Illustrating and Designing a Custom Deck of Playing Cards with Adobe Illustrator

Billy Baumann is a graphic designer, illustrator, and co-founder of the Chicago-based studio Delicious Design League. With over two decades of experience in branding, packaging, and screen-printed posters, he has built a career blending commercial design with bold, personal expression. His work draws from a deep love for vintage aesthetics, comics, and experimental typography, and has earned him recognition across music, design, and art communities.

Billy’s creative process centers on storytelling through structure and style. He guides students from raw sketches to finished vector illustrations, emphasizing design fundamentals, stylistic cohesion, and practical execution in Adobe Illustrator. Whether designing a custom deck of cards or leading client projects, he champions creative independence and encourages playful exploration rooted in strong conceptual thinking. His teaching offers practical tools and inspiration for turning ideas into polished, portfolio-ready work.