Sishou Deck Design

[alvinhy]

Hello everyone,

I am a freelance designer and interior designer. In my free time I was able to produce a design for a deck of playing cards. I plan to launch this on Kickstarter but I would be needing a few comments from the experts (you guys) in the playing card lovers point of view.

The theme
I chose this oriental theme because I am Chinese myself. Having to live in the UK for a while I have been absorbing different styles of design. Using mutual colours and the stereotype red for Chinese comes out pretty appealing.

Inspiration
You wonder where I get the inspiration for the SiShou deck. Well SiShou means 4 beasts in Chinese. There are 4 legendary beasts in Chinese history. Using them as an iconic figure to create the design.

Please tell me how I can improve this deck before I launch it. I hope you enjoy the design!
Here goes nothing!

[Oswin]

Pretty nice cards. I love your back, but i will love an symetrical.

Continue, you are in the right way

[alvinhy]

Pretty nice cards. I love your back, but i will love an symetrical.

Continue, you are in the right way

Just a question, do all playing card lovers like symmetrical??
I shall see what people think about it and see if I should change the design a bit.

Thanks for your comment!

[MagikFingerz]

Great work!

Yes, I think most people prefer backs to be "symmetrical", or two-way as it's usually called. In your case, it's really just the very center part that needs to be done something about. I also recommend making the borders thinner

[Evan]

Very cool design!

The only thing I'd change is making the borders thinner on the back.

[MJF]

Really nice deck, especially if you were able to do that in your free time!!!

I think you'll have no issues having a successful pledge on KickStarter.

[elcyciB]

I like it! I'll definitely pledge for it. Any thoughts about doing a color variant with it to make it a set? Maybe a Gold Metallic or Bright Yellow...keeping with sterotypical Chinese coloring

BTW, The Ace looks wonderful and I love the font you chose for the pips

[volantangel]

I think something can definitely be done for it to be two way, but it is looking good atm !! Its like going to a traditional chinese wedding

the pips reminds me of the lumberjack pips, but a neater, smarter version..

[alvinhy]

I have updated the back to be a two way deck!
let me know what you think!

[volantangel]

I have updated the back to be a two way deck!
let me know what you think!

The new one definitely looks better, plus the dragon in the corners would look good in fans, esp giant fans

[MagikFingerz]

I have updated the back to be a two way deck!
let me know what you think!

Love it!

[walrus]

A very nice look. I am all in on these. Having spent some time in China I appreciate there culture. Although known for all the cheap plastic stuff they produce some wonderful things up in that piece. I brought back some art, some of which is antique, (risking a big fine). Beautiful stuff. Please keep us updated.

[alvinhy]

A very nice look. I am all in on these. Having spent some time in China I appreciate there culture. Although known for all the cheap plastic stuff they produce some wonderful things up in that piece. I brought back some art, some of which is antique, (risking a big fine). Beautiful stuff. Please keep us updated.

Glad you liked the culture there! Although Im from Hong Kong which is more international compared to mainland China.
I will keep this post updated till the launch on kickstarter

[Oswin]

The modifications are good ! thanks

[Evan]

And I see you made the borders thinner! The updated backs look much better.

[volantangel]

Hmm is there any particular reason why the center of the red box is teal and the teal box red? I think it would work better with just the original colours..

[Sinsandman]

I like what you are doing with the deck. Looking good. Thin out the borders and go with USPCC

[MagikFingerz]

Hmm is there any particular reason why the center of the red box is teal and the teal box red? I think it would work better with just the original colours..

Actually, I like it like that (isn't that a song?).

[alvinhy]

Latest jack of hearts

[alvinhy]

Queen of hearts

[darkinertia]

absolutely stunning! i cant say enough good things about this deck, this is an automatic pledge for me the second it goes on kickstarter

the ONLY thing id suggest, is metallic gold inks for the beige(or is it tan?) so it pops out red/blue and gold. and i would stick with the way you made your pips originally, not the one you posted (jack of hearts) since its waay too far from the corner and the closer to the corner the better, since it shows beatifully in fans... and since you made that border, even reverse fans will look just as cool!

if you did this on your free time, man i have a feeling your going to be doing great things

[alvinhy]

absolutely stunning! i cant say enough good things about this deck, this is an automatic pledge for me the second it goes on kickstarter

the ONLY thing id suggest, is metallic gold inks for the beige(or is it tan?) so it pops out red/blue and gold. and i would stick with the way you made your pips originally, not the one you posted (jack of hearts) since its waay too far from the corner and the closer to the corner the better, since it shows beatifully in fans... and since you made that border, even reverse fans will look just as cool!

if you did this on your free time, man i have a feeling your going to be doing great things

Hey thanks for the reply, the first post was actually updated version of the pips.
After a lot of feed back the deck has changed dramatically since the first designs thanks to you all!

This project will be launched on 13 or a day before so stay tuned =D

[Strag]

Hey thanks for the reply, the first post was actually updated version of the pips.
After a lot of feed back the deck has changed dramatically since the first designs thanks to you all!

This project will be launched on 13 or a day before so stay tuned =D

Sweet, I really hope you have some good levels for us International backers

[Lotrek]

I think court cards need more work. The Chinese motifs seem just thrown on the clothes. They should be more functional I believe.

[Oswin]

I think court cards need more work. The Chinese motifs seem just thrown on the clothes. They should be more functional I believe.

I don't think, remember the simple deck on KS....

[Lotrek]

I don't mean they should be more elaborate. They could be even simpler. They just seem to me a bit thrown there. But all these things are after all, a matter of taste!

[alvinhy]

ah I will go back and review those designs. But the concept comes from the actual gowns the emperor wears.

[darkinertia]

yeah i think it looks great as it is

btw, is the main ace card with the design going to be the ace of hearts or spades? or will all ace cards have the big design?

[alvinhy]

yeah i think it looks great as it is

btw, is the main ace card with the design going to be the ace of hearts or spades? or will all ace cards have the big design?

Hey, the Aces will have their own beast to their design.
You can check out more sneak peaks from my facebook page or twitter

facebook.com/alvincheunghy
twitter.com/alvincheunghy

[DukeBoy]

Do you have a new Kickstarter date?