The diploma thesis is based on the development of a set of playing cards that incorporate symbolic elements of the danse macabre into the modern era. In the theoretical part, we analyzed the historical evolution of playing cards, which initially served as a tool in social settings and later became valued collector's artifacts. We presented the oldest fully preserved sets of playing cards and explored the characteristics and functionalities that evolved into the standard set of playing cards known today. We examined the significance of the danse macabre as a cultural phenomenon, with a particular emphasis on its visual and symbolic dimensions, highlighting three of the most famous artistic representations. The historical and cultural overview of playing cards and the danse macabre serves as the basis for theoretical research and provides a starting point for the experimental part. The latter includes a detailed process of designing a unique set of playing cards, that interprets the theme of the danse macabre through a contemporary design language. In this part, we addressed the message of the danse macabre concept from the 15th century and transferred it to the present day through a comparison of two worlds – the physical and the virtual. We dissected the entire set in terms of content and design. As part of the experimental section, we conducted visual analysis of the cards on participants and presented measurements of eye movements recorded, using the Tobii Pro Fusion 250 Hz device. We compared the observation results of standard set cards with those produced as part of the thesis. The measurement results offer insight into the complexity of visual perception, aesthetic evaluation, and user engagement, opening up possibilities for further exploration in design and psychological contexts.
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