Right now I'm feeling at a crossroads in the process of visually designing The 7 of 9. One mind-expanding idea that I've had has been to scrap the plan to make the system a double-sided card set, and instead have the whole thing one-sided. When I realized just how much more convenient this may be for people using it as a photo opportunity (taking photos of their mind maps to illustrate their stories) I became entranced with this idea. I always knew multiple photos were going to be a necessity, since piling cards on top of each other will be an option. So, you would take a few photos, ensuring that in each pile, all the cards got a chance to sit at the top to be photographed — and you would post a series of photos. However, it's always nice to lower the amount of effort needed with an activity like that. The information on the backs would be essential to the meaning of your mind map, requiring you to flip each card to photograph each twice — thus doubling all these photos.
Actually, the only reason I had felt so connected to the vision of double-sided cards was because my intention was to make the system as deluxe as possible, and I felt this would be visually stunning, making each card seem like a valuable coin. But when I thought of magnets as an idea, this changed my mind. I realized actually that the fridge is not the only way magnets could be practical as a format. Certainly, the game mat could be a metal tray which can be laid on a table or hung on the wall for decoration. Also, at the time I was thinking this, I was working on The KEYS ⨺ 16(32) Set which won't require much information on the backs (aside from perhaps numbering which is not that essential). As well, my plans are fairly well organized for the upcoming UNNAMED ⨺ 12(24) Set which I believe will also not require anything on the back except theoretically a number, which could be easily replaced by visual recognition of the card front. That leaves only The SOLVE ⨺ 18(36) and COAGULA ⨺ 27(54) Sets to carefully re-design so that complex information is clarified on the fronts.
My Design Challenge
It's crucial to retain the similarity between the current designs for The SOLVE et COAGULA and the classic and recognizable symbols associated with The 7 Stages of Laboratory Alchemy. As well, there's a much larger story behind the 4th SOLVE card face, associated with the stage of conjunction. This symbol here (( ⨺ )) which is used throughout The 7 of 9 and is the logo for the system, is actually tattooed on Jared Leto's forearms and on Marilyn Manson's hand, and the system was dedicated to them both in honour of their birthdays. Since this set is being promoted throughout their two fanbases, the Echelon and the Mansonites, it seems so important that everyone can see at a very quick glance that it relates to 30 Seconds to Mars based on their logo — and at least Mansonites may be sometimes be aware of Manson's hand tattoos and fascination with alchemy.
So, whatever I do to the card faces has to be subtle. The need is to clarify between 3 sets of 3 different items, for the COAGULA — and for the SOLVE there are only 3 different variations needed (rather than 9). The SOLVE designs are the most important to retain the design as is, at least recognizably. But I also need to show connection between all 7 card faces, including the COAGULA — since together they indicate the 7 stages of laboratory alchemy.
Approaching The Challenge with RGB Color Coding
My most exciting idea has spawned from The KEYS 16(32) Set. Throughout the process of creating it, I realized that I should change the color scheme from a full spectrum of rainbow colors to just red, green and blue — to symbolize the RGB color code of old fashioned television technology. This was based on not only the experience of having limited color options in cardstock, but made a lot of sense to match the media centred themes and focus of The 7 of 9.
I appreciate the rare chance to clarify that The 16 KEYS do relate powerfully to the media, since that's not immediately obvious whatsoever to its theme — a series of particularly fascinating types of miracles. The way it's connected to the media with these miracles really is something I can't wait to expand on more later as the writing develops. But the added convenience of this is that one solution for my challenge is obvious : Since the COAGULA 27(54) Set represents the mass media sector (as opposed to the others in the SOLVE 18(36) Set which represent other power institutions of society), using the RGB color coding as a visual language to set cards apart would be absolutely perfect.
Also, considering the way that red, green and blue are technologically combined by television sets to produce the full rainbow of colors, it doesn't make sense to use it as the symbolic language to signify the 3 card types of the SOLVE series. These 3 variations represent the types of relationship between cards — called Dynamics — from non-cooperative to cooperative. The goal is always to improve relationships and transcend negative dynamics and so it would not be meaningful to imply that negative relationships are somehow all part of the beautiful rainbow of life that makes us up. Therefore, it's perfect as a color coding that sets the COAGULA apart from the SOLVE as the media set.
A Spoiler About The Upcoming 12(24) Set
So (continuing from the previous section) that leaves 2 possibilities : Strategies or Pathways. It's possible the RGB could work for either. Pathways is one element which I've been thinking about possibly changing to suit connection between The COAGULA 27(54) Set and The UNNAMED 12(24) Set. Now, this set been held as a surprise so far to release later — but for now I'll reveal that it is going to be a series of powers which can be gained through a special type of interaction between COAGULA cards. At least, that's the current plan (and that could be tweaked a bit). Although the COAGULA is considered its own body and therefore cooperation is the core of how it functions, there can sometimes be a little something resembling family feuds. You know, when a family has a feud, that's within a much more cooperative and unified group — a fairly inescapable one in which strategizing cooperatively together is the foundation of any dispute. These types of fights have a totally different quality than regular ones, which is why it's often termed a "feud" instead of a fight. It's about internal politics so it's very different.
So, when in your story there is a non-cooperative Dynamic chosen between two COAGULA cards, I think what will happen is that then, a type of Pathway has to be chosen — which will relate to what kinds of powers are gained from the UNNAMED 12(24) Set through this feud. In other words, these family feuds only happen when absolutely necessary in order to gain these very special powers. I will probably keep Pathways very similar conceptually, but if I find it needs to shift in order to accomodate this, no problem. Right now Pathways (filtering, exposure and rendering) seems to want to indicate a process of development. It already does work well with the media because it's using media metaphors in the language. However, this process of development is sequential and like Dynamics, it increases in quality. At least that's how I have it seemingly so far. As I mentioned before, I don't believe red, green and blue are developmental — they are all equal colors. So I have to either remove that "process of development" notion from Pathways or I have to apply RGB to Strategies instead of Pathways.
More Coming Soon
This post is not finished. Soon I will continue to finish writing it to cover my other ideas for how to distinguish card faces from each other in a way that is visually intrinsic to the face design.
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