Whimsical Playing Cards

Published October 17, 2016 Updated November 11, 2023

Whimsical Playing Cards by Turkish designer & illustrator Oksal Yesilok, 2016.

2016 TurkeyArt & DesignMinimalistSymbolsOksal YesilokSuits
Whimsical Playing Cards designed by Oksal Yesilok, 2016

Whimsical Playing Cards were created by designer & illustrator Oksal Yesilok from Istanbul, Turkey in 2016. The deck is an original and intriguing re-interpretation of traditional English playing cards produced as vector-based line art in an elegant, minimalist style with precise attention to details. The artist is evidently gifted with a predilection for accuracy and scientific detail in his work. The standard suit symbols have been re-fashioned and given symbolic attributions: ♠ death; ♥ romance; ♦ health & wealth; ♣ war. The back design is a 3D diamond texture.

Whimsical Playing Cards designed by Oksal Yesilok, 2016 Whimsical Playing Cards designed by Oksal Yesilok, 2016 Whimsical Playing Cards designed by Oksal Yesilok, 2016

Above: Whimsical Playing Cards designed by Oksal Yesilok, 2016. 52 cards + 2 jokers + 2 extra cards in box. Deck Size 10 cm x 6.5 cm, hand-painted fluorescent edges. Limited edition of 200 decks.

REFERENCES

Design Award website here

Artist’s website here

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By Simon Wintle

Spain • Member since February 01, 1996

I am the founder of The World of Playing Cards (est. 1996), a website dedicated to the history, artistry and cultural significance of playing cards and tarot. Over the years I have researched various areas of the subject, acquired and traded collections and contributed as a committee member of the IPCS and graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal. Having lived in Chile, England, Wales, and now Spain, these experiences have shaped my work and passion for playing cards. Amongst my achievements is producing a limited-edition replica of a 17th-century English pack using woodblocks and stencils—a labour of love. Today, the World of Playing Cards is a global collaborative project, with my son Adam serving as the technical driving force behind its development. His innovative efforts have helped shape the site into the thriving hub it is today. You are warmly invited to become a contributor and share your enthusiasm.

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