The POWERS Story

Introduction: My decade-long experience in packaging design and design management at Unilever, combined with years in advertising, branding, and UI/UX, has culminated in the creation of 3UD original brands such as The POWERS Playing Cards. Designing original products has always been my dream, and my time at the Visual Communications Master's program at East Texas A&M Commerce has fueled my passion and equipped me with the tools to bring my ideas to life. I often come up with one crazy or smart idea per week, and my goal is to see each of them realized. The POWERS is the first of these ideas to be shared with the world, inspired by my love for card games.

Growing up, the first card game I learned was Nigeria's famous WHOT. The thrill of playing the strategic clockwise format and the dreaded 'pick 2' pile-up made the game both exciting and challenging. The most notorious card, the General Market (the 14 card), was either a lifesaver or a nightmare. My love for card games expanded when I discovered Solitaire on my sister's Windows 95 computer, and soon I was immersed in Poker, Texas Hold 'em, Five Card Draw, and Blackjack. One day, I questioned why I was playing with European Kings and Queens. As a Nigerian designer, I envisioned an African heritage deck, asking myself: What would a Royal African Flush look like? Thus, The POWERS Playing Cards were born.

Background: The POWERS is rooted in West African folklore. To ensure recognition and authenticity, I surveyed a diverse group of West Africans to finalize the character list. The primary criteria were recognizability and visual appeal. Unlike Western childhoods filled with Disney and Paw Patrol, our childhood fears revolved around stories of Lady Koi Koi and the Bush Baby. While the latter did not make the cut due to the visual demands of the project, the selected characters embody both power and regality.

Character Selection: The characters were carefully assigned to the four suits, with an initial consideration of five suits before settling on four. Each suit contains 12 cards, including 5 character-based cards. This structure allows for traditional games like Poker and WHOT, where strategic gameplay elements such as the Royal Flush and General Market are preserved.

Elemental Deities:

• Amadioha

• Ogun

• Osanobua

• Sango

Enigmatic Figures:

• Mami Wata

• The Queen of the Coast

• Anyanwu

• Karashika

The Nightmarish Trio:

• Willy-Willy

• Abiku

• Lady Koi-Koi

The goal was to create a universal deck that could be used for existing games but also introduce an entirely new gameplay experience.

The New Card Game: NEXUS Inspired by my love for chess and strategic games, I sought to merge the complexities of chess with the dynamic nature of card games, giving birth to NEXUS. Unlike traditional card games that rely heavily on luck, NEXUS emphasizes strategy and planning, making each move crucial to victory.

[Click here to read about the Nexus Gameplay.]

Brand and Packaging: I opted for clear typography and vibrant visuals. The characters are adorned in futuristic superhero outfits inspired by African prints and reimagined in their regal forms at the peak of their powers. The cards measure 2.5" x 3.5", printed on 350gsm art paper with five-station flexo printing, laminated, and surface varnished for durability.

The deck is packaged in a sleek tuck-in box. The 3-pack magnetic box features a 157gsm art paper wrap over a 1000gsm gray board, while the collector's edition includes character and gameplay posters.

Pre-order now at www.ugodate.com and experience the magic of The POWERS playing cards!