eames ‘hang-it-all’ playing cards by art of play 

 

Creative studio Art of Play has released the second edition of its Eames Playing Cards, which pay homage to the iconic ‘Hang-It-All’ coat rack designed by American duo Charles and Ray Eames in 1953. Exuding bold lines, colorful interconnected circles, and a nostalgic color palette, the wall piece embodies the sense of playfulness that Eames brought to midcentury design, imbuing everyday objects with unexpected joy.

 

The proposed visual motif is a clear celebration of the stick and ball pattern composing the original 1950s design. However, in adapting the ‘Hang-It-All’ to a new form, the studio made a surprising discovery; when traditional playing card symbols are replaced with numerals, the result is a more logical and visually cohesive aesthetic. So, inspired by the rebellious spirit Ray and Charles were famous for, Art of Play decided to ditch the aristocracy entirely and adopt a more minimalist approach. 

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all images courtesy of Art of Play

 

 

nostalgic, minimalist, and boldly colorful all at once 

 

‘You will not find any Kings or Queens in this deck; the cards are simply numbered 1-13, a subtle but gently revolutionary gesture that we’ve never attempted before. But now, we can’t help wondering why this clarity eluded us for so long. Every time we shuffle the pack and juggle the colorful balls, we’re reminded of Eames’ enthusiasm to defy the gravity of expectations and embrace a spirit of exploration,’ explains the studio.

 

Art of Play worked closely with the Eames Office (see more here) to design their new deck of playing cards, which come packaged in a letterpress printed box reminiscent of the home that Charles and Ray designed and built in LA. 

eames hang it all playing cards 2
evoking the stick and ball components of the ‘Hang-It-All’ coat rack 

eames hang it all playing cards 3
recreating the nostalgic color palette

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a minimalist design with a simple numerical system 

 

 

 

project info:

 

name: Eames ‘Hang-It-All’ Playing Cards
design: Art of Play

 

 

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: lea zeitoun | designboom