JAL playing cards. The essence of water in a deck
Water has shaped history, and the symbolic power of this element has been beautifully captured by Orion Playing Cards in their latest creation. Inspired by the origins of life in the oceans and the ancient Hindi word for “water,” this deck immerses us in an artistic and visual experience: JAL.
The JAL deck, illustrated by Bivas Bhattacharjee (Old Gravity), celebrates the vital role of water in all its forms, from its calm to its unfathomable mystery. Available in two editions, this collection transports us to serene water horizons and deep oceans under moonlight, offering a visual homage to nature and humanity’s connection with water.
The court cards represent four fundamental aspects of water in our history: emotion, myth, tradition, and science. Hearts capture the emotional force of water through kings and queens. In the spades, aquatic myths unfold with characters like Poseidon. Clubs portray ancient waters full of rituals, while the diamonds remind us of scientific discoveries, such as Archimedes’ principle of buoyancy.
The aces are adorned with sea-inspired details, and the jokers evoke water’s dual power to give and take life.
The numbered
cards have unique custom pips and indices with edge patterns that differ on each card.
The back design will be printed on holographic paper with semi-transparent areas, creating a deep and beautiful three-dimensional effect.
The project presents two main editions of this deck: Tranquil Waters and Night Waters, each with two versions: standard and gilded (metallic edges). Both editions capture the essence and spirit of water with subtle design and aesthetic differences that make them complementary. Both versions offer a unique visual experience where the mystery and calm of night waters are represented in every movement and shimmer.
The Tranquil Waters edition reflects the serenity of a calm ocean under the sun, transmitting that peace through holographic blue tones and silver finishes. The standard version includes cards that capture the play of light and color in motion, evoking sunlight reflecting on the water. The deck is completed with a raised embossing and beautiful metallic details in holographic blue, matte silver, and deep blue.
The gilded version enriches the design with holographic edges and die-cut details in the tuck box, accentuating the metallic finish and adding an ethereal, exclusive touch.
The Night Waters edition, in contrast, evokes the mystery of waters under moonlight with deep blue and matte black tones that suggest the enigma of ocean depths. The standard version has a dark-toned tuck box with metallic blue and silver details, achieving a light-and-shadow effect similar to water under the moon.
In the gilded version, a fractal blue holographic edge combined with a die-cut tuck box completes the experience, adding depth to the design.
JAL invites us to celebrate life and nature, inspired by its primordial waters. This campaign opens the door to a world of design and art, ideal for any playing card lover. To get yours, visit the project page and make your pledge.
Good luck!
