Each design journey commences with research of the prevailing trading card market, ensuring I stay on track with current trends and discovering relevant keywords to fuel creative inspiration. For instance, the creation of the "Next Level" card drew influence from cutting-edge technology and futuristic aesthetics prevalent in video games. From there, I sketch freely on paper to explore boundless concepts, ultimately refining the design with a structured approach in Illustrator. I keep in mind specific constraints while streamlining my workflow for optimal results.
*All Trading Cards/Packaging Designs and Production are solely credited to myself*
Once the design is approved, I prepare the files for print, meticulously ensuring compatibility with the 4-color processes, incorporating features like foil stamping, opaque white, spot colors, and process colors tailored to specific cards. The production phase commences, involving seamless integration of player data from Excel and editing of player photos in Photoshop— encompassing badge removals, color correction, and masking, among other tasks. Additionally, my creative expertise extends to crafting digital drawings for the "Artistry" collection. Working on projects ranging from 10 to 200+ cards demands proficient multitasking while effectively prioritizing tasks, efficiently managing time, and maintaining open lines of communication with both the executive team and printing firms. *Please note that the gold/pink coloring on all cards comprises foil layers that adapt based on the coloring scale, signifying rarity levels such as red for common and green for uncommon, among others.
Five Star Card Series
Auto and Base Card Series
Artistry Card Series
Customer Feedback for Artistry Cards:
"This design is outstanding... Flat out filthy the card I just pulled"
"Well after I stopped shaking because I didn't even know these were happening you tell the designer I loved how they darkened up his jersey and the brush stroke gold are spot on, the only negative is at first it looks off center due to the design AND the fire halo thing around the ball is Dope as hell
(Dope as hell...means good....not sure it means anything to you youngsters anymore)"
Artistry Artwork
Next Level Card Series
Aspire Card Series
Peak Performance Card Series
Aspire To Greatness Card Series
Sneak Peek Card Series
Hula Bowl Program & Social Media Advertisements
Packaging