Hats off to Paul Carpenter on saying it like it is

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Hats off to Paul Carpenter on saying it like it is

Unread post by guru »

I read this today and felt as I could not have said it better.

https://playingcarddecks.com/blogs/all- ... ng-card-co

Just highlighting a few quotes and you can read the whole blog from the link above.
What is it about designing a deck of playing cards as a creator that you wish consumers realized more?

I mainly wish that people would be less swayed by fads and look more to the artistry that playing cards are capable of. So many of the decks these days are just lazy design and have no redeeming quality other than being “from that cool guy” and it’s mildly disappointing to see excitement for decks that are literally the 10th color version of the same lacklustre design. If you expand your horizons and look to finding true art you can come across some utterly amazing and gorgeous decks.
Eventually I think this will self-correct and we’ll see more quality and less quantity.
To stand out now, you have to have far too many add-ons and extras that exist solely to drive dollars and less to actually augment the core design. As a result, you’ll find too many projects that have a poor core design but tack on every button, coin, pin, sticker and alternate color possible just to get the funding goal. Kickstarter is a great way to start but you can’t ignore your design and the customer service required to get your project done.
I think it will slow down eventually and you’ll see less “fad” decks and more careful and artful designs. Cardistry has driven much of the excitement in cards in recent years but the art of playing cards has been around for a very long time and there will always be a subset of designers that want to explore that history and creativity and care less about what is currently in fashion.
What advice would you give someone just starting to collect playing cards today? What do you consider to be important elements of a quality design, and what they should look for in a quality deck of playing cards?

As I eluded to, if you want to collect cards for the long term than don’t look to fads. The 8th color version of a deck will barely be remembered in 20 years. I’d encourage people to look for decks that grab their attention and create a moment of wonder or fascination. Don’t buy a brick of decks just because it seems popular with the kids, because the problem is that there are 1000 other people doing the exact same thing and you will all be stuck with a brick of lacklustre decks that no one wants. Look for gems that have thought and love put into them.
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Re: Hats off to Paul Carpenter on saying it like it is

Unread post by STLBluesNut »

Thanks for posting, I really find these designer interviews pretty fascinating.

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Re: Hats off to Paul Carpenter on saying it like it is

Unread post by theCapraAegagrus »

I love Paul Carpenter.

His back designs - the art that appears on every card - are among the best of all-time. The Deco deck is the only one I can think of by Encarded that is sub-par per his reputation.

Every one of his decks will/should be remembered forever among playing card enthusiasts. Somewhere down the line Fontaine decks will mean nothing. Paul is 100% correct.
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Re: Hats off to Paul Carpenter on saying it like it is

Unread post by Bradius »

I like what Paul says, but I am not a big fan for his decks.
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Re: Hats off to Paul Carpenter on saying it like it is

Unread post by Pablo393 »

I would actually like to see a new deck from him. Been a long time.
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Re: Hats off to Paul Carpenter on saying it like it is

Unread post by PipChick »

haha - man, it feels like only yesterday that I was discussing many of these exact same points with a friend lol

very, very true indeed which makes me find videos, like this one below (the first minute and half in particular) by Chris Ramsay - posted for his millions of followers and which has been viewed over half a million times - incredibly misleading and irresponsible:



and every couple of weeks (if not days) you have a redditor cite this exact video asking the community how do people know which decks will increase in value so they too can get rich off the "investment" of hype decks, not even taking the moment to consider the chances that they're not the only one to have this oh so brilliant light-bulb of an idea go off in their head to start looking to score big with this seemingly simple "get rich quick" scheme of resale... EVEN THOUGH, we ALL see that literally minutes after a deck is released and orders are placed, a plethora of listings also seemingly simultaneously pop up on ebay of those very same buyers, looking to flip their orders by trying to get 4x or more than what they paid for before even their own orders are sent out for delivery... :roll:

can't wait til the day the bubble bursts - as history has prove, it always does in every hobby that gains rapid widespread appeal and popularity - and these blokes will be stuck with bricks of hype decks that they can't even sell for the price they paid in shipping to get 'em...
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Re: Hats off to Paul Carpenter on saying it like it is

Unread post by Marcus »

My advice is always to get what you like. Not what others are talking about is the best, what is popular, what is called rare or whatever. Just go with what you like. Art, design and taste is debatable and subjective, so just go with what catches your eye.

Yes, you'll miss out on some that turn into rarities or valuable decks, but you can't know which ones ahead of time and if you buy it all you will definitely lose more than if you pick and choose. Decks aren't the way to become a millionaire so it's better to spend your money on what you like.
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Re: Hats off to Paul Carpenter on saying it like it is

Unread post by theCapraAegagrus »

Subscribe to the comic collector's bible:

Buy what you love, because if you can't sell it down the road, at least you'll still enjoy owning it.
rousselle wrote:You are a fussy, picky guy.
Lotrek wrote:Given the number of morons produced in the world every day, a pessimist is actually a well informed realist.
Räpylätassu wrote:"Tyhmyydestä sakotetaan." You get fined for being stupid.
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