In my last post, I shared the story behind the original Personality Poker book design.
When it was first published in 2010, the concept was innovative:
A hardcover book with a deck of cards glued to the back cover in a clear plastic case.
It made a statement—and I loved it!
It looked great in theory… but in practice?
Big problems:
- The cards kept falling off during shipping.
- The extra-tall back cover didn’t fit on bookstore shelves.
- Retailers stopped carrying it because it required special handling.
So, we retired that version in 2014.
After ten years, I’m finally rereleasing the book.
The content is solid, and the original editor, David Moldawer, brought it to life with craftsmanship that truly was a work of art. I’ve never collaborated with anyone better at shaping a book.
This time, however, I’m publishing it without the deck of cards and giving people access to a digital version.
But it got me thinking: What if we had taken a different approach to the design back then—one focused on durability, presentation, and longevity?
So I did what anyone would do these days: I asked ChatGPT.
Here’s what it came up with (in its own words):
- A premium clamshell case that opens like a gift box
- One side holds the deck of cards in a custom foam insert (they won’t budge!)
- The other side holds the hardcover book
- Sleek, shelf-ready, and beautiful to open
You can see the suggested design in the image.
Although I think it’s pretty cool, this format might cost about 50% to 100% more than what I estimate the original design cost. I’m not sure Penguin would’ve signed off on that at the time.
Regardless, I like the idea of exploring concepts, even if they never come to fruition. Sometimes, innovation means revisiting your own work with fresh eyes.
I’m curious—would you prefer the new box set over the original?