Designing Your Own Tarot Deck: Tips and Inspiration 

Creating a custom tarot deck is a deeply personal and artistic journey, blending intuition, symbolism, and creativity. Whether you’re an artist, a tarot reader, or both, designing your own deck allows you to infuse your personality, beliefs, and artistic vision into a powerful divination tool. This guide will provide practical tips and creative inspiration to help you embark on this rewarding endeavour.

Understanding Tarot Deck Structure

Before getting into the design process, it’s important to understand the structure of a traditional tarot deck. A standard tarot deck consists of 78 cards, divided into two main categories:

1. The Major Arcana (22 cards): These cards represent significant life events, spiritual lessons, and archetypal themes. Each card has a unique meaning and symbolism.
2. The Minor Arcana (56 cards): These cards are divided into four suits—Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles. Each suit has 14 cards, including ten numbered cards and four court cards (Page, Knight, Queen, King).

Familiarize yourself with the meanings and traditional imagery of each card. While creating a custom deck allows for creative freedom, understanding the core symbolism will help you convey accurate and meaningful interpretations.

Conceptualizing Your Deck

Define Your Theme and Style

Your tarot deck should reflect your personal style and thematic preferences. Here are some questions to guide your conceptualization:

• What themes resonate with you? Consider themes like mythology, nature, fantasy, cultural symbolism, or firsthand experiences.
• What artistic style do you prefer? Think about whether you lean towards realism, abstract art, minimalism, or any other style that suits your vision.
• Who is your target audience? Understanding your audience can help tailor your deck’s imagery and symbolism to resonate with them.

Gathering Inspiration

Inspiration can come from various sources:

• Existing Tarot Decks: Study a variety of tarot decks to see how different artists interpret the same cards. This can provide insight into diverse approaches and inspire unique ideas.
• Art and Literature: Draw inspiration from your favourite artists, books, myths, and legends.
• Nature and Surroundings: Observe the natural world, landscapes, and everyday life for symbols and motifs that speak to you.
• Personal Experiences: Incorporate elements from your personal journey, dreams, and spiritual practices.

Practical Tips for Designing Your Tarot Deck

1. Plan Your Deck

Before starting the actual design, outline your plan:

• Create a Card List: Write down all 78 cards and jot down initial ideas or keywords for each one.
• Sketch Thumbnails: Create small, rough sketches of your ideas for each card. This helps visualize the overall deck and maintain consistency.
• Decide on Card Dimensions: Standard tarot cards are about 2.75 x 4.75 inches, but you can choose different dimensions based on your preference. However, check with your chosen printer to make sure they support any bespoke card sizes.

2. Choose Your Medium

Your choice of medium will significantly impact the final look of your deck. Here are some popular options:

• Traditional Media: Watercolours, acrylics, ink, and pencils can give your deck a unique, handcrafted feel.
• Digital Art: Digital tools like Photoshop, Procreate, or Illustrator offer flexibility, ease of editing, and the ability to create intricate details.
• Mixed Media: Combining traditional and digital media can produce rich, textured artwork.

3. Focus on Symbolism

Symbolism is the heart of tarot. Ensure that each card’s imagery conveys its intended meaning. Here are some tips:

• Use Colours Intentionally: Colours evoke emotions and carry symbolic meanings. For instance, red can signify passion, while blue may represent calmness or spirituality.
• Incorporate Symbolic Elements: Traditional symbols, such as the sun, moon, animals, or specific objects, can enhance the card’s meaning.
• Consider Composition: The placement of elements in your design can affect the card’s impact. Pay attention to balance, focal points, and how the eye moves across the card.

4. Maintain Consistency

Consistency in your deck ensures that it feels cohesive and professional. Consider the following:

• Style Uniformity: Maintain a consistent artistic style throughout the deck, whether it’s in line work, colour palette, or overall aesthetic.
• Borders and Layout: Decide whether your cards will have borders. If so, ensure they are uniform. A consistent layout for card titles and numbers also adds to the deck’s cohesion.
• Back Design: Don’t forget the card backs! They should complement the front designs and reflect your deck’s overall theme.

Creative Inspiration for Card Designs

Major Arcana Inspirations

• The Fool: Traditionally depicted as a carefree traveller, the Fool can be reimagined in countless ways. Consider a wanderer in a futuristic city, a mystical creature on an adventure, or a modern-day individual embarking on a new journey.
• The High Priestess: Symbolizing intuition and mystery, this card could feature a shamanic figure, a wise oracle from ancient times, or a contemporary spiritual guide.
• The Tower: Often seen as a destructive force, the Tower could be portrayed as a crumbling skyscraper, an ancient fortress struck by lightning, or a metaphorical breakdown leading to enlightenment.

These are just a few examples of the Major Arcana. There are many books and guides available for you to explore tarot further.

Minor Arcana Inspirations

• Wands: Representing action and creativity, Wands could be depicted as glowing staffs, modern tools of trade, or even abstract representations of energy and passion.
• Cups: Symbolizing emotions and relationships, Cups might feature various vessels like chalices, modern glasses, or natural elements like seashells and flowers.
• Swords: Associated with intellect and conflict, Swords could be shown as traditional weapons, modern devices symbolizing communication, or abstract concepts of mental clarity.
• Pentacles: Representing material aspects and abundance, Pentacles could be illustrated as coins, crystals, or modern symbols of wealth and stability.

Production and Printing

Once your designs are complete, the next step is to bring your deck to life:

1. Digitizing Your Artwork

If you’ve created your artwork traditionally, you’ll need to digitize it. High-quality scans or photographs are vital. Use editing software to clean up and adjust the colours to match your original work.

2. Preparing Files for Printing

Ensure your files meet the printing specifications. Common requirements include:

• Resolution: Artwork should be at least 300 DPI for high-quality printing.
• Bleed and Safe Zones: Include bleed areas (extra space around the edges) to prevent unintentional white borders. Keep essential elements within safe zones to avoid them being cut off.
• File Format: Printers commonly prefer PDF files.

3. Choosing a Printer

Research printing companies that specialize in tarot decks or custom card printing. Consider factors such as:

• Quality: Look at samples of their work to ensure high-quality printing and durable card stock.
• Cost: Get quotes from multiple printers to compare prices. Keep in mind that higher quality often comes at a higher cost.
• Customer Reviews: Read reviews and testimonials to gauge customer satisfaction.

Marketing and Selling Your Deck

Once your deck is printed, it’s time to share it with the world:

1. Building an Online Presence

Create a website or use platforms like Etsy, Kickstarter, or Instagram to highlight your deck. High-quality images and engaging descriptions are key to attracting potential buyers.

2. Leveraging Social Media

Use social media to build a community around your deck. Share behind-the-scenes content, card previews, and the creative process to engage your audience. Collaborate with influencers in the tarot and spiritual communities to reach a broader audience.

3. Offering Limited Editions

Consider creating limited edition versions of your deck, such as special packaging, signed cards, or exclusive artwork. This can create a sense of urgency and exclusivity, encouraging people to purchase.

Final Thoughts

Designing a custom tarot deck is a labour of love that combines artistic expression with deep symbolism. By following these practical tips and drawing inspiration from your unique vision, you can create a deck that not only serves as a powerful divination tool but also a work of art. Embrace the journey, stay true to your creative instincts, and enjoy the process of bringing your custom tarot deck to life.

If you would like to explore creating your own tarot deck further, I offer coaching through my Vision to Deck service as well as bespoke tarot card creation.