© João Mourão, 2026. All Rights Reserved | Typeset in Montserrat and PT Serif.
🟢 Available for new projects
© João Mourão, 2026. All Rights Reserved | Typeset in Montserrat and PT Serif.
🟢 Available for new projects
🟢 Available for new projects
GCA
GCA
GCA
Role
• Product Design
• Branding
• CAD Modelling
• Prototyping
• 3D Printing
• Product Photography
• Website Design
Role
• Product Design
• Branding
• CAD Modelling
• Prototyping
• 3D Printing
• Product Photography
• Website Design
Role
• Product Design
• Branding
• CAD Modelling
• Prototyping
• 3D Printing
• Product Photography
• Website Design
Designing a trading card accessories brand from concept to production.
Designing a trading card accessories brand from concept to production.
Designing a trading card accessories brand from concept to production.
Research
Research
Research
I studied existing deckboxes to understand common mechanisms, storage capacity and materials. Rather than replicating existing products, I focused on identifying opportunities for more collectible and personalized designs within my grasp.
I studied existing deckboxes to understand common mechanisms, storage capacity and materials. Rather than replicating existing products, I focused on identifying opportunities for more collectible and personalized designs within my grasp.
I studied existing deckboxes to understand common mechanisms, storage capacity and materials. Rather than replicating existing products, I focused on identifying opportunities for more collectible and personalized designs within my grasp.
GCA started with a simple frustration: I couldn't find deckboxes that reflected my own style while remaining practical for competitive play. Rather than adapting existing products, I decided to build a brand around designing and manufacturing my own.
GCA started with a simple frustration: I couldn't find deckboxes that reflected my own style while remaining practical for competitive play. Rather than adapting existing products, I decided to build a brand around designing and manufacturing my own.
GCA started with a simple frustration: I couldn't find deckboxes that reflected my own style while remaining practical for competitive play. Rather than adapting existing products, I decided to build a brand around designing and manufacturing my own.
Product Design
Product Design
Product Design
Every product begins as a CAD model, allowing dimensions, tolerances and mechanisms to be tested before manufacturing.
Every product begins as a CAD model, allowing dimensions, tolerances and mechanisms to be tested before manufacturing.
Prototyping
Prototyping
Prototyping
The first collection was developed after exploring several initial concepts. While the design looked promising, it quickly revealed practical limitations during prototyping. The magnetic closure required a very small cavity, which made it unreliable without increasing the overall dimensions of the deckbox a compromise I wasn't willing to make at the time.
This stage also taught me some of the fundamentals of FDM 3D printing. During the colder months, I encountered warping issues caused by insufficient bed and nozzle temperatures. Adjusting my print settings and learning how environmental conditions affect print quality became an essential part of refining the manufacturing process.
The first collection was developed after exploring several initial concepts. While the design looked promising, it quickly revealed practical limitations during prototyping. The magnetic closure required a very small cavity, which made it unreliable without increasing the overall dimensions of the deckbox a compromise I wasn't willing to make at the time.
This stage also taught me some of the fundamentals of FDM 3D printing. During the colder months, I encountered warping issues caused by insufficient bed and nozzle temperatures. Adjusting my print settings and learning how environmental conditions affect print quality became an essential part of refining the manufacturing process.
Visual Identity
Visual Identity
Visual Identity
The GCA logo was designed to be simple, highly recognizable and adaptable across both digital and physical products. Its minimal construction, inspired by the act of opening a deckbox allows it to work equally well as a small engraving on a deckbox, a social media icon or a large printed graphic.
The GCA logo was designed to be simple, highly recognizable and adaptable across both digital and physical products. Its minimal construction, inspired by the act of opening a deckbox allows it to work equally well as a small engraving on a deckbox, a social media icon or a large printed graphic.
The GCA logo was designed to be simple, highly recognizable and adaptable across both digital and physical products. Its minimal construction, inspired by the act of opening a deckbox allows it to work equally well as a small engraving on a deckbox, a social media icon or a large printed graphic.
Unlike many brands, GCA doesn't rely on a fixed colour palette. The products themselves become the visual focus, allowing each collection to develop its own identity while the logo and overall presentation maintain consistency across the brand.
The identity was intentionally designed to stay in the background. Rather than competing with the products, it provides a consistent framework that allows each collection to establish its own visual personality.
Unlike many brands, GCA doesn't rely on a fixed colour palette. The products themselves become the visual focus, allowing each collection to develop its own identity while the logo and overall presentation maintain consistency across the brand.
The identity was intentionally designed to stay in the background. Rather than competing with the products, it provides a consistent framework that allows each collection to establish its own visual personality.
Product Photography
Product Photography
Product Photography
Every product photograph is created in-house. Clean lighting and minimal compositions help communicate the quality and details of each product without unnecessary distractions.
Every product photograph is created in-house. Clean lighting and minimal compositions help communicate the quality and details of each product without unnecessary distractions.
Every product photograph is created in-house. Clean lighting and minimal compositions help communicate the quality and details of each product without unnecessary distractions.
Social Media
Social Media
Social Media
Social media follows the same visual language as the products. Rather than relying on heavily edited graphics, the focus remains on showcasing the objects themselves through consistent photography, typography and composition.
Social media follows the same visual language as the products. Rather than relying on heavily edited graphics, the focus remains on showcasing the objects themselves through consistent photography, typography and composition.
Social media follows the same visual language as the products. Rather than relying on heavily edited graphics, the focus remains on showcasing the objects themselves through consistent photography, typography and composition.
Website
Instead of a traditional checkout flow, the website encourages direct contact through social media. This reflects how many collectors and competitive players already purchase niche accessories within the community.
Instead of a traditional checkout flow, the website encourages direct contact through social media. This reflects how many collectors and competitive players already purchase niche accessories within the community.
Reflection
Reflection
Reflection
What worked
Built a complete brand from scratch.
Successfully manufactured functional products.
Validated demand through real sales.
Challenges
Consumer-grade 3D printing limits finish quality.
Production time doesn't scale well.
Material choice limits perceived quality.
Next Steps.
GCA is an ongoing project. My next objective is to explore manufacturing methods beyond consumer 3D printing while experimenting with new product categories, improved materials and electronics integration.
Challenges
Consumer-grade 3D printing limits finish quality.
Production time doesn't scale well.
Material choice limits perceived quality.
Next Steps.
GCA is an ongoing project. My next objective is to explore manufacturing methods beyond consumer 3D printing while experimenting with new product categories, improved materials and electronics integration.
Website
What worked
Built a complete brand from scratch.
Successfully manufactured functional products.
Validated demand through real sales.