If you read my first article about the 5 principles I learned making Dolven Runes Gambit, those five principles became the foundation for everything that followed. They shaped how I approached every decision, every layout, and every revision of the cards.

But understanding the principles was only half the journey. Applying them consistently, across an entire system was where the real work began.

In this article, I take that next step. Moving beyond theory into practice, I walk through how those ideas were refined, tested, and ultimately brought together into a cohesive visual system.

From Function to Clarity

Early on, the cards worked. All the information was there. Every mechanic was technically represented.
But that wasn’t enough.
Players hesitated. They reread effects. They missed key values. The issue wasn’t the system it was how the system was being communicated.
The shift came when the focus moved from: “Does the card contain the right information?” to “Can the player understand it instantly?” That change in mindset drove every refinement that followed.

Refining the Visual Hierarchy

One of the biggest improvements came from reinforcing a clear visual hierarchy.

Each card now follows a consistent structure:

Top section establishes identity (name, rune value)
Artwork provides theme and recognition
Banner communicates archetype and relationships
Text panel delivers gameplay information clearly

By committing to this structure across every card, players no longer need to “learn” each design individually. The layout teaches itself.

Before vs After – Visual Hierarchy
**Before:**
Text and icons competed for attention
No clear focal point
Important information was easy to miss
**After:**
Clear reading order from top to bottom
Strong emphasis on key gameplay elements
Supporting details fade into the background
The result is a card that can be understood at a glance, even during play.

Reducing Noise, Not Information

Another key lesson was that clarity doesn’t come from adding more, it comes from removing what isn’t needed.

Earlier versions of the cards tried to:

Label everything
Explain every interaction
Fill every available space

This created friction. The refined approach focused on:

Letting icons replace repeated text
Standardising ability wording
Removing anything that didn’t directly support gameplay

Before vs After – Ravenclaw - Information Density

Before: Heavy text blocks, Redundant labels (e.g. repeated archetype names) Visual clutter that slowed down reading

After: Short, consistent ability text, Symbols doing the work of explanation, Cleaner layouts with breathing room

Players can spend less time reading and more time playing.

Material Feel and Micro-Refinement
Once the structure was solid, the focus shifted to polish.
This is where small changes had a big impact:
Subtle **microtextures** added a tactile, physical feel
Softer transitions between artwork and text panels removed harsh visual breaks
Slight gradients and highlights gave elements depth without adding noise
These refinements are easy to overlook individually, but together they elevate the cards from flat designs to something that feels like a finished product.

Ravenclaw complete.

Before vs After – Surface and Depth - Goliath
The second prototype card shown here has very little depth, hard edges between sections, the UI is not well integrated. The
final version on the below shows the change:
Subtle texture and depth
Smooth transitions between elements
A unified surface that feels cohesive
The card now feels like a single object, not assembled parts.

Defining a Visual Language

A major milestone in the process was establishing a clear visual identity for each card type.

Character Cards feel grounded and structured
Spell Cards feel lighter and more magical, with subtle glow and energy
Treasure Cards have that look of winning something special.
Fate Cards being darker and moody because let’s face it, these cards are not nice.
Icons and banners follow consistent rules across all cards

This creates instant recognition. Players don’t need to read to understand what they’re looking at they can feel it.