The Dystopian Deck started as a question: what would magic, cardistry and playing cards look like at the end of the world? Then I realised: perhaps Dystopia is not the future. Perhaps it is now.

This is a deck from a world where freedom is frowned upon; the people are being silenced and stripped of the necessity for free speech, free lives and happiness. The court cards are the leaders of the deck, and in this post-pandemic scenario, the leaders are either blinded or unable to speak out.

The red cards are a deeper, blood-soaked red and Ace of Spades has been marked by rioting and uproar. The border of the cards is quite literally a border - of barbed wire. And to cap it all off, the watch tower stands eerily as a silhouette in a cruel sky.

The Dystopian Deck is the debut deck of cards produced by Cavan Booth, designed by Arya Ha and printed by Cartamundi on their Linen B9 stock.