Glow-in-the-Dark Constellation Card Set

Overview:
What began as a simple 50-card assignment turned into a glowing, celestial deep-dive. I created an 88-piece card set inspired by the constellations—each designed to mimic the experience of stargazing through a telescope.

My Role:
Concept development, illustration, specialty production

The Challenge:
The original brief called for 50 rectangular cards, but I knew constellations belonged in circles—like the view through a telescope. I pitched the idea of a circular format, and it was approved. That’s when the real challenge began. Finding a die-cutter that could reliably handle circles in small-town Idaho? Nearly impossible. After testing multiple tools (and testing my patience), I finally found one that produced clean, consistent cuts. Thank you, Martha Stewart. The packaging wasn’t any easier—I custom-built a circular box, then wrapped it in sticker paper to give it a polished, professional look. And yes, I hand-painted every single dot with glow-in-the-dark paint. Because if you're making constellation cards… they have to glow.

The Solution:
I expanded the project to feature all 88 officially recognized constellations. Each card was carefully designed, cut into a circular format, and finished with a touch of glow-in-the-dark paint to bring the stars to life—even indoors.

The Impact:
A class project turned into an immersive experience. The cards were a standout piece in the program, with both peers and faculty praising the ambitious scope, tactile presentation, and creative problem-solving behind the glowing, galactic design. I later went on to receive a BYU-Idaho art department design award for this particular project.