Designers Who Changed Playing Cards Over the Last Twenty Years

For a long time, playing cards were perceived primarily as functional objects: tools for playing, performing magic, or passing the time. Over the past twenty years, however, the collectible card industry has undergone a profound transformation. The deck is no longer just a tabletop support: it has become a design object, a small illustrated work, a collectible, and often the result of a specific artistic vision.

This evolution is also linked to the growth of crowdfunding. With platforms like Kickstarter, many independent designers have been able to offer limited-edition decks directly to the public, with meticulous attention to graphic details, packaging, and materials. According to PlayingCardDecks, the custom playing card market has seen a significant boost with the arrival of crowdfunding, which has allowed individual creatives to publish projects that would otherwise have been difficult to achieve through traditional industrial channels. (PlayingCardDecks.com)

Before the Modern Boom: From Manufacturer to Designer

In the twentieth century, the role of the designer was often less visible than that of the manufacturer. Historic brands like De La Rue, Fournier, Piatnik, USPCC, and Grimaud were central, while the deck's graphic designer often remained in the background. However, there were notable exceptions. In 1957, Jean Picart le Doux designed a deck for the 125th anniversary of Thomas De La Rue, chosen from proposals by international artists and remembered for the elegance of the court cards and the refined use of color. (The World of Playing Cards)

Another emblematic example is Salvador Dalí, who in 1967 created a deck with court cards inspired by the French "Paris" pattern, reinterpreted with surrealist motifs, melting clocks, and references typical of his painting. (The World of Playing Cards) Even in the world of tarot, Pamela Colman Smith had already demonstrated in 1909 how a deck could become an independent visual language: the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot, illustrated by her for Arthur Edward Waite, remains one of the most influential references today. (The Morgan)

The difference over the last twenty years is that today, the designer's name is often integral to the deck's value.

Jackson Robinson: The Historical Narrative of Kings Wild Project

Among the most influential names of recent times is Jackson Robinson, American illustrator and founder of Kings Wild Project. His work has helped consolidate the idea of ​​the deck as an illustrated story: series inspired by history, literature, money, American culture, and recognizable narrative worlds. World of Playing Cards identifies him as an illustrator and playing-card designer, as well as the founder of Kings Wild Project. (The World of Playing Cards)

His style is often detailed, etched, and rich in historical references. Decks like Federal 52 have shown how cards can interact with the imagery of banknotes, archives, and national memory.

Lorenzo Gaggiotti / Stockholm17: The Deck as a Small World

Lorenzo Gaggiotti, an Italian designer based in Stockholm, is the name behind Stockholm17. On his official website, he explains that he created his first custom poker-size deck in 2012, discovering an active community of collectors, magicians, and cardists. He defines each deck as "a small world" capable of telling a story through 54 cards. (Stockholm17)

Stockholm17 is associated with highly recognizable projects such as Requiem, Heretic, The House of the Rising Spade, The Eye of the Ocean, and Odd Fellows. He is one of the designers who has most pushed cards towards a narrative, symbolic, and almost editorial dimension. In 2024, Stockholm17 also received the Diamond Award for Artist of the Year from the 52 Plus Joker Club, according to the official website. (Stockholm17)

Lotrek / Oath Playing Cards: Luxury, Foil, and Experimentation

With Lotrek and Oath Playing Cards, we enter the realm of luxury cards. The official Oath website introduces itself with three key words: "Luxury. Beauty. Innovation." (Oath Playing Cards) Its importance lies primarily in its research into materials, finishes, metallic cards, foils, and packaging.

Lotrek is prized by collectors because it treats the deck as an object of typographic art: not just illustration, but also printing, reflections, textures, and craftsmanship.

Uusi: Traditional Art and Contemporary Cards

Uusi, a studio founded by Peter Dunham and Linnea Gits, represents a different path: the transition of traditional artists into the world of custom playing cards. The brand began applying its expertise to playing cards in 2012 and has built an identity based on illustration, painting, craftsmanship, and materials. (PlayingCardDecks.com)

Decks like Blue Blood, Bohemia, Pagan, and Royal Optik demonstrate a pictorial flair very different from the more common digital graphics.