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Visual image reflecting the function of my design intervention.

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Model prototype of a holographic sign projector created and rendered using fusion360.

The form is sleek and streamlined while also light and durable due to it consisting of aluminum. The lens is designed to project a stablised image and text no matter what angle it is clipped to the clothing.

It is designed to clip onto denser fabrics- like denim, leather, hat brims and thick cotton. The tongs open with a hidden spring hinge when the user presses down on the curved back pieces with a thumb and forefinger. 

I also added a textured pad between the plane of the device to help grip the clothing. This pad will be made from recycled plastic which has been grooved/ patterned to cause friction against surfaces.

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Development

Prototype sketches for the form of the device.

I was inspired by clip on camera lenses for phones. The form of this product would work just as well as a clip on to clothing- hats, bags, shirts etc.

Image retrieved from: https://www.livingandgiving.co.nz/product/5041937/smartlens-clip-on-phone-camera-lens-set-of-3/

The form represents the minimum in this design. All components are related to function and there is no excess in shape.

This design would be primarily made from aluminum as it’s the most recycled industrial metal in the world. It is also very lightweight and can be used to create durable products.

By Unknown author - http://images-of-elements.com/aluminium.php, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9084427

The technology of the lens will use some non-recyclable batteries and small components like circuit boards,wire coating, etc. In the big picture these small non-reusible pieces are less harmful to the environment over time due to the overall durability of the product.

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Creating a Digital Protest Sign

Image retrieved from: https://www.seeker.com/gadgets/new-technique-generates-free-floating-3d-images-just-dont-call-it-a-hologram

My design intervention is a futuristic device that allows the user to project their message in 3D holographic form during protest marches.

Creating a 3 dimensional image for a protest sign is plausible with near current technology and research trends on holography. We have the current technology for projections and LED holographic displays which create their own projections surface with the movement of lights.

Holographic Flex LED

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wM_Byrv9iBI&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR2FxVbzH1MwVjxgNYt9eE5iP2gu-7QgFuvSlmmcH8wnLCQRsrXZe6euCk8

Portable 3D Holographic Projector

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-19IPSKVsY&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR2TEQyUc1IVdqs-hWFrAaZoHxxqZbShsVNtxn_6NxsWYcC7S9bkFMp0JwM

 A device that produces a hologram projection as a protest sign is a way to drastically reduce the negative effects of handmade signs as well as linking the protest back as a digital movement.

The function of the sign is to project the image from a holographic lens combining digital technology with physicality. This device connects to a Bluetooth device allowing the user to create their message or image using an application which it then converts into a project-able holographic image. The sign’s final image will be using developing technology to project 3D into mid air, not 2D reflected on a flat surface like a projector.

The application can optionally share data with social media to show the person’s location during the protest and an image of their 3D sign to their online followers.

The form of the device will be a clip on attachment to a piece of clothing, hat, bag or phone. This makes the device hands-free. The direction the projection from the lens is digitally stablised no matter which angle you place the clip allowing the 3d projection to remain the right position and readable.

I consider this design as having a maximum impact on the negatives of protest signs within a little output. As its a small, portable and discreet device comprised of a technological function

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Design Intervention

Minimum:

Taken from Bauhaus principals

Form follows function. The form of the design isn’t excessive to its purpose, it’s made to be used so other decoration or unnecessary shapes are wasteful of materials and effort.

True materials. Using materials to harness their natural properties. Materials used within the design shouldn’t be hidden or disguised with coatings or craft.

(In relevance to the topic)

Little material and material impact used within the design/object. Creating a form to use a small amount of material, of which has a positive (not harmful) impact on the environment- via manufacturing process, exporting and durability.

Maximum:

Opposite of Bauhaus.

The form of the design has no creative boundaries. Appearance is of importance for the designer to convey an idea as a new perspective of form.

Emphasis on artistic preference over function.

Materials developed using different craft/manufacturing methods, additives, coatings, to experiment with how far we can push material manipulation to create a unique form.

(In relevance to topic)

Largest/most effective impact on the social issue. Looks at solving the root of the issue instead of adding in products to help manage it.

Opportunity

Looking at physical protest marches and demonstrations compared to the viral movements themselves I find there is little connection between the two. These protestor gatherings are arranged online yet the physical outcome of a march or meet up is still somewhat barbaric and unorganised.

People find and support a movement online effortlessly, they can sign petitions for action, donate to the cause and spread awareness over multiple social media platforms. However, when a supporter arrives for a protest/demonstration they found on Facebook or other media everything becomes physical. We can see the physical marches, with 2D signs and communication of the event only being through photos and videos, have little connection to the digital protest movement as a whole.

Reinventing the protest sign as a way to connect the viral movement with physical actions. The function of the sign is to spread a message visually that can be seen clearly and from a distance.

Disadvantages of current protest signs:

Handheld. The user does not have their hands free when holding a protest sign which doesn’t allow them to multitask throughout the duration of the protest march (check a phone, put on a jacket, etc). Also the transport of a sign to and from the protest can be questioned. If the user had to travel on a crowded subway, bus or even walking through a crowd it gets in the way.

Personal effort to create a sign/message. Gathering materials and building a sign is less accessible to some depending on their geographic location and lifestyle. We can also consider the decoration of the sign as not every person has an artistic flair or painting tools lying around at home.

Not eco-friendly. Made often from natural resources and plastic. Acrylic paint is also commonly used and this product makes the sign harder/not able to be recycled.

The lifespan of a protest sign is highly short lived. Their afterlife consists of being dumped at a recycling plant or in a rubbish yard. This is extra effort for workers and a waste of resources like power, water and labor used in the processing plants.

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Items and designs related to protesting demonstrations

Protest signs.

Image retrieved from: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/sep/20/signs-of-the-times-the-best-climate-strike-placards

Protest signs have been around since the materials for them became widely available to the public- around the 1900s. Signs are mostly handmade by the protestor with the function to spread their message on the topic through a statement or simple visual image. They are most commonly made from cardboard, wood, paint, paper and corflute plastic. Predominantly materials that use natural resources.

Large written words like that on the signs is an effective form of communication as it can be seen from a distance and it doesn’t require onlookers to have to listen, only use their eyes.

Once a demonstration or march is over many protestors leave their signs outside a landmark related to their cause, such as a parliament building or statue - but many signs are simply thrown into the recycling or trash bins.

Police defenses- pepper spray/mace

Image retrieved from: https://www.seattlepi.com/seattlenews/article/Patriot-Prayer-march-Seattle-police-pepper-spray-11816353.php

In the 1980's pepper began being used as pepper spray and then became a legalized non-lethal weapon. This helped police officers keep situations under control without the deadly impacts of using a firearm. Despite being classed as “non-lethal’, mace/pepper spray is still a very invasive and painful weapon and can easily cause blindness.

Online websites, i.e. Change.org, Gofundme, Facebook.

Facebook introduced the features “groups” and “events” in 2006. Since then these platforms have made it effortless to create large support groups and arrange meet ups online. Changing the way people communicate and exchange knowledge to make it visible to the general public and easy to find within online searches. These platforms had an impact in gathering larger masses for protests and marches within the digital age.

Change.org is an online petition website. Anyone can create a petition on this platform and share the online link around different media platforms to gather signatures from supporters. Petitions are traditionally done in person by writing a signature of each supporter under the change desired. With this digital tool you can gather signs from supporters all over the world who can’t physically travel to sign their name on a piece of paper plus it’s a time saver.

Gofundme is a crowdfunding platform that was launched in 2010. The website allows individuals to raise a significant amount of money for a cause through online donations from supporters.

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Breakdown of Viral Protests

By breaking down the topic of viral protests into negative and positive effects of digital communication we can find areas that warrant a design intervention.

Negatives:

1.Viral protests are more short lived since the change to digital media as the main communication route. Digital communication and topics that become globally trending only stay that way for a matter of months. People have short attention spans and after a new movement or viral trend is posted people lose interest in the old one no matter how important it is.

People are too overexposed to posts and reminders on the topic of the protest that it’s forced upon them from pop-ups, distant friend’s posts or advertisements. Even if it isn’t their particular belief, the public then act like sheep by copying or forwarding the protester’s posts. This is because its trending and so they wont feel left out.

2. Individuals being unable to voice ideas on the issue that is being protested on online forums or within comment sections. For fear of cyber bullying, hate comments and harassment of their personal beliefs or opinions.

3. Companies using the protest/movement as a way to advertise their products by adding empathetic sayings and online discounts because of the event. It’s not action against the cause it’s only talk.

Positives:

1. Use of online petitions to gain signatures for a change against a hierarchy. These petitions are easy to access for the general public.

2. Viral protests reach a much larger audience by spreading information online and this gains them more support and awareness for their cause. It also makes others reflect on issues in their area/country and start their own sub-movement.

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Topic Analysis

Protesting,riots and demonstrations have existed as a method for the general public to help resolve societal and social issues that are problematic in their lives. These types of movements express the people’s objections of oppression and unfairness that has been brought upon them unwillingly by an external force. There are many examples of successful historical protests:

The French Revolution 1778-1799

By Eugène Delacroix - Erich Lessing Culture and Fine Arts Archives via artsy.net, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=27539198

Consisted of brutal violence and rioting against monarchies and the last of feudalism with the intention bring in a democracy giving freedom to the general population in France.

The Suffragettes 1893-1928

Image retrieved from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3cswqkp

This movement started in New Zealand and spread to Britain with women expressing their importance of the right to vote. Protest tactics included marches, hunger strikes, property damage and one woman threw herself in front of the king’s horse at Epsom Derby.  In 1918 women over 30 won some rights to vote however it was not until 1928 when voting was allowed for all women over 21.

Stonewall Riots 1969

Image retrieved from: https://medium.com/@casandrasobczak/impact-of-stonewall-riots-1969-1882a1264afe

New York city police raided a local gay bar (The Stonewall Inn) which lead to six days of protests and violence. This served as a catalyst for the gay pride movement normalising and fighting the harsh laws and abuse against same-sex relations, gay bars and cross-dressing. Protesters set fires were in bars when riot squads came in to raid and arrest people. The protestors fought back by throwing bricks at them, however to little avail.

The movement was covered negatively in media such as newspapers, radio and posters- this made the protesters of the gay movement out to be the bad guys and harmful to society. Today we see the flow-on outcomes of this fight including the normalisation and acceptance of the LGBT community. 29 countries have legalised same sex marriage however the USA is still not one of them.

Historical references:

The people are revolting - the history of protest, https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/the-people-are-revolting-the-history-of-protest/zdpdgwx

Stonewall Riots, https://www.history.com/topics/gay-rights/the-stonewall-riots

The 29 countries around the world where same-sex marriage is legal: https://www.businessinsider.com.au/where-is-same-sex-marriage-legal-world-2017-11?r=US&IR=T

The “Now” Method of Protest

My topic is the new age viral protests. Although the same concept as historical protests and riots, new technology plays a large part in most objection movements in the world today.

As we live in a predominately digital age, communication through social media applications has became a major force to create and spread protests/movements for social and societal issues. This recent shift to use digital media communication to express information on current protests can have different effects on the movement’s outcome and its spread.

Boko Haram Kidnapping, Nigeria, 2014.

Image retrieved from: https://www.cfr.org/blog/boko-haram-kidnapping-protests-go-viral

When 300 school girls were kidnapped in Nigeria yet the Nigerian government initially conducted little action against the crime. The news was quick to spread through social media and online news websites. The hashtag #bringbackourgirls went viral, globally supporting the movement and injustice. The campaign caught the attention of other governments and put Nigeria’s government in a bad global light, eventually leading to action.

Als Ice Bucket Challenge, 2014.

Image retrieved from: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-29162524

Image retrieved from: https://www.businessinsider.com.au/your-220-million-to-the-als-bucket-challenge-made-a-difference-2015-8?r=US&IR=T

The ASL ice bucket challenge was a viral trend where people nominated others do complete the challenge, gain financial sponsors from friends and family and film and post it listing their nominees. The money raised from the viral trend and campaign was donated to improving the healthcare system and researching amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

This campaign although successful only lasted the year. In 2015 the challenge was released again on the same date and less than a quarter of the same total of money was raised. Enforcing the idea that the challenge was somewhat of a fad and many supporters only cared while it was viral and trending before losing interest.

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Topic Ideas

Image retrieved from:https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/08/black-lives-matter-movement-explained/

#blacklivesmatter 2020 movement- response to the death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man on May 25, 2020. Floyd was brutally killed by a white police officer and a video of his death went globally viral on the same day.

I find this interesting to watch the behaviors and conversations (digital and physical) of people change to spread awareness about this cause so suddenly.

The Black Lives Matter movement was founded in 2013 as a “Global Network builds power to bring justice, healing, and freedom to Black people across the globe.”

Yet it kind of pisses me off seeing so many people suddenly jump onto this cause with little understanding of the racial climate in the USA apart from just viewing this horrible viral video. We can compare this viral campaign to others that have turned into more of a fad or quick trend than a constant, thought out action.

https://blacklivesmatter.com/

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-surprisingly-short-life-of-viral-social-movements/

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I created a model of the card’s form using fusion. However the application cannot capture the movement of the product’s material when used which I disliked but it is still a good tool to create a digital visual to aid my idea.

This is my final article. I had trouble with the layout trying to make it simple yet containing all the relevant information and images. I am happy with the final layout. Its clear to read and the viewer can understand what it’s about without having to read it just from the images and titles used.

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This is what my final product will look like.

Ideally the suits and numbers would be embossed into the leather using machinery. This would give a texture to feel and know what card you’re holding in darker lighting or if you’re visually impaired.

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Documentation of modelling process.

For my physical model I used recycled leather scraps from a furniture upholsterer. This shares many textile qualities with the mushroom leather I couldn’t access so its the next best thing for a prototype.

I traced a playing card shape and cut it with a crafting blade, then sanded the edges and rinsed in water to stiffen the leather. It is also thicker than the leather I wanted to use at 3mm but it has the right movement. If I was crafting this with mushroom leather I would use a 1.5mm thickness and apply a sun-drying stiffening technique so it wouldn’t be too pliable to hand upright.

Images focused on the movement of the cards.

I wanted to emboss the leather with the suit and symbol however I do not have the tools required or a machine press to transfer the image. I am using Photoshop to add the symbol and suit onto my presentation photos.

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Article Layout

https://www.pinterest.nz/catcatparkinson/241catpark/

I’m focusing on creating a design magazine article rather than something online. The examples I’ve found are simplistic and less wordy than my last poster. The examples focus on a sharp, clean layout of imagery and text with a heading and subheading. My format will be a double page spread style.

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Eco-leather Research

Bull Kelp Leather

Photos via. Belle Wang, RMIT student (Fashion & Textiles, Sustainable Innovation).

SeaCell®

SeaCell® was developed by Nanonic inc in 2009. It’s a type of seaweed leather created with a mixture of cellulose and kelp.The environmental aspects of  the SeaCell® textile and manufacturing process and positive. By using kelp which is an abundant sustainable resource in oceans and no harmful chemicals during manufacture the product is safer to workers,consumers and the environment than animal leather or PVC. It has the same textile properties as leather and feels and behaves the same to touch and craft with. It also has proven benefits of transferring vitamins and minerals from the sea, like vitamin E, into wearable textiles that can pass the benefits to the user with skin contact.

https://www.prescouter.com/2017/04/sustainable-animal-leather-alternatives/

The Power of Seaweed in  a fiber or The "sea and feel" - Idea http://www.nanonic.us/smartcel-Seacell.html

Pineapple Husk Leather

By Piñatex - https://www.instagram.com/p/BJvJCRNhv4k/, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=58496273

Piñatex®

Piñatex® is created by Dr. Carmen Hijosa. It harnesses the agricultural waste product of pineapple leaves in the Philippines and uses these plant fibres in a commercial textile. The company also uses fair trade benefits to help under-wage workers from the Philippines develop their own income and upscale their developing farms. The product uses felt made from dried pineapple leaf fibres and then coats them with resin or a foil PU transfer to add qualities that replicate leather, i.e. waterproof,durable. Piñatex® is a softer leather that helps financially struggling pineapple farmers in the Philippines make an extra income of a byproduct that would usually be burned or left to rot.

https://www.ananas-anam.com/about-us/

https://www.prescouter.com/2017/04/sustainable-animal-leather-alternatives/

Mushroom Leather

Courtesy of Made with Reishi™ by MycoWorks: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mycoworks-raises-17m-series-a-to-meet-growing-demand-for-reishi-301010283.html

MycoWorks grows their own leather-like material using the fungal species Ganoderma lucidum, which is the one we most commonly eat. MycoWorks uses  a method of manipulating mycelium cells to grow, weave together, and form specific shapes. This lab method can be used for furniture,sculpture,fashion and as a building material. MycoWorks is the branded textile that produces specifically for the fashion industry. This textile emits nearly no waste as it can be grown to the shape and thickness needed by the designer. The textile is embossed using water and pressing a texture in and its tanned using vegetable dyes.

https://www.vogue.com/article/reishi-launch-vegan-sustainable-faux-leather-alternative

Because all of these ecoleathers are made from natural materials overseas it is really difficult to obtain samples in New Zealand because they have trademarked their processes and textiles. I was unable to collect samples of each for my material analysis due to customs restrictions and Covid19 shipping restrictions.

These companies are small in scale and only collaborate with professional designers and brands. However ideally I would create my design re-interpretation of playing cards using mushroom leather from MycoWorks or a similar company. This textile has the most similar properties of leather and its production methods are the most innovative.

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Reinterpretation of playing cards.

The design elements that I believe essential to the product are:

-A specific marking distinguishing each suit and card.

-The ability to use them within card games.

- emotional tie to the last generation

- The shape and size of the form.

-Maintaining a ‘set’ of cards that are cohesive to each other.

Graphic Aspects.

image retrieved from:https://www.britannica.com/topic/playing-card

Edit of the same image except with the only important graphic information, removing the excess.

I am changing the jack, queen and king to remove the imagery and just have the first letter of each. This is an integration away from the original card so the player will start to remove the link to the old powers in society that have no relevance in today. Each card would still hold the same value but just be represented by a single letter.

I believe the suits (hearts,spades,clubs and diamonds) still have a valid meaning to the game as they are just seen as symbols not relative to societal figures.

Material

Although I plan on keeping the form and shape the same I think the cards would benefit from a change in material to something more durable and environmentally friendly.

image retrieved from: https://www.etsy.com/listing/696348302/10pcs-tiny-antique-cards-1900s-miniature?utm_medium=SellerListingTools&utm_campaign=Share&utm_source=Pinterest&share_time=1559306072000&utm_term=so.slt

The main cause of wear on playing cards occurs around the corners and bends in the middle from the cards being curved within games. They can be easily ripped, bent and the paper discolours over time sometime til the symbols cant even be read.  This isn’t a problem with the form and shape of the cards but the material.

I want to use a more pliable and stronger material where the symbols can be textured in not painted on. This changes playing cards from something that meant to be a disposable object to something of a higher value and quality.

Ideally I’d use a textile with the same or similar properties as stiffened leather. This textile is durable, able to be textured, plyable, waterproof and smooth to touch. Making it easy to slide across a table. The negatives of animal leather are obvious as it involves the harvest of innocent animals. There is also the use of harsh chemical processes within the animal leather industry creating toxins that bring damage to workers and the environment.

There are a range of eco-leathers on the market today made from materials like mushrooms,seaweed and pineapple husk.

I will show my research on eco-leather in another post.

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Identifying Design Language

Playing Cards.(describing current day card designs)

The form is simple to understand the purpose. It fits in the palm of your hand and is easy to travel with. The multiple copies all a little different (suits and symbols) showing pieces that are definitely part of a set to be used together. This is enforced by the packaging which groups them as a set.The material used is lightweight showing they are meant to be held and because the most prominent design feature is the graphics the user can tell these are meant to be read to understand the use. The material is also not very durable or expensive showing that the cards are for common use, also showing their material value is not high.

The factor many nations have created their own graphic symbols for cards makes them more purposeful and relevant to people from that particular region. The way that the imagery can be so easily changeable is a good quality of the product. An effect of playing cards being produced and used constantly for thousands of years allows an emotional tie with the object to be built in older generations as this was a good pass time before digital technology.

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Playing Cards

-Who designed it? And when was it designed?

The origin and exact date of playing cards is only speculative but most scholars state that the concept originated in China. Playing cards appeared in Europe around the late 1300s to 1400s, most likely from overseas travel from the middle east. Historical evidence is difficult to find as the paper cards were fragile and ruined over time.

Many nations created their own versions of playing cards, the most well known ones are the French version which came about during the 1500s. The aces, hearts, spades and diamonds became the symbols for English and American cards also. However Italy & Spain, the Middle East and Germany use different suits derived from the nation’s religion and old societal symbols.

-What was the motivation? Was it designed to solve a problem?If so, what  was the problem?And was the design deemed a good solution at the time?Is the approach still valid?

Playing cards were created originally for gambling, entertainment and social culture.

The use and creation of playing cards is so widespread and lasting that it can be deemed a successful design. The fact that the card’s symbols and imagery reflected society at the time they were made and consumed gives them more meaning and relevance to past consumers.

-How the designer came up with the idea? How long did it take to complete the design since its inception?

Playing cards are originally thought to be a version of playing money used in China. There is no exact information known on who, when and why but the gambling uses for them have developed into a clearer notion by looking at the same gambling uses that other countries adapted them for.

-Why was it formed that way? Did the designer consider any different shapes, structures or configurations?Has the original form been modified? If so, what was the reason?

Although the form and shape of playing cards is still very much the same as today, many card designs and imagery have changed over time to reflect the political, social and technological changes of the area they are produced in.

Most common playing cards we use today often have less detailed imagery and minimal colours, as this is most cost effective and simple to manufacture and print. They are now usually plastic coated to increase the durability. Some brands even manufacture cards from cellulose (plant fibres) as a more environmentally friendly decision that harnesses today’s technology and global concerns.

-How was it crafted, manufactured or built? Was the method or process  believed innovative then?Is it still the same from today’s perspective?

Cards were originally made by hand by craftsmen and artists. Materials used were ink and cardboard made in a process of pasting sheets together creating different weights. Different regions used different processes but all had similar use of materials and form in the final product.

Gradually as industrialisation took over around the mid 1800s many workplaces had skilled craftsmen replaced by machinery to make business more competitive and profitable for the brands. Different innovations in printing techniques have been used throughout the ages creating different styles of imagery over time.

Plastic coating cards also became more common around this age to increase the durability. Metal playing cards have also been produced to solve this problem however these have their own problems, including the use of unsustainable natural materials, rusting and the weight affects the use of the cards.

Today’s manufacturing process uses typical current technology and machinery. The global awareness of the environment has prompted a change in the materials used in many businesses to cellulose instead of paper as this is more economical and thoughtful of the environment. However the majority of playing cards produced are still plastic coated which releases toxins harmful to workers and the environment.

-Who was the target audience? How did the audience or critics react to the design at first? Has it changed over time?

The original audience was gambling cultures within social groups in China as the first playing cards were created as a form of “play money” to represent real currency.

When playing cards arrived in Europe in the 1400s they were disapproved or banned by religious authorities as gambling was considered selfish and sinful.

The playing cards were mostly used by working class men, for example; merchants, soldiers, Higher classed males in societies would use luxury cards often made with higher skills and better quality materials but this was less common because gambling was not considered a good etiquette or habit in many cultures. It was always a male dominated game throughout most of history as women held less value to society and weren’t allowed their own income to gamble with let alone a job.

Overtime the use of playing cards within games has widespread throughout social classes and cultures. Cards are an important aspect of most modern casinos, as a more social experience than gambling machines. Many households will have a pack of cards to use as a pass time and many card games today don’t involve gambling at all. It’s still a male dominated gambling game but is open to females with no restrictions.

-How can the short-term and long-term impact of the design classic,  including associated factors,such as introduction of a pioneering  process or subsequent changes it has prompted,if any, on our lifestyle, other designers, relevant industries,and the environment be described? 

The card industry provides jobs and incomes for many of the working classes. The cards were also taxed on purchase back to the 1400s which provided income to the hierarchy of the country to use for their own benefit or that of the less fortunate.

Playing cards initially encouraged gambling, a form of entertainment that has had mixed effects on individuals for thousands of years. Evidence tells us today that gambling can be an addictive hobby for those placing large amounts they cannot afford on the table and relying on the chances of playing card games to win more or make a living for themselves. This problem gambling can negatively affect the income of families and their livelihoods of those playing.

The French card symbols and suits we use today are also very popular symbols themselves in social culture. They provide a reference to the qualities held in the card during a game and symbolism of gambling itself.

- What was not fully considered or even missing at the time? Has there been any improvement made? 

The durability of the cards was not fully considered when they first started being produced. Plastic coating cards is the most common solution which came about during the 1800s.

-How different today’s perceptions, knowledge and values are from those of the times? And how likely would they change in the future?

The graphic design of playing cards has been developed on for hundreds of years by different cultures and regions. It’s a design that is still being developed on today with current designers changing the graphics, suits and symbols to make them more relevant in today’s culture.

Today in 2020, the version of play cards most known to us(Kings, Queens, Jacks and jokers) are not based on prominent symbols in society as many countries are governed by different systems, making these symbols less powerful in a person’s mind. The suits we most commonly use now (hearts,spades,diamonds and clubs) are also less relevant as these were symbols tied to the area they were made in during the 15th century.

There is also the factor that the gender of someone in power is not as constricted as it was within the time the card symbols were chosen. The King is often given the highest ranking within a card game which makes us ask the question today “why does the most powerful have to be male?”. This gender bias makes the cards less valid within the past 100 years and specifically in the current year as gender equality is an issue most countries are working towards solving/have solutions for.

-What do you want to say to the designer if you had a chance?

To the first person: Who are you? And do you know how many people have lost money or their livelihood over playing cards and gambling?

https://playingcarddecks.com/blogs/all-in/history-playing-cards-modern-deck

https://www.wopc.co.uk/history/1/2