Card decks are more than just practical tabletop-gaming items; card decks are also works of art.

Choosing a card deck can be a very personal thing. Every time I flip my way through a new card deck, it’s like going to an art gallery just by shuffling the cards.

Deck art is a special endeavor. Players, artists and odds come together right there (and it’s all thanks to cards).

When you view a card deck, it can be as good as seeing the artist’s thoughts on paper – and in the midst of a good card game, it’s part of the excitement.

When last did you wonder about the creators behind the cards you’re holding?

Here’s a look at 3 deck designers you didn’t realize you know.

1. Susan Kare (The Windows Solitaire Deck)

We can say thanks to graphic designer and artist Susan Kare for the creation of many best-known computer icons on both Windows and Mac operating systems.

It’s also Kare who came up with the designs for Windows Solitaire decks.

Windows Solitaire is an almost-universal concept. For many people, it might have been one of the first card decks they’ve seen (or one they might have spent a lot of time looking at).

Even though it was originally introduced as a way to get users used to the clicking-and-dragging function, the classic Windows Solitaire deck helped to define cards played on PC for the rest of time.

2. Pamela Coleman Smith (The Rider-Waite Tarot Deck)

The Rider-Waite tarot design has inspired thousands (and thousands more) decks based on the original imagery.

It’s popular enough that most classic depictions people imagine when they think of a tarot deck comes straight from this deck. The Hanged Man, Death, The Moon.

Pamela Coleman Smith was the artist behind them, commissioned to create the accompanying art to the deck.

She drew inspiration from her friends and acquaintances to create some of the cards (including actress Florence Farr as the model for The World).

3. Lady Frieda Harris (The Thoth Tarot Deck)

Lady Frieda Harris was born as Marguerite Frieda Bloxam, and was aged 60 when she was asked to collaborate with occultist Aleister Crowley for the creation of this iconic deck.

The deck is heavily inspired by Egyptian lore, and partially by Crowley’s philosophy of Thelema.

After Lady Frieda’s passing, the original paintings were donated to Gerald Yorke according to her wishes, who donated them to the Warburg Institute.