a-z themed index cards

Close-up of several tarot or oracle cards spread out on a beige surface, with one card partially visible showcasing intricate drawings and bold typography.

design brief + SKETCHES

In this project, we had to design 26 index cards along with a box based on a topic of our choosing.  I had decided to choose the topic of mythical creatures, and used the word “Mythical” for the box, handwriting it with ink before digitalizing it. I decided on a medieval theme for the design. It associated well with the concept of mythical creature themed cards.
A black and white packaging label for Irish Banshee whiskey, featuring a female spirit who announces a family member's death with sounds like shrieking, wailing, or screaming.
A black and white illustration of a griffin, a mythological creature with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion, standing next to a large stylized letter 'G'. Below, text notes the griffin's origin from Beradic, its symbolism of bravery and strength, and its depiction in ancient art and tradition.
A black and white illustration of a dragon's head with the word "DRAGON" written above it and a description explaining the symbolism of dragons in Eastern and Western cultures.

Inclusion of analog

Multiple hand-drawn words 'MYTHICAL' in various styles, arranged in rows and columns, showcasing different artistic lettering designs.
Various black-and-white sketches of the word 'MYTHICAL' in different artistic fonts and styles, arranged in rows and columns.

I used ink as the main analog medium because I felt it related the most to the Mythical topic, and connected to the Medieval theme I was aiming for with the cards. I ended up narrowing down to three of the designs before I had decided on one for the box.

Text that reads 'Mythical' and 'Mythical' in black, handwritten style, with a rough, artistic font on a white background.

final designs

Educational infographic featuring the letter 'h' in a Gothic font and information about divine creatures called Naga, describing them as half-human, half-serpent, water spirits or dragons from Buddhism. It includes descriptions of storm wind creatures with half-human, half-bird bodies, and mentions Ouroboros as a symbol of life, death, and rebirth, depicted as a snake devouring itself. The design uses a brown background with white text and illustrations, and a smaller illustration of a Naga in the center. 
I went through several fonts and color palettes before deciding on my final ones. I decided a gothic style font would work best blown up large on the backside of the cards, while a bold sans serif would compliment the negative space on the informative side of the card. I went through a few shades of blue as well before trying out a dark, maroon/red color, and it ended up working out the best for the designs. I also decided to include an low opacity illustration on half of the cards. I felt it kept the set of cards flowing, leading the viewer to want to continue browsing through the cards.
Illustration of a medieval wooden gallows with a noose hanging from the crossbeam, surrounded by a brick wall and a dragon in the background.