Designed Dupe by Craig Petty

Created by: Craig Petty

Designed Dupe is a dual-phase mentalism routine where a spectator freely chooses a drawing from a pre-made deck of common doodles, which then matches a prediction made by the magician. This is followed by a mind-reading reveal where the magician accurately describes the spectator's chosen drawing without any forces or peeks. The trick is versatile, suitable for walkaround, banquet, or stage performances, and requires minimal setup with blank cards and a Sharpie.

Key features

No forces or peeks needed; the deck handles all the work
Easy to assemble with blank cards and a Sharpie
Adaptable for various performance settings
Strong two-phase structure combining prediction and mind-reading
Spectator's choice is completely free

Pros

Highly practical and versatile for different performance environments
Strong impact with minimal setup
Engages the audience with a personal and interactive experience
No need for advanced sleight of hand

Cons

Requires preparation of a custom deck
May not be suitable for performers looking for quick, impromptu tricks

Effect

The Designed Dupe is a dual-phase mentalism routine where a spectator freely selects a drawing from a pre-made deck of common doodles. The magician reveals they predicted the exact drawing from the start. In the second phase, the magician appears to read the spectator’s mind, revealing details about their chosen drawing without any forces or peeks.

Full Details

Method: Uses a custom deck of blank cards with common drawings on one side. No forces, peeks, or sleight of hand are required—the deck handles the work.
Preparation: The magician creates the deck by drawing or printing simple, recognizable images (e.g., house, stickman, hammer) on blank cards.
Performance:
Prediction Phase: The spectator selects any drawing from the deck while the magician looks away. The magician then shows they drew the exact same image beforehand.
Mind-Reading Phase: The magician reveals specific details (color, letters, or the full word) about the spectator’s chosen drawing.

Who Should Consider the Trick

Mentalists: Ideal for performers who want a clean, no-force method for drawing duplication.
Walkaround Magicians: Works well in close-up or social settings with minimal setup.
Corporate Performers: The routine is interactive and adaptable for formal or casual audiences.

Difficulty

Low to Moderate: No advanced sleight of hand is needed, but scripting and presentation are key. Assembling the deck (drawing/printing images) is the most time-consuming part.
Reset: Instant—no adjustments required between performances.

What Magicians Say

Craig Petty, the creator, highlights the routine’s practicality:

"The deck is designed to work with literally any word they name. You’re getting the information immediately... It packs a really strong punch."

He also notes its versatility:

"I’ve been doing this in corporates for over a decade... It works in walkaround, banquets, any scenario."

The dual-phase structure (prediction followed by mind-reading) adds depth, making it feel like two powerful effects in one.

For magicians seeking a straightforward yet impactful mentalism routine, Designed Dupe offers a proven method with real-world performance value.

What people are saying about Designed Dupe

magic-tv says...

I love that there's two phases and that I love the fact that I get somebody to look at one and I'm looking away and even though I'm looking away I know exactly what I need to know [...] The deck is designed to work with literally any anything with any word that they name, you're going to be able to show that you were able to predict that from the very beginning.