The first sketch of a Tactic Ball card was drawn on a napkin at a café in Barcelona. It was rough — a stick figure mid-sprint, a jagged grid underneath, numbers scrawled in the margins. But it had energy. We photographed it, sent it to our artist, and said “this feeling, but better.” Eighteen months later, we have 200+ illustrations that still carry that same energy.
Our art direction brief was built around three words: Athletic. Bold. Tactical. We wanted each card to feel like a still from a match broadcast — dynamic, specific, readable at a glance. No generic stock-art poses. Every player had to be in the middle of a recognizable football action: a sliding tackle with the follow-through still in the body, a header with the player’s eyes locked on the ball, a keeper at full stretch.
The color language was defined early. Attacking actions use warm amber and gold tones. Defensive cards shift toward deep blues and shadowy greens. Special cards — the game-changing moments — get the neon green that runs through all our brand identity. On the table, you can read a player’s hand intent just by the color of the cards they’re holding.
Physical printing introduced new challenges. What looks luminous on screen can turn muddy on cardstock. We went through four paper stock samples before settling on a matte-laminated 360gsm with a spot UV finish on key design elements. Holding a finished card feels tangible and premium. That tactile quality is something digital games can’t replicate — and we leaned into it fully.