Felicia Hertada
Deck of Extinct Spirit (Redesign Playing Cards)
Prompt: The environmental crisis we face today is of an unprecedented scale and type. Sociological research shows that one major roadblock to addressing the environmental emergency is our emotional disconnect from nature, climate change, and environmental degradation. Without cultural spaces, practices, or products for engaging with themes of environmental change, we cannot adequately process the problems that beset all life on this planet; we remain emotionally detached, stuck in a place of inaction. Bolstering our resiliency as individuals and as a culture is fundamental to addressing the environmental crisis. For this project, you will be creating a work that is rooted in fostering connection and understanding around an aspect of the environmental crisis. Each and every project will be unique in form and concept – but all projects must address the issue of resilience.
“Deck of Extinct Spirits” aims to provide a memorial for extinct species, foster sympathy, and increase people’s awareness of endangered species. Card decks are one of the most commonly used cards. By redesigning them, it is hoped that more people can learn more about extinct species, especially this project focused on animals. Additionally, cards are often used as a means of remembering information, and playing card decks while looking at the pictures and information on these cards can make it easier for people to remember a species. Then, sharing information and remembering can add an attachment to the species people just learn from the cards, building a deeper connection with extinct species that they can no longer see. Moreover, it indirectly fosters sympathy for these species that are extinct because of us. It can be said that these cards are like a memorial for those species. The project will be carried out by redesigning the card deck which includes spade, heart, diamond, and club by adding illustrations of some extinct animals. In each card, there will be some more information like the species’ scientific name and cause of extinction which are all caused by humans. By doing this, the card will also function as an alternative solution to the encyclopedia and make knowing extinct animals easier. Then the design will be crafted and printed out like a real deck card, ready to distribute.