packaging and hard to see.

3. Is there a story behind the name “Kings and Crooks”?
It's possible for you to be the magician, the performer, to exist as the entertainer and showman delighting audiences with your miracles and talent. To lead and serve, to deceive with a smile and to give to the people things only you can. A power only you possess. A King. Or, the very same person could take those hard earned skills, leave the spotlight behind and enter underhandedly into dealings and deceptive practices built to strip others of their cash, their belongings and have no one be the wiser. The darker side, the Crook. The same deceptive talents and skills could serve you in the light or in the shade. The choice is ours and people choose different paths. Both paths involve stepping out into the unknown with your art and doing whatever it takes to make your mark on the world. A bolder breed that play in the spotlight or shadows. Give or take. Delight or deceive. They are the Kings and Crooks, the original hustlers.

4. With Empire marking your 1st independent project and 1st Kickstarter, what were the few days before going live like?
Horrible. Back and forth between sickening nervousness and excitement. I cared so much about this, my first move on my own. I worked solidly for almost a year on this. The trailer, the art, everything took so much from me and here I was days before thinking to myself, "what if no-one even cares?” My worst fear. No more income, we were literally living on our last few hundred pounds. It all came down to this. I've faced a lot of challenging situations before through travelling and trying to walk my own path, but this was about to be public. Judged in front of thousands. What if they hated me and I failed. My entire future depends on what people I don't yet know think of my work and me. It was one of the worst feelings, which soon became one the absolute greatest.

I couldn't believe how soon we got funded and how much everyone loved Empire. I could have easily backed out, and the world would never known. But I'd know and I'd have to live with that every day. I promised my Granddad and myself that I would never live to regret again. So, I took the step and even though I'm nowhere near being able to make living doing this for people, I know its worthwhile journey and more importantly, that it's possible if I keep doing things that scare me and move forward. I have such great support from family, friends and relatives; I'd be letting them down now too, which is always a good way to remove any doubts that creep in along the way. If I didn't care so much about this, I wouldn't be so affected. I guess that’s a good sign and a true testament to the hustling it takes to make your mark on the world. That has become some of the core values of Kings & Crooks.

5. Are there any new projects on the horizon or in the works?
So many projects on the horizon I can't begin to tell you. Playing cards galore and lots more incredibly exciting ideas to complement them. It's a bright future, and if I can count on the support of all the amazing people who've backed me so far, it's going to be a great ride for all of us.

As always, any last thoughts or comments for everyone?
Go, do and be anything you want to. It's almost cliché but life IS too short to choose things that don't make us happy. Every choice we have ever made has brought us to where we are now. If you don't like something about where you are now, you need to start making different decisions. Our destiny is reached not by chance, but by choice. It's not something to be waited for; it's something to be achieved. Smile, travel, do what you love and be happy. When something hits you and you know that it would make you really happy, it might seem risky, but just know that the real risk is standing still and not pursuing it. I've come to see fear as a sign that usually means that you should do something. "The brave may not live forever but the cautious do not live at all". As Bruce and my awesome Morgan Freeman impersonator said in the Empire trailer, "Live a life worth remembering"

Finally, thank you Anthony for this opportunity to share bits of my story with you and your readers. I hope it's an interesting read. And thank you to all everyone who's supported me on this ride, before and after Empire was launched. It may only seem like a deck of cards to many, but your support means more than you'll know.

Onwards and upwards.

I can’t begin to thank Lee enough for taking the time to share and collaborate on this piece with me, Lee’s definitely on the list of people I would love to meet in person. Full of energy, drive, passion and creativity…what’s not to like. If you want to keep track of Lee’s upcoming playing card projects you can visit his site and subscribe at kingsandcrooks.com, follow on Facebook, on twitter. You can find Lee personally at @leemckenzie.

Until next time!


This exclusive 1-on-1 is written by Anthony Ingrassia for kardify. No part of this article can be reproduced without written permission from the author. You can check out Anthony's awesome collection at sparkzcollector.

Review: Empire Playing Cards

A big milestone in my career was the day I stepped from out of the shadows of my boss and did it myself… It was a complete cock-up.

Then there are guys like Lee McKenzie. Lee, once an artist for that company that gets way more hate than it deserves for regurgitating decks in different colours that we still buy because we secretly like them and want them for our ever expanding collection. Lee has recently left that company to build his own; Kings and Crooks.

The first deck for Lee on his own turf was Empire. Blisteringly successful, his project shone with the force of a thousand suns to burn a hole in enough pockets to make Brad tremble a little. It was this deck that saw Lee with Success on Kickstarter and release a deck for magicians and collectors now hard to get your hands on.

Why is Empire so hard to get a hold of these days? Those that had them for sale have sold them, those that bought them have kept them, and I dropped a deck in to the pool, so there’s one less deck to be had.

Empire will likely remain the most sought after Kickstarter deck for us. Even though we can no longer get them, I am constantly bombarded with requests to restock them, however Empire was a limited release and there is just no more to be had. We live in hope for an unlimited release in the future.

Does it work? 

I was, as my wife put it “Embarrassing yourself again Joseph” by practicing in public with this deck, a complete stranger walks up to me and says “that’s a fine deck of cards you have there” and then just walked away, I didn’t even get a chance to tell him where to buy it from. Sure I was taken aback, but I think it is a testament as to how well the deck works.

This deck has a bag of tricks too, the six of heats reveal and the subtle one way feature. Empire is functional and collectable.

The art

Lee McKenzie… ‘Nuff said.

What I don’t like

That I don’t have anymore.

What I do like

What I like is this deck is completely customised, and completely functional. Unlike other highly popular, fully customised decks, this one serves its owner well in the usability category. I also like that they handle just as good as about every other high quality deck ever printed by the USPCC.

Empire! Uhh, what is it good for? Absolutely anything

Want to play poker? Go ahead. Are you a magician? A deck doesn’t come any better. Need a bookmark? Lee has you covered with a box full of them that will make your fellow book club members jealous. Good for XCM and flourishing and also highly collectable, this deck gets my highest rating ever… three thumbs up.


This review is written by Joey Heininger for kardify. No part of this review can be reproduced without written permission from the author. You can check out Joey's Australian based online playing card store at theFlush.com.au Use discount code KARDIFY to save 10% for orders above $50.

Collections: Empire by Lee McKenzie

Empire by Kings and Crooks which is headed up by Lee McKenzie was a breakout deck on Kickstarter. Everything about it was just inspiring. It had a strong design with bold imagery and every single card element was touched and customized. This deck really reflects the designer, Lee is an amazing designer with passion and some very inspired visions.

The bold dark red and gold color pallet lent itself very well to the feel of the deck and the striking and strong Ace of Spades, Jokers and Court cards just rounded off this deck. The custom pips and "Side Band" design also brought a unique feel to the deck when handled, shuffles and fanned.

The tuck box and back design played the perfect set up for the deck inside. Highly recommended, but be warned, Empire is very hard to find and will command a premium price, if you can find them at all.

Kickstarter: 7 Questions with Lee McKenzie of Kings and Crooks

It's great to see Lee McKenzie back in the limelight with his long anticipated follow up to his hugely successful Empire deck. Lee's decided to continue the Empire theme with Empire Bloodlines now LIVE on Kickstarter!

With all the work that goes into a new project and campaign, Lee was still nice enough to spare a little time to give us some insight into Bloodlines and Kings and Crooks.

What was the inspiration of the Bloodlines design?
The original Empire was at the very core of the Bloodlines. I wanted them to be connected as a new deck in the series, but rather than just a new color, I wanted it to have a life of it's own too. To stand strong but still have the epic Empire spirit rushing wildly in it's veins. So you'll see some similar core elements from the original Empires, but tweaked and modified to incorporate a whole new design that surrounds them, which allows the deck to stay true to the Empire theme, but still offer a very fresh and bold look. After waiting almost a a year since the first one,  just a new color would have been a slap in the face to everyone.

Was the intention of your next deck always meant to be a “Continuation” on the Empire deck?
Yep. After the first Kickstarter, I felt like there was still a lot of room to take this concept further and evolve it into something just as bold but with a whole new appeal. With the originals now very rare to find, I wanted to spark life back into the Empire brand and have it around for a lot longer for more people to enjoy.

How much time has gone into the concept and creation of Bloodlines?
I've been working on and off on Empire Bloodlines since around September 2013, before it even had a name. The fulfilment and shipping of the first deck was 99% taken care of in December but there were a handful of folks missing addresses, damaged items, missing items and other things that dragged it out to much later. Combining that with developing and planning Kings & Crooks direction in the future and all the moving parts it would take, the artwork wasn't truly finished until about a month ago (even tho I was still tweaking until 2 days ago)! Creating the trailer for Empire Bloodlines was another huge undertaking, and although not absolutely necessary for a product, I love to try and bring people into the world I've created within the playing card design, using powerful stories, graphics and audio to give a real sense of what an Empire Bloodlines deck stands for. Plus, a little bit of entertainment is always nice.

This being your second Kickstarter project, are there things you learned from your 1st experience that will help the Bloodlines campaign, both behind the scenes and in rewards for backers?
Definitely. Having backers feel connected as part of the team and journey you're on was personally a very important for me to do. For example, wanted to thank each and every backer, so I did. I written out over 800 personal messages to every single backer who pledged. I received messages back from people thinking it was some kind of automated response! I wanted backers to know how much their contribution matters and that I appreciate it. However, doing that, as good intentioned as it was, took a huge amount of time, which could have been spent coming up with ways of adding more value for backers in other ways. This time, I'll be jumping where I can, as much as I can, but I now also know the importance of trying to find other ways to give more value to backers. Also, this time around I'm focusing on trying not to go insane dealing with the many plates in the air that running a campaign can be. Less stress, more focus and a relaxed approach will help me be able to serve people in a more effective way and less "reactionary", if that' even a word. When you spend all your time reacting and putting out small fires out everywhere, you miss the bigger picture.

Even since the Empire campaign, the Playing Card industry has exploded, what are your thoughts on where it’s at and where it could be headed?
I don't think it will stop any time soon. I remember Ellusionists Vintage 1800 , Tigers and Ghost Bicycle decks. They blew my mind and open doors in my imagination. Theory 11 with the Guardians too. Since Arcanes, one of the first non-Bicycle branded main stream custom decks, the card industry has been growing so fast. Interest in playing cards, magic, cardistry and gambling doesn't seem to ever stop either. And along with that will always be creative people wanting to contribute and be a part of something they enjoy. The tools and platforms will become more and more. However, as I have witnessed too, the amount of playing card ideas that just seem to lack heart and ability to execute what could have been a fantastic concept, is also on the increase. Anyone can be creative and I encourage everyone to step up and do their thing in their own way, but there's a huge difference between doing it in a way that is appealing to other people to enjoy and that really does justice to your idea, and doing it in a way that just adds to the existing noise in the market. If your aim is to sell your art, I believe you owe it to your idea and concept to execute it as well as possible, even if that means finding someone else to help you if you don't have the vision or skill. At the end of the day, it's all subjective and beauty is in the eye of the beholder, which makes things seem like a level playing field. But If there's a certain level of quality out there that people have come to expect and you want to join the fun, do it in your own way but in the best way you can to really let your idea shine at full potential. If you have give it everything, with your heart on your sleeve and passion in your eyes, you can never go wrong, no matter what anyone says really. Results and opinions may differ but if you expressed it fully without holding back, and even if it didn't work out, you can never regret not taking the shot.

Can we expect to see more coming from Kings and Crooks in the coming year?
In a word, hell yeah. The original Empire, although a successful but extremely limited edition, hasn't quite allowed me the flexibility to progress as fast as I'd like. Being a one man show is hard, hard work. But you gotta love the grind, even the tough days. To know you still have the fire that drives you inside is all you need to take the next step. Then the next one. So when Empire 'Bloodlines' comes to a close, I hope it's successful. I hope we smash the funding goal, because every step that we do will help in progressing that little bit sooner to the next exciting step. I'm on Kings & Crooks full time, but to be able to make a full time living doing what I love takes work. 365 days to overnight success is probably a more accurate phrase in that sense. Step by step.

Can we expect to see the Empire Series continue to expand?
I'll never say never. But right now, I feel that after Empire 'Bloodlines' is out there, I'd like to get going on some ideas that have been burning in the back of my mind. I have ideas enough for the next 10 years, it's just a matter of how long it takes me until I can fully explore each idea and present it in the best way possible to everyone. Kings & Crooks exists for reasons beyond creating some of the finest playing cards you'll own. The Warrior Card Amour and the 'Hustler's Code' shirt on this Kickstarter are prime examples of that, and we're only just getting started.

Pledges for Empire Bloodlines start at $13.00 AUD and are available in Royal Blue and Emerald Green, not to mention you have got to check out the Warrior Card Armour, it's just awesome! Help Lee bring Bloodlines to life! BE A BACKER!

As always we would like to thank Lee for his time, we're sure your campaign goal will be met and the new Empire will be a reality! You can help support Lee's project Empire Bloodlines on Kickstarter as well as follow Lee on his website Kings and Crooks soon to be LIVE "Be part of a bolder breed of playing cards"

Winners of the 52 Plus Joker Diamond Award 2026 Announced!

The prestigious 52 Plus Joker Diamond Awards were revealed last weekend at the 2026 52 Plus Joker Convention in Niagara Falls, NY. The Artist of the Year went to Lorenzo Gaggiotti of Stockholm17. This is Lorenzo's FOURTH Diamond Awards for the Artist of the Year Category. Incredible!

Cavaliers by Lee McKenzie took home the Deck of the Year award this year! This elegant deck is inspired by the iconic artistry, craftsmanship and rich spirit of Cuba’s legendary cigars. Alive with rich gold ink and flourishing detail in a deliberately decadent old-world style. 

Congratulations to Lorenzo, Lee McKenzie and all the nominees for their incredible work!

Review: 7 Questions With How To Disturb Reality's Jarek 1:20 On Playing Cards

Jarek 1:20 is a leading Youtube star for magic and cardistry related videos. With over 100,000 subscribers on his Youtube channel, How to Disturb Reality, Jarek is seen as a great resource for learning and introducing magic all across the world. In his videos, Jarek is seen using many different playing card decks that range from custom decks to standard Bicycle Rider Backs.

TuckCase.com got in touch with Jarek to ask him a few questions about playing cards in order to help designers as well as budding magicians in understanding an experienced and popular magician's point of view on what makes a great card deck for performance and design.

Tuck Case: Do you have a particular playing card stock and finish preference?
Jarek 1:20: The standard air-cushion finish from the Bicycle Decks is what I prefer. I've seen some rare decks that have "Performance Coating" on the side of the box. Those ones feel great, but for me to just be performing magic, I'd rather just use a deck that most people are comfortable seeing, so they believe there's nothing special or weird about it.

Editors note: Performance Coating is actually the finish Ellusionist uses on some of their card decks. Performance coating is embossed, which is unlike a smooth finish or the other type of finish offered by USPCC. For those curious, Air-Cushion finish is actually embossed as well. Although a few year old, here is the story of Performance coating and Ellusionist's work with USPCC.

Tuck Case: Do you prefer bordered or borderless back designs? Is one more conducive for card tricks?
Jarek 1:20: Borderless back designs can be cool, but for performing magic, the borders help a lot visually and as convincers, such as moves like a double lift.. When you fan half a deck of cards with one hand, for example, the large spread is often much more appealing to the eyes with the border versus borderless, because they're designed to look cool in a fan. Again, it's a stylistic preference.

Tuck Case: Are two-way back designs essential when doing card tricks?
Jarek 1:20: "Double-backers" as they call them, can be a beautiful little tool in card magic. I can only think of a small handful of effects that can utilize the two-way back design, but it essentially allows you to do magic tricks where you can "end clean." I wouldn't say they're essential or necessary, but they will definitely convince your audience that you're doing everything in the fairest manor possible.

Tuck Case: Do you have a favorite playing card deck?
Jarek 1:20: My favorite deck would have to be the Artifice Tundra Deck. What won me over was the face (court) cards. They're borderless face cards. Lee McKenzie really put work into this design. The pips are thin but bold. It just looks like a deck that would gravitate towards anyone. The only reason I collect decks of cards is so I can give them out to my fans, because I know they like them more than I do. So when the Artifice Tundra Deck was voted for, and got sent to my house, I opened it up and now it's become a deck I'll actually take out with me and perform with. The Sultan Republic Deck is beautiful too. Each individual face of all 52 cards is unique.

Tuck Case: Some playing card decks are released today with big elaborate designs, when does the design just become too much? Has there ever been a time when the design got in the way of a trick? 

Jarek 1:20: I think the Arcane design is way too busy. The face designs are cool with the crippled smokey kind of look, but again, it's like, "What should I be looking at here, there are probably a lot of little Easter eggs on this design." You can get lost in some back designs. Some decks also give off a kaleidoscope kind of look, such as the Arch Angels deck, which I'm not a fan of. The design has never got in the way of an effect, but if I felt it was going to, I would just use a different deck.

Editor's Note: Interestingly enough, Arcane is also a Lee Mckenzie and Ellusionist creation, which is the same team that created Jarek's favorite deck.

Tuck Case: Do you have a favorite type of trick deck?
Jarek 1:20: The Invisible Deck is the best trick deck in the world, regardless of the actual design. If you were to own ONE magic trick, The Invisible Deck is the one you want. I swear by it.

Click here for a video of Jarek explaining The Invisible Deck.

Tuck Case: Just like Youtube has been big for your career, a lot of deck designers have been using Kickstarter as a platform to launch their own deck projects and designs. Do you have any advice for playing card designers trying to build their own online crowds?
Jarek 1:20: I'd say it's a lot harder for playing card designers, because you need to be an expert in this field, a master artist. Human interaction is just like this too––when you take a look at someone, how long does it take for your brain to say it's attractive or unattractive? About 1.5 seconds, same goes with art. So I would say, make sure you have a kickass and beautiful design and hopefully the power of word of mouth will do your work for you. Also remember, YouTube and Kickstarter are big websites––but the internet as a whole is much bigger. Start using third party websites to try to help promote what you're doing.

Follow Jarek 1:20 on his youtube channel, How To Disturb Reality!

Collections: Empire Bloodlines by Kings & Crooks

The long awaited follow up to Lee McKenzie's original Empire deck, Bloodlines, leaves off where the other ended so to speak. The design concept, look and feel of the deck connects Bloodlines to Empire in a great way without seaming redundant. The Subtle embossing on the tuck with just a touch of silver foiling make it both appealing to the eye, but keep it in the "Working Deck" category. The tuck also features a soft touch feel to it, along with a fully printed interior and custom seal.

The deck itself handles beautifully on it's Bee Casino Grade stock from USPC and maintains the bold look of its predecessor. Completely custom down to the intricate pip design, Bloodlines is sure to please a wide range of Playing Card aficionados. The courts feature an exploded center pip design that continues the bold look, while maintaining its overall connection to the theme. In addition the Bloodline face cards sport a nice watermark that fills the card nicely. Bloodlines was available in 2 Standard versions, Royal Blue and Emerald Green, along with a Limited Edition which puts all it's features on the inside, a foiled tuck interior and metallic inks and a limited print run will appeal to collectors.

I've always liked Lee's designs and this one is no different, my favorite part of this deck is that's its an everyday deck with an eye catching design. Magician's and Cardists alike should enjoy this decks look and feel. I like the return of the "Signature" belly band, and as much as I like the original Empire deck, I wasn't upset the indices "Banners" didn't return. Overall another beautiful project by Lee and Kings & Crooks, I would say my only disappointment was in the Limited Edition, I thought the tuck could have used something more to make it stand out as a Limited Edition.

If you missed out on Bloodlines, they, along with other items, will be available on the Kings & Crooks website very soon!

The Collection segment is produced by Anthony Ingrassia of Kardify. No part of this article, images or video can be reproduced without written permission from the author and Kardify.com. To see more of Anthony's (Sparkz) collection please visit sparkzcollector.com 

WIN a RARE LIMITED EDITION Royales Private Reserve for YOU and Two Friends

We've partnered with Kings & Crooks to give you a chance to WIN a RARE LIMITED EDITION Royales Private Reserve for YOU and YOUR TWO tagged friends:

The Royales Playing Cards are currently funding on Kickstarter and has hit its £88k stretched goal. Designer Lee Mckenzie has released an incredibly rare and valuable deck for collectors that will potentially dramatically increase in value after the campaign due to the limited quantity of the Private Reserves. The deck comes with ALL the blings... foil backs, gilded edges and premium features, it's also one of the most expensive decks Lee has ever made.

To WIN a deck for yourself and TWO tagged friends, head over to our Instagram account (@kardify) NOW to find out how. Also, don't forget to check-out the Royales Kickstarter campaign.

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GIVEAWAY! We’ve partnered up with @kingsncrooks to give you a chance to WIN a DECK of ROYALES PRIVATE RESERVE #playingcards each for YOU and TWO tagged FRIENDS. WIN ONE DECK OF ROYALES PRIVATE RESERVE EACH FOR YOU AND YOUR TWO TAGGED FRIENDS. SWIPE ON THE POST TO SEE MORE OF THE LIMITED EDITION DECK. KINGS & CROOKS ARE CURRENTLY FUNDING ROYALES PLAYING CARDS ON #KICKSTARTER. LINK ON @KINGSNCROOKS’ BIO
 To enter:
1️⃣ FOLLOW @kardify and @kingsncrooks on Instagram 
2️⃣ TAG TWO FRIENDS under this photo on one comment. 3️⃣ ON THE SAME comment, let is know what you think of the deck by just using THREE EMOJIS. 4️⃣ Ensure that your account is PUBLIC and your tagged friend is in your follower list. Winner will be picked at random. BETTER YOUR CHANCES by tagging more friends on a separate comment. ⚠️ Note: YOU and YOUR TAGGED FRIENDS need to be following @kardify and @kingsncrooks to win this RARE deck.

Competition ends on Monday, 24 August and the winners will be announced on Instagram. Let's start tagging! 👑

A post shared by kardify.com (@kardify) on Aug 22, 2020 at 5:03am PDT