7 Experiences in Designing Game Cards: A Game Designer’s Journey

The following is compiled from an interview with an Acelion’s designer.

 

Designing a game from scratch is both an exciting and daunting endeavor. When you decide to focus on designing game cards, you enter a unique and intricate part of the creative process. After countless hours spent crafting, testing, and tweaking, I’ve gathered a lot of insights into what makes or breaks a card game. As a game card designer, here are the seven most important lessons I've learned throughout my journey.

 

1. Enjoy the Creative Process – It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint

 

Game design is often portrayed as an exhilarating race toward the finish line. In reality, it’s more like a marathon. From initial ideation to the final polished prototype, the design process requires sustained effort and a deep appreciation for each phase, no matter how challenging it gets. At first, you’re motivated by the thrill of an idea, but as the project progresses, it’s easy to become disheartened by obstacles. I quickly realized that enjoying the process itself, rather than focusing solely on the end goal, was key to maintaining enthusiasm.

 

For example, I’ve spent weeks just fine-tuning the artwork, experimenting with card layouts, or testing different card abilities. These little moments of tweaking, refining, and evolving a design are immensely satisfying, even though they often feel like tedious work. The real reward is in how each adjustment contributes to the overall experience of the game. In hindsight, I wouldn’t trade these quiet, reflective moments for anything.

 

 

2. Understanding the Balance Between Playability and Aesthetics

 

The first rule of card game design: your cards need to be functional. Early on, I was so focused on making each card visually appealing that I almost overlooked one crucial element – playability. When cards are too ornate or complex, they can hinder gameplay rather than enhance it. The art should complement the mechanics, not overwhelm them.

 

This became apparent when I designed a few prototype cards for a game I was working on. The artwork was stunning, but when we playtested, players struggled to read the text and icons on the cards. I had to scale back the design and prioritize clarity over visual complexity. I also learned that different card types might need distinct styles. For instance, cards representing resources need to be simple and straightforward, while cards that have special abilities can get away with being a little more elaborate.

 

It’s a balancing act: while your cards should be visually captivating, they must remain functional enough to support the flow of the game without causing confusion or slowing down play.

 

3. Prototyping: Quick and Dirty Beats Perfect and Slow

 

The temptation to create a polished prototype right away is strong, but in game card design, quick iteration is more important than perfection. I used to spend hours creating perfect prototypes with professionally printed cards, only to discover that my design was far from the final version. The truth is, early prototypes often need to change drastically. Instead of wasting time on aesthetics, I now focus on functionality first—quick, rough prototypes made with cardstock and a printer are ideal for this phase.

 

The first few versions of my games had hand-cut cards with simple text, often printed with a home printer. The speed at which I could make changes was crucial. Once I understood how the game worked, I could make adjustments to the mechanics without being emotionally attached to any particular design choice. The more flexible and cost-effective my prototyping process was, the faster I could make adjustments and fine-tune my design.

 

In the end, a faster, rougher prototype lets you focus on testing and refining, rather than sinking too much energy into a look that will likely change anyway. Of course, if you don’t have a home printer, you can also try the simple and economical printing service provided by Acelion - the minimum order is 1 deck!

 

4. Learn from Playtesting (and Do It Early and Often)

 

Playtesting is the cornerstone of game card design. I can’t stress this enough: don’t be afraid to put your cards in front of others, even if you think the design isn’t perfect yet. Initially, I was hesitant to test my cards because I was worried that others would judge my work too harshly. But the truth is, your design won’t improve unless it gets into the hands of people who will give you honest, constructive feedback.

 

For me, the most insightful feedback often came from fellow designers or experienced players, who could quickly identify weak points in my card mechanics. I learned that when something feels “off,” it’s not just a small issue—it usually indicates a deeper mechanical problem. Whether it’s a balance issue, confusing card interactions, or unintentional strategies emerging, playtesting exposes these flaws early on, allowing you to fix them before they become insurmountable.

 

I also learned that feedback is most useful when it’s actionable. I stopped taking every piece of feedback at face value and instead focused on understanding the *why* behind the criticism. Playtesters might not always articulate exactly what’s wrong, but they can often point out what feels wrong—and that’s just as valuable.

 

 

5. Be Ready to Iterate, Iterate, Iterate

 

As a designer, the work doesn’t end with the first prototype or even the second round of playtests. The number of times you’ll need to revise and refine your cards is staggering. I quickly learned that iteration is the heart of game card design. There were many moments when I thought I had found the perfect balance for a card’s abilities, only to realize later that it caused more issues than it solved.

 

After each round of playtesting, I made a point of revisiting each card. What worked? What didn’t? What felt too weak or overpowered? I also began keeping a design journal to track every change I made, including why I made it. This journal not only helped me stay organized, but it also provided valuable insight into my design evolution.

 

Additionally, as you continue iterating, you’ll get better at identifying common pitfalls. For example, you might find that some card interactions are too complex or difficult to explain. This iterative process ultimately strengthens your design, turning it from a rough idea into a well-balanced, polished product.

 

6. Learning the Right Design Tools and Software

 

A significant part of game card design is using the right tools to create and iterate on your prototypes. Early in my design process, I used basic software like Microsoft Word to create cards. While functional, this quickly became cumbersome, and I realized I needed something more specialized. Learning design software like NanDeck (or even InDesign) transformed my workflow. While NanDeck had a steep learning curve, it ultimately saved me hours of manual labor by automating tasks like card layout and template creation.

 

With NanDeck, I could import spreadsheets containing card details and quickly generate new versions of my cards for playtesting. The ability to link data directly into the design meant that making changes was simple and efficient, allowing me to focus on refining the mechanics rather than getting bogged down in the technical aspects of design.

 

Mastering these tools is invaluable to a game card designer. They streamline the process and give you the freedom to focus on what truly matters—creating a fun and engaging game.

 

7. Embrace Feedback from the Wider Community

 

While playtesting with friends and family is vital, it’s important to also expose your game to the wider community. This includes joining online forums, participating in playtesting groups, and attending design meetups. The feedback I received from game design communities—whether it was through virtual events or live sessions—helped me identify blind spots and refine my cards in ways I hadn’t anticipated.

 

Online groups like Break My Game or the Board Game Design Lab offer invaluable resources for designers at any level. The support and encouragement from the community, combined with feedback from fellow creators, helped me improve my game cards far beyond what I could have achieved working in isolation.

 

 

Summary

 

In conclusion, designing game cards is a deeply rewarding, albeit challenging, experience. It requires patience, flexibility, and a willingness to embrace change. Every step of the process, from ideation to final prototype, teaches you something new. And while the road may be long, the lessons learned along the way ultimately lead to the creation of a game that resonates with players.

 

Remember, designing a game is not just about the end result—it’s about enjoying the journey, learning from your mistakes, and continuously striving to improve your craft. If you approach game card design with an open mind and a willingness to evolve, you’ll find that the process itself becomes just as rewarding as the final product.