Custom Chip Theme - How to decide? (1 Viewer)

[John81276]

Help me with some ideas of where to start with a theme for a possible future Cards Mold custom set.

I assume that the folks who do design work here for chips want a potential customer to come to them with at least an idea of what they want, rather than doing brainstorming about what the theme should be, right?

So here's where I'm at - trying to determine what to base a set on - I've seen movies/TV, cities, national ID, favorite teams, hobbies, etc.

I've considered the following:

1. Something themed around the logo/tagline below (Browning is family name, so we like that phrase!) - is trademark an issue with the Chinese chips? Obviously not reselling them, and thus is more a "tribute" concept, but not sure of the rules here. Maybe the Browning Card Room?
   
   
   
   
   
2. Grew up in NC, live in SC now - maybe something "Carolina" themed? I don't envision moving back to NC at this point, but who knows what the future holds. Carolinas Poker Club?
3. Not married to a team enough to want to do a team - similar thoughts on TV/movies.
4. I'm also into shooting, so maybe a firearms theme?
5. What am I missing?

Ideas/suggestions are welcome and appreciated!

 

[Pinesol13]

Trademark shouldn't be an issue with the Cards Mold chips from China.

Do you want to use that deer logo specifically?

Since you're into shooting, maybe something like "Browning's Bullets" , and do a theme with bullets/hunting and Aces.



Just a quick mockup for fun.

 

[mipevi]

I’ve designed many custom sets, either full or relabels, and none of the themes have been very personal. I guess the closest one is my Siam Imperias, because I’ve been to Bangkok a bunch of times, but even then the idea itself came from seeing the E&C mold. This stuff usually just comes to me, and from there it’s a fairly straightforward process as you can see:

You can of course have a more personal theme and I like the work you’ve put in this so far, just saying you don’t have to.

 

[John81276]

@Pinesol13 Definitely not married to the deer logo - more a fan of the Browning & The Best There Is portion of the logo.

I like the idea of using the deer in the background though, as you did here. Like suited speed cloth, but more relevant to the theme.

And the idea of incorporating bullets/aces is interesting too.

This is what I was toying with on my side...

 

[John81276]

@mipevi those Siam Imperias are gorgeous!

 

[moechar]

Do the Appalachian mountains extend into SC? That could be an idea that crosses both states?

 

[John81276]

Do the Appalachian mountains extend into SC? That could be an idea that crosses both states?

They do, just barely. I'd thought of bringing some of the geography of the Carolinas into with a theme there - both states offer mountains in the west to beaches in the east.

We are probably more beach people than mountain - I'd thought of doing different beaches with different denoms, but not certain how to pull it off! Plus, if I included Myrtle Beach, I'd have to always leave that denom dirty!

 

[Dodger]

Carolina Card Club

Image/graphic of the NC/SC coast line as a possibility. Or just a classic font for the name.

Edit: or riffing on the SC state flag could be cool.

 

[CrazyEddie]

I'll just repeat what I wrote elsewhere:

I don't think that an inlay needs a theme, or a name, or an image. I think what an inlay needs is appeal. In particular, appeal to one specific person: you.

Here's what I've done. I've looked at lots and lots and lots and lots of pictures of chips. Casinos, fantasies, and customs. And whenever I saw something that made me think "wow, those are great, I'd love to have a set like that" I took note of it. When I got tired of looking at poker chips I took a break, then came back to my list and thought about what specific things I liked about the various sets I noted. Different things for each set! Sometimes conflicting! I got enough great ideas for what to include in a set that I could probably build three or four completely different ones right away just from the inspiration.

For me, what I found most appealing about the sets that appealed to me was their style. And so, I've decided that my first set of customs is going to be built around not a theme or name or image but rather around a particular style. That style isn't as meaningful to me as, say, my favorite hobby or my favorite place or the most important people in my life or a treasured memory - all of which would be excellent themes for a set - but I've decided my set doesn't have to carry any special meaning. It needs to be appealing, and the style I've chosen is one of my favorite artistic styles and thus appeals to me very much.

That whole thread may be helpful for you; the OP was wrestling with how to come up with a theme, and got a lot of advice from people (most of which conflicts with mine). Check it out: https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/how-do-you-come-up-with-an-inlay-design.70933/

 

[Kid_Eastwood]

I made several custom sets for myself.

Inspiration was :

Animal : https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/princess-private-club.49885/

Animal, once again : https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/arya-a-thc-milled-project.60369/

Tribute to one of my grail set + something personal (where I work) : https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/the-bank-sunfly-polyclay.53844/

Tribute to my fav' tourney set + fav' sport team :
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/fino-alla-fine-sunfly-polyinno-and-msk-plaques.73257/

Kid.

 

[John81276]

Carolina Card Club

Image/graphic of the NC/SC coast line as a possibility. Or just a classic font for the name.

Edit: or riffing on the SC state flag could be cool.

View attachment 801292

I'd considered doing something like the outlines of the states - love the SC flag, but the NC one too. NC way too detailed I'd think for a chip. Then I found this after your idea of the flag. Would something like this work as art on a chip?

 

[Dodger]

I'd considered doing something like the outlines of the states - love the SC flag, but the NC one too. NC way too detailed I'd think for a chip. Then I found this after your idea of the flag. Would something like this work as art on a chip?

I think it's going to start getting crowded quickly. What about just using the tree from the SC flag? I think the character/imagery of that specific image is enough to portray the 'story' of your poker room/chip set.

 

[John81276]

I think it's going to start getting crowded quickly. What about just using the tree from the SC flag? I think the character/imagery of that specific image is enough to portray the 'story' of your poker room/chip set.

I'd rather represent both states if I did that theme. Might disqualify it. Thanks for the input though!

 

[Dodger]

I'd rather represent both states if I did that theme. Might disqualify it. Thanks for the input though!

Totally get it. Here's a quick and dirty version of what I had pictured in my head. A professional designer on here could make this sooooo much better.

 

[John81276]

Wow! That's a great concept!

 

[philhut]

Help me with some ideas of where to start with a theme for a possible future Cards Mold custom set.

I assume that the folks who do design work here for chips want a potential customer to come to them with at least an idea of what they want, rather than doing brainstorming about what the theme should be, right?

So here's where I'm at - trying to determine what to base a set on - I've seen movies/TV, cities, national ID, favorite teams, hobbies, etc.

I've considered the following:

1. Something themed around the logo/tagline below (Browning is family name, so we like that phrase!) - is trademark an issue with the Chinese chips? Obviously not reselling them, and thus is more a "tribute" concept, but not sure of the rules here. Maybe the Browning Card Room?
   View attachment 801223
   
   
2. Grew up in NC, live in SC now - maybe something "Carolina" themed? I don't envision moving back to NC at this point, but who knows what the future holds. Carolinas Poker Club?
3. Not married to a team enough to want to do a team - similar thoughts on TV/movies.
4. I'm also into shooting, so maybe a firearms theme?
5. What am I missing?

Ideas/suggestions are welcome and appreciated!

What about "The Gun Chips"

Choose your silhouette recognizable favorites as the background for each denom.

or your chips can be
XYZ Rod & Gun Club

Or

The Gun Club
(with a sub text wrapping somehow)
"AA Establishment "

Or
Ignore my ideas and pursue your own that are almost surely better

 

[italstylz]

Trademark shouldn't be an issue with the Cards Mold chips from China.

Do you want to use that deer logo specifically?

Since you're into shooting, maybe something like "Browning's Bullets" , and do a theme with bullets/hunting and Aces.



Just a quick mockup for fun.
View attachment 801243

Wow that's an amazing mock up, are you a graphic designer???looks like a professional casino chip. What program are you using to design??