Alright - here are a few comments - not going to quote the above because it would make the page a little too long for comfort. Understand that you do not have to read this - just as I did not have to write it. It is my personal opinion and that only.
1. Fair enough - The way that your information was released gave me the impression that you were going to release it. Surely you know yourself that a deck deserved to be better.
2&3. I will stand my case - were you to understand the genre you would understand the setting. Steampunk is the glorification of 19th century engineering, set majorly in Europe, or some Fantastical world. A kind of Utopia where astounding mechanics break the norm of current-day technology. It originates from the like of Jules Verne and H.G Wells, in that it indulges limitless depth in society and art. It is possible that your understanding is different from my own, as the design suggests clearly, but there certainly is no depth nor backstory to putting gears on brightly coloured clothing. You certainly had the opportunity to step away from the standard bicycle routine, which is what an art-oriented deck needed, but took the choice not to. The Ace of spades, Jokers, Box, Brick Case, gears gears gears. Steampunk art includes as much dials, cooling vents, bolts as well as regal rustmetal floral as gears. I saw the decision to overlook all that as lack of research and execution.
4. Apparently I've already covered that. The standard USPCC courts are good for certain occasions. They are recognizable, eye-friendly, and generic enough for 90 percent of the designer circle to take advantage of. And the original King of hearts, albeit it had a much more messy colour scheme, the use of diamonds and victorian patterns on sashes made it suit the face well. After all they had over 100 years to get it right. The originals were less than amusing. But when you've got a very defined theme that Steampunk is, it's a thumbs down to simply build off the base of that which wasn't meant for your purpose. By the amount of work you've put into it, you could have scrapped the original and develop one yourself that would infinitely improve your theme. The standard courts are a comfort zone that many are afraid to leave.
5. Hand drawing is encouraged - it is used to bring a human quality that vectors often could not. And "Good Execution" is not "Most Effort", not in ANY means. Wynns have better execution than Templar Knights, since they are such a treat to look at. How much time is in this case irrelevant, all that matters is the overall quality. When your portfolio is evaluated to be insufficient, you cannot say "But I've spent two years on preparing it!"
The willingness to put up effort on your part is fantastic and should be an example to all the wannabes out there. But I will go back to my comment atop - Research is CRUCIAL. Before I settle and start a design I will find movies of the type (By the way have you watched Steamboy? It's overwhelming.), create playlists, hoard pictures and inspiration, and fill up a sketchbook. I will live the subject before I express it. That's why being a designer is so much fun.
In my closing response, master the art. In my own opinion, if you are going to sell a product, make sure that no one can complain. I'd like to complain about the Dose, or the Artifice, but I just can't. There is no flaw to pick out. Like making a movie - before you release it, make sure you don't have any mistakes in it. People support you, and those who do deserve the best you can offer. I believe that you can do more, don't prove me wrong.
P.S(s)
I can't join you for your online sessions because I'm either in school or asleep when they're on. What a pity
Before you tell me to get off the sidelines and onto the playing field so that you can have something of mine to yell at, I'm in it but I can't tell you. Oh look, I did.
Best of Luck Lance.
Show Posts
