Star Wars by TXI (ill. Russ Gray)

[Timmargh]

I am Groot.

Woah! Language!

[Harvonsgard]

This forum is so toxic. Why y'all love to hate so much?

grab a beer(not bud light) [...]

Why not a Bud Light?

Because he said beer in the first place, duh.

[hsbc]

THEORY 11 x STAR WARS

Every once in a while, "dream" projects come along that just get you excited to go to work every morning. I am not a Star Wars super-fan by any means, but I did paint a mural of cloud city on my wall when I was in high school. So yes the movies were a big part of my childhood. Through Mattson Creative, I had the opportunity to work with Theory11 to produce a deck of high-end Star Wars playing cards. Ty Mattson, the creative director, and reason I got to work on this in the first place, is also a life-long fan, and provided invaluable hands-on creative direction, ideation, sketches, etc at different points throughout the process. Between our own team, the crew at Theory11, Studio on Fire (who produced the cards), Lucasfilm, and even a few notes from JJ Abrams, we feel like we had some real expertise working together to create a fitting tribute worthy of the devoted Star Wars fan.

Though the cards were the same for each deck, we had a dark-side and a light-side version of the tuck boxes, each with different card-backs. The Dark Side tuck boxes were infused with Sith / Empire symbols and reference, while the Light Side tucks traded each symbol for the light-side equivalent. It would have been fun to have developed more characters and 2 different decks, but regardless of the brief, I don't think there would have been time to finish another set of characters!

Studio On Fire did an incredible job producing the tuck boxes, and the cards came out wonderfully as well. All in all, despite a quick turnaround before last Thanksgiving, this was an absolute pleasure to work on.



Sticker / seal designed by Luke Bott



Likenesses were the single most difficult part of this project. Striking a balance between a consistent stylization of all the characters, and still having a recognizable likeness was a challenge. (Making a literal likeness would probably not have been quite so difficult). Not all the process is shown here of course, but several characters came very quickly; others took multiple failed attempts (Princess Leia for example; I tried old, young, different hair styles, angles, etc). The Luke Skywalker card was the first created, so we tried to model the cards after it as much as possible. In addition, we tried to keep the cards as similar to the Bicycle standards as possible.





We played around with a couple tuck box options, but in the end, the design came quite quickly. (Really, since the movie came out in December and we began the project around Halloween, we didn't have time to mess around).



Theory11 wanted this deck to read primarily as a luxury card deck, with a second-read as Star Wars. Essentially, a traditional card deck that just happens to be Star Wars.​​​​​​​ I knew virtually nothing about playing cards prior to this project, and don't claim to know much now, but it certainly helped build my understanding (and vocabulary).



We helped put together a list of possible characters to include in the court cards, but in the end final decisions were from the client. The character line-up for each deck is the same.

Note: Kylo has a scar on one side only ... (we had no idea why, we were just shown a very brief email from JJ Abrams asking for the change, with no explanation — only a request to keep quiet until the movie came out.)



Luke Bott, who is part of the reason I even had the opportunity to work on this in the first place, designed the above 3 cards, as well as Darth Vader and all the Aces. (Above: Ace of Spades — Yoda lifting the X-wing; Boba Fett; Mon Mothma).

Client: Theory11 / Lucasfilm
Agency: Mattson Creative
Creative Director: Ty Mattson (Mattson Creative)
Design / Illustration: Russ Gray and Luke Bott; all Luke's work is credited and noted below)​​​​​​​
Project Completed: November 2019

[manu]

The Box set is $50 off
https://store.theory11.com/products/star-wars-box-set

[manu]

Also, looks like a new edition of the Mandalorian deck?

[vasta41]

@T11 no, I don't. I see a recolor. But nothing new.

[Harvonsgard]

Lol, I don't see anything new from TXI for ages. Just the same old, same old from them.

[hsbc]

theory11 has a booth at Comic-Con? That's news to me

[laitostarr777]

Also, looks like a new edition of the Mandalorian deck?
IMAGE

New Colorway, YES
New Artwork, NO

Will I get? NO for a long time

[see_squared]

Also, looks like a new edition of the Mandalorian deck?
IMAGE

New Colorway, YES
New Artwork, NO

Will I get? NO for a long time

New Artwork, YES.

[laitostarr777]

Also, looks like a new edition of the Mandalorian deck?
IMAGE

New Colorway, YES
New Artwork, NO

Will I get? NO for a long time

New Artwork, YES.

Proof it

[vasta41]

Also, looks like a new edition of the Mandalorian deck?
IMAGE

New Colorway, YES
New Artwork, NO

Will I get? NO for a long time

New Artwork, YES.

That would be a nice surprise!

[rousselle]

The big difference is that they removed Cara Dune and replaced her with Kara Thrace... I mean, Bo-Katan.



I keed! I keed! I'm a keeder!

[see_squared]

Also, looks like a new edition of the Mandalorian deck?
IMAGE

New Colorway, YES
New Artwork, NO

Will I get? NO for a long time

New Artwork, YES.

Proof it

Besides the number cards and QC, the rest of the cards have all new artwork. Some variations between the AS cards.

[Swiski66]

Hoping for some updates on this soon! Sounds like a Mandalorian V2 deck with all new art. Characters from Seasons 2 to 4?

[rousselle]

Nobody got my Kara Thrace joke and now I have the sadz.

[manu]

Looks like Mandalorian V2 is being released this Friday

[STLBluesNut]

unfortunately for me, that tuck looks really good. love the orange accents.

[manu]

[Swiski66]

Is it just a new tuckbox, or will there also be new character artwork on the court cards? I suppose we will find out tomorrow.

[manu]

Mandalorian V2: https://store.theory11.com/products/man ... ying-cards

[laitostarr777]

Guess I was wrong
The new Mando is not just recolor, it features new chars

[Honeybee]

Theory 11 so this spot will do

https://store.theory11.com/products/sta ... AKa.H9G6Sm

Why should you have to buy both posters???

Be clear about what you are getting too. It is not the swirly red Darth shown first (see last attachment) and the posters are only 24" x 18"