Illustration: Playing card design

Design a set of playing cards inspired by Japanese culture and history.

• The picture card, number card and card back are designed using a range of symbolic Japanese elements, including the red sun symbol, traditional female hair-style, oiled paper umbrella, the goldfish, red-crowned crane, bamboo leaf, lotus leaf, ginkgo leaf, etc.

• Two traditional colours are chosen: indigo, as a background, delivers a sense of calm and respect, while crimson is repeatedly used to build a contrast and highlight the important

  elements.

• Adobe Illustrator: to trace, draw and colour the features.

• Adobe Photoshop: to add a subtle texture by desaturating the background.