# Playing cards conceal hidden animation through color sequences Julia Schimautz's gradient design brings cards to life with motion - **Source:** [design archives | designboom | architecture & design magazine](https://brifing.si/source/11868f8d-1e20-41ac-bc2d-8c5af32d721b) - **Published:** 2026-08-26 - **Topic:** [Design & UX](https://brifing.si/c/design) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/baa97614-a093-4b8c-9567-311dd50e7125 ## Contemporary twist on traditional cards Austrian graphic designer Julia Schimautz collaborated with Small Wonder CPH to create 'Color Index', a special deck of playing cards. Featuring saturated color fields and progressively growing suit symbols, the design diverges from conventional poker decks. Subtle changes on each card become visible when viewing the complete set. For instance, the 'King' card's suit symbol appears to emerge from its surrounding color field. ## Animation activated by physical interaction When rapidly shuffled, individual cards combine to form a motion picture. This animation only appears through the user's physical interaction with the cards. The design embraces the idea that printed materials can contain minor inconsistencies different from digital designs. Inspired by Riso printing techniques, Schimautz incorporates slight color layer shifts as part of the design. ## Structural function of color and form In this project, color serves not just as decoration but as a structural tool organizing the sequence. Gradual transitions between cards create a larger composition. Schimautz, who runs Berlin-based DTAN Studio, adopts an experimental approach celebrating imperfections in graphic design. This philosophy proves particularly suitable for a deck built on repetition and incremental changes. ## Material choices and sustainability The deck is printed on FSC-certified black-core paper using vegetable-based inks, finished with a linen texture. These material selections maintain proximity to traditional poker decks while giving surfaces more pronounced graphic presence. The box design mirrors the saturated color gradients and oversized geometric forms featured on the cards. ## Printing process influencing design Schimautz's interest in minor printing inconsistencies significantly shapes the deck's character. Small variations during digital-to-physical translation become intentional design elements. This approach gains particular meaning in a project where color transitions and layers play crucial roles. ## Designer's background and influences Schimautz has shaped her graphic design practice through printmaking and Riso techniques. Color shifts and registration changes in these processes became integral to her visual language. Through her Berlin studio DTAN, she continues exploring physical behaviors of printed materials. The Color Index project represents a tangible manifestation of this research. ## User experience and interaction The deck doesn't reach full potential without user engagement. Shuffling or spreading the cards reveals hidden animations. This dynamic challenges the passive nature of traditional playing cards, offering fresh user interaction. The design invites reconsideration of printed objects' relationship with the digital world. ## Significance in design world Color Index expands graphic design boundaries while highlighting printed materials' interactive potential. Schimautz's work demonstrates the value of process-oriented approaches over perfectionism. This deck's creative vision serves as inspirational proof of how traditional objects can be reinterpreted. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.designboom.com/design/vibrant-card-deck-julia-schimautz-animation-sequence-colors-shapes/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._