# Upcycled Transit Card Decks The Norman Ibarra ‘MetroDeck’ Shows NYC Pride By Marina Rotharmel | Published 2012-08-18 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/norman-ibarra References: [designtaxi](http://designtaxi.com/news/353322/Designer-Recycles-Discarded-Metro-Cards-Of-New-York-So-You-Can-Play-Poker/) & [designisthenorm](http://designisthenorm.com/) Artist and designer Norman Ibarra, has created some awesome [playing cards](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/city-making-101) out of old [metro transit passes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/be-right-back) and has titled the collection, ‘Metrodeck.’ If you’re fan of upcycling old products into something new, then you should definitely get your hands on one of these. This series is especially neat since all the cards have been on their own unique journey. The prints of the Queens, Kings, Jacks and Aces all have their own New York styled design. For example, the King has the Empire State Building ingrained in him and the Jack shows a ferry and the Brooklyn Bridge. Even the Joker’s have Coney Island printed on them. These are totally awesome New York City- Inspired [poker cards](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wpt-arsham-poker-set), that anyone could have fun with. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.8/10 - Popularity: 19% | Activity: 27% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Upcycled Products:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create unique and eco-friendly products by upcycling old materials. - **Localized Design:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Customize products with localized designs to appeal to specific regions or cities. - **Artistic Playing Cards:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Combine art and gaming by creating visually stunning playing cards that provide a unique experience. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Sustainable Design:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore sustainable design practices to meet the growing demand for eco-friendly products. - **Customization Services:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Offer customization services to cater to individuals or businesses looking for personalized products. - **Art and Gaming:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop products that bridge the gap between art and gaming, creating a new niche market. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Magician-Designed Playing Cards](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mystery-playing-cards.md) - [Customizable Trading Card Holders](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/trading-card-holders.md) - [NYC-Inspired Structural Chess Sets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chess-nyc.md) - [Repurposed Waste Transit Tiles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/jeffrey-miller.md) - [Mid-Century Modern Playing Cards](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/eames-playing-cards.md) - [Exclusive Card Game Decks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/uno-x-kartell-deck.md) - [Indie Game Playing Cards](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/balatro-playing-card-deck.md) - [Structure Building Cards](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/house-of-cards-building-kit.md) - [Knitted New York Subways](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/straphangers-lounge.md)