Designer Collaboration
Create Playing Cards With Stancraft
Stancraft Products collaborates with artists, illustrators, and designers to create distinctive playing cards and packaging. We commission designers for defined Stancraft projects and review artists for future releases in the Nu-Vue Emerging Artists Series.
Where Art, Design, and Play Come Together
Playing cards bring illustration, graphic design, typography, packaging, history, and function together in one object.
We work with creative professionals who can bring a strong visual point of view to that format. We welcome experienced playing-card designers, illustrators, graphic designers, packaging specialists, and artists who have never designed a deck before.
We are interested in both complete design systems and specialists who can contribute to selected parts of a project.
-
Commissioned Stancraft Projects
Stancraft develops original playing cards across multiple brands and product categories. For these projects, we may engage a designer to work from a defined creative brief, expand an existing concept, or complete particular elements of a deck and package.
Assignments may include:
• Complete playing-card design systems
• Custom courts and character illustration
• Card backs, Aces, Jokers, and specialty cards
• Tuck boxes and premium packaging
• Heritage and ornamental design
• Typography, lettering, and production adaptation -
Nu-Vue Emerging Artists Series
Nu-Vue is Stancraft’s home for contemporary, nontraditional, and artist-led playing cards.
The Nu-Vue Emerging Artists Series is a program within Nu-Vue created to introduce distinctive work from new and developing artists to the playing-card format.
Artists do not need to arrive with 54 completed cards or a fully developed deck concept.
We currently review portfolios for future Nu-Vue releases. Specific open calls and release schedules will be announced when active projects are ready to begin.
Professional, Paid Collaboration
Selected collaborations are compensated under a written agreement. The compensation structure may vary by project, but scope, schedule, payment, creative credit, ownership, usage rights, and required deliverables are agreed before work begins.
We do not ask applicants to design a complete deck as unpaid speculative work. Initial evaluation is based on an artist’s existing portfolio and relevant experience.
What Stancraft Brings to the Project
Our role extends beyond commissioning artwork. Stancraft works to turn a creative concept into a functional, manufacturable, and marketable playing-card product.
We provide:
• Playing-card product development and art direction
• Templates, specifications, and production guidance
• Review of card structure, indices, suits, and usability
• Tuck-box and packaging development
• Printer coordination and prepress review
• Manufacturing and inventory investment
• Product photography, launch support, sales, and distribution
• Clear artist credit and agreed compensation
Currently Reviewing Portfolios For
-
Full-Deck Illustration
Artists capable of developing a coherent visual system across courts, Jokers, Aces, number cards, and supporting artwork.
-
Heritage and Ornament
Designers experienced in historic, classical, engraved, decorative, architectural, or highly ornamental visual styles.
-
Packaging Design
Designers who understand tuck boxes, premium packaging, typography, foil, embossing, spot finishes, and printed presentation.
-
Contemporary Art
Artists with a recognizable modern point of view whose existing work could translate into a future Nu-Vue release.
-
Production Design
Graphic designers who can adapt artwork, build production-ready files, and work within dielines and manufacturing specifications.
How the Process Works
-
Portfolio Review
Submit links to your existing work and tell us which type of collaboration interests you. A completed playing-card concept is not required.
-
Initial Conversation
When we see a potential fit, we will contact you to discuss your work, availability, interests, and the possible project.
-
Brief and Agreement
Before design begins, we establish the creative brief, scope, deliverables, schedule, compensation, credit, ownership, and usage rights in writing.
-
Development and Production
Stancraft provides playing-card templates, production guidance, feedback, manufacturing coordination, and support through completion and release.
Submit Your Portfolio
Please send links to existing work rather than creating new artwork specifically for your submission.
We are interested in seeing your overall visual language, technical capabilities, and the kinds of projects you would like to pursue.
FAQs
Do I need previous playing-card experience?
No. Playing-card experience is helpful, but it is not required. Strong work in illustration, graphic design, packaging, pattern design, typography, fine art, or related disciplines may be equally relevant.
Do you work with emerging designers and artists?
Yes. We review work from both emerging and established creative professionals. We are interested in a strong visual identity, professionalism, reliability, and the ability to develop work within a defined product format.
Are Stancraft collaborations paid?
Yes. Commissioned assignments are paid. Nu-Vue Emerging Artists Series collaborations are also compensated, although the structure may vary by project. Scope, compensation, credit, ownership, and usage rights are established in writing before work begins.
Do I need to design a sample deck before applying?
No. Please do not create a complete deck as unpaid speculative work. We evaluate initial submissions using existing portfolio work.
Can I submit an original playing-card concept?
Yes. You may include a brief, non-confidential description of an original concept. A finished deck or complete presentation is not required.
What styles are you interested in?
Stancraft develops a broad range of playing-card products. Commissioned projects may involve heritage, ornamental, commemorative, functional, premium, or packaging-driven design. Nu-Vue focuses on contemporary, nontraditional, and artist-led work.
Will every submission receive a response?
No. We keep promising portfolios on file, but we generally contact artists only when there appears to be a strong fit for a current or future project.
How long will you retain my information?
We may retain submitted contact information and portfolio links for consideration for future opportunities. You may ask us to remove your submission by contacting Stancraft Products.
Important Submission Information
Submission does not guarantee a project, interview, commission, publication, or individual response.
Submitting a portfolio does not transfer ownership of any artwork, design, concept, trademark, copyright, or other intellectual property to Stancraft Products.
Please do not send confidential, proprietary, or embargoed material. Any information submitted through this form should be appropriate for non-confidential portfolio review.
Stancraft Products may retain portfolio links and contact information for consideration for future opportunities. Any actual collaboration will be governed by a separate written agreement.