Our lives today are unrecognizable from those a century ago. Who would have thought that we will be living 2020 in isolation. Yet we are lucky to be living in a century where all of us can connect with each other easily. The way we live, work, and play will change beyond our expectations in the upcoming 100 years. whether formed technically or naturally. It is going to be a significant world. This card creates that fine line and a contrast between the traditions and the future. It is about discovering the unknown with its organic, and dynamic flowing lines.

When humanity disappears the world will change. Only robots will remain on the earth. They will start developing technologies and building civilization anew. Robots will enter into symbiosis with a peculiar post-apocalyptic nature. Therefore, my illustration depicts a robot that plays 8-bit games on old-fashioned computer.

Inspired by what we are living now, the idea is that perhaps in the future, masks will not only be used as an instrument to keep us safe, to protect ourselves and the others, but it will evolve into an high-tech fashion accessory. Like are smartphones, or smartwatches today. Especially those last ones, that proved already in many occasions how a beautiful iconic piece of tech it's not only that, but it's also something that can prevent, detect and saves many lives. We took inspiration from futuristic fashion and thought that masks will become socially accepted in the future. An instrument that doesn't just scream 'I'm contagious', but that will be seen as 'fun', and 'social'. We imagined that it could work by tracking the movement of our mouth, to replicate that on the screen of the mask, which if swiped, shows different type of lips or filters. This way a futuristic mask will not just work to keep us safe, which will always be its primary function, but while doing that it will work also to make us smile. Litterally.

Historically, the seven of diamonds is a neutral card and associated with negotiation. When thinking about the future, my mind went straight to our relationship with the digital and how I fear we will eventually have to make a deal with ourselves, to stop the digital from taking over. Times like the ones we are currently living through show us the incredible power of technology, but with the rise of voice activation and self serving tech, we are at risk of being seduced and losing the human touch.

It is said that cats symbolize fortune, power and good luck; they were also the original Internet stars. That is why these mystical creatures are purrrfect for the 8 of Diamonds, the fame and fortune card that represents powerful individuals. In the future, this cat overlord will continue to dominate the Internet, occupy our time, and collect billions of clicks while cashing in on partnerships with the tech giants. Beware of the bringers of fortune as they can also carry bad luck and hold many dark secrets.

People living in the rhythm of a progressive 21st century often remember events of the past, where everything seemed to be simple and clear. While creating this illustration, I was inspired by the ideas of retrofuturism. I'm sure that in the future there will be muscle cars, rock-and-roll and minutes for fun too. I would like to see the future with optimism.

Mankind has received smoke signals and felt the damage of climate change yet still is turning a blind eye. The other side depicts Jack the Astronaut in search of refuge in the outer reaches of space. Retaining the upside down duality was a nod to the traditional format and to help convey the concept of the present and the future. Visually I wanted this Jack of Diamonds to feel like a propulsion into the future and hopefully the reality isn’t as bleak as my concept!

I hope that in the future our leaders, our kings, will seek to discover our universe in harmony with nature and environment.