Card Deck Design

Project Overview

The Endangered Birds Card Deck was a school project created to merge design with environmental awareness. Each suit in the deck represents a different endangered bird species — Spades: Snowy Owl, Diamonds: Turkey Vulture, Clubs: Peregrine Falcon, Hearts: White-Necked Crow. The challenge was to balance traditional card functionality with meaningful storytelling, using typography and illustration to raise awareness about species at risk.

As lead designer, I researched, illustrated, and designed the full deck, creating not only a playable set of cards but also a collectible and educational artifact that connected conservation with everyday play.

The Problem / Gaps Identified

1. Awareness Gap – Many people are unaware of endangered bird species and their cultural significance.
2. Flat Conservation Messaging – Campaigns often feel heavy or inaccessible to general audiences.
3. Design Limitations – Standard card decks are purely decorative and miss opportunities for deeper meaning.
4. Engagement Challenge – Ecological campaigns sometimes struggle to engage beyond niche audiences.

Goals

• Use design as a storytelling tool to highlight endangered species.
• Create a functional card deck that doubles as an educational conversation starter.
• Blend illustration, typography, and symbolic meaning into a unified system.
• Make awareness campaigns accessible and engaging for broader audiences.
  

Process & Work Steps

1. Research & Insights

• Studied each bird species’ ecology, symbolism, and cultural relevance.
• Reviewed traditional card hierarchy and legibility requirements.
• Identified where conservation storytelling could be integrated without sacrificing usability.

2. Concept Development

• Assigned one endangered bird per suit: Snowy Owl (Spades), Turkey Vulture (Diamonds), Peregrine Falcon (Clubs), White-Necked Crow (Hearts).
• Sketched illustration styles to balance detail with quick recognition.
• Tested typography systems that merged elegance with clarity.

3. Creative Execution

• Illustrated 52 cards, each uniquely designed around its suit’s bird species.
• Extended the theme into packaging design, positioning the deck as a collectible.
• Ensured the deck maintained playability while adding layers of meaning.
  

Solutions Delivered

• Full Illustrated Deck → Every card featured symbolic bird-inspired artwork.
• Packaging Design → Turned the product into a cohesive, collectible piece.
• Typography & Layout System → Unified illustrations with strong, functional readability.
• Educational Storytelling → Embedded conservation into daily play.
  

Outcome

The Endangered Birds Card Deck successfully turned a school brief into an award-winning project that merged art, education, and environmental advocacy. By embedding Snowy Owls, Turkey Vultures, Peregrine Falcons, and White-Necked Crows into the timeless medium of playing cards, the project became a conversation piece about both design and conservation — and won the Typography and Illustration Award at the American Advertising Awards 2023.

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