The act of distress: The fun that lives beyond the screen

I believe design should leave something behind. For Repeater 4, limited-edition trading cards became a way to do that. The trading cards were designed as artefacts. A beacon extending the life of the event, and a retrospective window into the world we were creating. The cards had to feel like they already had a history. Every piece folded, worn, and distressed by hand, scoured with craft knives, scuffed, and aged using sellotape and pressure. The process was refined through iteration. Adjusting stock, edges, and how much “wear” it could carry without feeling forced. Over 200+ cards later, each one slightly different, they became more than just an output. They became a limited edition package and point of connection between the people, the event, and the wider system around it. A blend of traditional craft and digital thinking. A multi-platform approach that captures, and holds, attention. The trading cards are just one fragment of a much larger project. Over the past 18 months, I’ve developed and delivered a bespoke award-winning design system that has helped a boutique event brand stand apart from day one, selling out 80% of its shows while telling a consistent and compelling story.