Meridian — Football & Baseball Trading Card Set
Client: Pulse Trading Cards
Role: Set design, inserts, autographs, packaging
Meridian is a flagship multi-sport trading-card line inspired by global travel, motion, and atmospheric visuals. I developed the core identity, insert families, autograph layouts, and hobby-box packaging across both football and baseball.
Project Overview
The Meridian line needed to feel expansive and premium while remaining flexible enough to support multiple sports and insert types. The system ranges from bold, multi-color base cards to space- and cloud-inspired signature inserts, all anchored by consistent typography, framing, and the Meridian globe icon.
Atmosphere Signatures
Atmosphere Signatures contrast the bolder inserts with a softer, cloud-filled palette. Pastel gradients, subtle stars, and rounded framing create a dreamlike environment that feels light and collectible while still clearly branded as Meridian.
My Contributions
Core set identity and base card architecture
Insert design across multiple themes (space, atmosphere, retro, technical)
Autograph and dual-signature layouts for football and baseball
Base Cards
Meridian’s base cards lean into motion and energy, using bold color splits and layered portraits to create depth. The framing and globe icon establish a strong visual anchor that carries through the entire line.
Parallel-ready frame and border systems
Hobby-box packaging design and sell-sheet visuals
Production-ready files for print, web, and product photography
Prime Meridian
Prime Meridian leans into a clean, grid-based layout with subtle coordinate motifs and minimal color blocking. The autograph panel and vertical titling create a modern, technical feel that contrasts nicely with the more illustrative inserts.
Celestial Signatures
Celestial Signatures pairs high-impact photography with spiral galaxy backdrops and a clean autograph window. The design balances loud, cosmic color with simple typography so the signature remains the focal point.
Non-Linear Insert
The Non-Linear insert introduces a more playful, retro-inspired frame treatment with irregular borders and layered textures. It’s designed as a visual curveball within the Meridian lineup—still on brand, but intentionally unexpected.
Dual Autographs (H3)
For dual autographs, I built a horizontal layout that balances two player images with dedicated signature areas. The central Meridian globe and vertical texture strip tie both sides together while keeping each player’s space clear and legible.
Hobby Box Packaging
Beyond the cards themselves, I designed the 2025 Meridian Baseball hobby box to showcase the set’s range of inserts and signatures. The packaging highlights key chase cards, clearly lists insert types, and extends the Meridian visual language—globe icon, arcs, and textures—onto the shelf.
Design Approach
Meridian was built as a flexible universe rather than a single rigid template. Each insert family explores a different visual idea—space, atmosphere, retro curves, minimal grids—while the typography, globe mark, and layout rules keep everything cohesive across sports and seasons.