Role: Concept, illustration system, deck design
Scope: 42-card deck (major arcana-style special cards + numbered cards)
Goal: Reinterpret a historical game with modern visual clarity and personality
Deliverables: Card faces (fronts), typographic hierarchy, icon system, key card illustrations
Scope: 42-card deck (major arcana-style special cards + numbered cards)
Goal: Reinterpret a historical game with modern visual clarity and personality
Deliverables: Card faces (fronts), typographic hierarchy, icon system, key card illustrations
The concept is a reinterpretation of the old Swedish card game Kille. The game has its origins in the medieval French and Italian games Coucou/ Cuccu and had its heydays in the 1750s.
The game uses a 42-card deck and players aim to avoid holding the lowest-ranking card after all exchanges. Each card has specific rules governing exchanges. Kille or Cùccu/ Coucou remains one of the oldest card games still played today.
Blompottan (the Flowerpot) and Kransen (the Wreath) are two low value, exchangeable cards. The Wreath actually symbolizes the number zero.
Standard number cards 1-12 - can be exchanged normally.
Blaren (The Mask) is an exchangeable card and one of the lowest of the deck. It knocks out the holder. Whereas Svinhugg (The Swine) cancels any attempt to exchange furthermore it reverses all previous exchanges involving this card, knocking out the one attempting to exchange cards.
Wärdshus (The Tavern) and Caval/ Kavall (The Trooper) both prevents exchange; exchanger must attempt to swap with the next player.
Husar (The Hussar") If an exchange is attempted, the exchanger is knocked out.
Cucu (The Cuckoo) Ends the round immediately; all players reveal their cards.
Kille (The Harlequin) Exchanged face-up; highest card when dealt or drawn, lowest when exchanged. This is also the card that have given the Swedish version of the game its name as the word "Kille" is thought to be an old slang word for "Harlequin".
