THE DIAMOND AWARDS
52 Plus Joker stands as the Academy Awards of the playing card world, with its Deck of the Year and Artist of the Year awards as the industry’s highest honors. Just as the Oscars recognize excellence in film, these awards celebrate the pinnacle of playing card design and artistry. Winning either accolade is a prestigious achievement, providing the designer with lasting recognition and a place among the elite in the playing card community. Below you’ll find all of our previous winners.
NOTE: It all began in 2014 when Giovanni Meroni won the Playing Card Forum Deck Design Contest with his inaugural card project, Evil Deck. The rest is history!
2024 Diamond Award Winners
2024 ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Lorenzo Gaggiotti
2024 DECK OF THE YEAR
- Cirque Luciole By Marianne Larsen
2024 NOMINEES FOR ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Marianne Larsen
- Jack Brutus Penny
- Russ Gray
- Emilysleights52
- Lorenzo Gaggiotti
- Elettra Deganello
2024 NOMINEES FOR DECK OF THE YEAR
- Nazo Nazo by Jack Brutus Penny
- Forged Playing Cards by Chris Hage
- La Mouche by Elettra Deganello
- Cirque Luciole by Marianne Larsen
- Shan Hai by ARK
- Space Suits by Russ Gray
2023 Diamond Award Winners
2023 ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Lorenzo Gaggiotti
2023 DECK OF THE YEAR
- 17th Kingdom Experimental by Lorenzo Gaggiotti
2023 NOMINEES FOR ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Celsius Pictor
- Alexandra Gagliano
- Jackson Robinson
- Stacey Jay Kelly
- Lorenzo Gaggiotti
- Giovanni Meroni
2023 NOMINEES FOR DECK OF THE YEAR
- Ethereal Dreams by Digital Desires
- Eye of Kukulkan by Ong Herman
- 17th Kingdom Experimental by Lorenzo Gaggiotti
- Rx Almanac by Elettra Deganello
- Under the Moon by Alessandra Gaglianos
2022 Diamond Award Winners
2022 ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Lorenzo Gaggiotti
2022 DECK OF THE YEAR
- Eye of the Ocean by Lorenzo Gaggiotti
2022 NOMINEES FOR ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Jack Brutus Penny
- Lotrek Oath
- Lorenzo Gaggiotti
- Giovanni Meroni
2022 NOMINEES FOR DECK OF THE YEAR
- Azure Dragon & Time Machine by Ying Cheung Ng
- 17th Kingdom Experimental by Lorenzo Gaggiotti
- Hummingbird Feathers by Chris Tipton
- Odd Fellows Playing Cards by Lorenzo Gaggiotti
2021 Diamond Award Winners
2021 ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Alexander Chin
2021 DECK OF THE YEAR
- Circus by Marianne Larsen and Martin Helgren
2021 NOMINEES FOR ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Stephen Brandt
- Alexander Chin
- Elettra Deganello
- Alessandra Gagliano & Anthony Holt
- Marianne Larsen & Martin Helgren
- Giovanni Meroni
2021 NOMINEES FOR DECK OF THE YEAR
- Bird Deck by Hilary Pfeifer
- Charmers by Lotrek
- Circus by Marianne Larsen & Martin Helgren
- Holographic Legal Tender V2 by Jackson Robinson
- Onda by Alessandra Gagliano & Anthony Holt
- Umbra by Jody Eklund
2020 Diamond Award Winners
2020 ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Jackson Robinson
2020 DECK OF THE YEAR
- National Playing Card Collection Day 2019 by Alexander Chin
2020 NOMINEES FOR ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Charles Adi
- Alexander Chin
- Jody Eklund
- Giovanni Meroni
- Steve Minty
- Jackson Robinson
2020 NOMINEES FOR DECK OF THE YEAR
- Ascension by Steve Minty
- Iron Spades by Chad Michael
- Luminosity by Jody Eklund
- National Playing Card Collection Day 2019 by Alexander Chin
- United Cardists 2019 No. 7 by Montenzi
- Vivaldi by PassioneTeam / design Sofia Bolognesi
2019 Diamond Award Winners
2019 ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Lorenzo Gaggiotti
2019 DECK OF THE YEAR
- House of the Rising Spade by Lorenzo Gaggiotti
2019 NOMINEES FOR ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Montenzi
- Randy Butterfield
- Jody Eklund
- Lorenzo Gaggiotti
- Jackson Robinson
2019 NOMINEES FOR DECK OF THE YEAR
- De Novo by Rick Davidson
- House of the Rising Spade by Lorenzo Gaggiotti
- Monolith by Giovanni Meroni
- Six Strings by Ade Suryana
- Top Aces of World War II by Jody Eklund
2018 Diamond Award Winners
2018 ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Lotrek
2018 DECK OF THE YEAR
- Cartomancer by Alain Benoit
2018 NOMINEES FOR ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Randy Butterfield
- Alexander Chin
- Jody Eklund
- Lorenzo Gaggiotti
- Lotrek
2018 NOMINEES FOR DECK OF THE YEAR
- Apothecary Series 2 by Alexander Chin
- Cartomancer by Alain Benoit
- Draconian Wight by Randy Butterfield
- Luna Moon & Helius Sun by Kevin Yu
- Masquerade by Denyse Klette
2017 Diamond Award Winners
2017 ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- UUSI (Linnea Gits & Peter Dunham)
2017 DECK OF THE YEAR
- Golden Oath by Lotrek
2017 NOMINEES FOR ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Alexander Chin
- UUSI (Linnea Gits Peter Dunham)
- Brendan Hong
- Steve Minty
- Jackson Robinson
2017 NOMINEES FOR DECK OF THE YEAR
- Apothecary by Alexander Chin
- Blue Pagan by UUSI (Linnea Gits & Peter Dunham)
- Golden Oath by Lotrek
- Silver Arrows by Jackson Robinson
- Vitreous by Jeremy Griffith
