GeneralJist said:
I'd like to trademark the PRODUCT, name

Look up trademark law online. Or ask about trademark in the Business/Law forum. You can register a trademark only after you've used the mark in commerce (i.e. “trade”).

Tom Sloper said:
Your entire line of questioning is unclear as to what phase you are in, and that information informs us to give you an answer that can help you.

sorry about that.

I am in the planning stage on the cusp of 1st prototype.

(let me say where I am in this process.)

I've:

1. Written a GDD
2. drafted and mocked up the card layout.
3. written up the I&R (instructions and rules)
4. decided on the name of the game
5. Got a logo for the card game
6. done basic market research on the target audience
7. decided on the overall objectives of the game

I'm essentially waiting for the artist to get back to me…

GeneralJist said:
I am in the planning stage on the cusp of 1st prototype.

Then what difference does it make if the artist draws by hand? You can just scan the images for printing your prototype cards (assuming you're going to print them yourself as I described in FAQ 38). If you're making a playtest prototype, all that professional art is premature. Maybe after some playtesting you'll decide you need new cards, or get rid of some, and revise the rules. (You didn't list playtesting above, so I have to assume you haven't yet. And therefore I have to assume the 1st prototype is for playtesting with.)

Tom Sloper said:
1st prototype is for playtesting with.)

Yes.

Table Top Simulator or something similar is a great tool for testing most board games digitally.

Nandeck or Component studio is software for making cards. Though there are many other options our there. I would use whatever you're most comfortable with to get started.

For physical testing cards I recommend getting card sleeves. Put in cards you don't care about (playing cards, old mtg cards, or blanks if you're OCD like me) and then print or hand write the cards on standard printer paper and slot the paper in front of the card in the sleeve. This will give the card the needed stiffness and be easy to change.

Look for locally board game design meetups. They can be a good resource. Protospiel is a series of conventions for board game designers. There may be one near you. Break My Game is a discord group for play testing board games digitally.

For printing higher quality prototypes The Game Crafter does one-off prints at a reasonable price. There are other services for just cards to you could investigate.

That basically covers the difference between designing physical vs digital. All the other advice I would have is more general. Test the game. Test it with the people who are likely to buy it. I agree with Tom's point that paying for art before testing is risky. Even designing a card layout falls on that bucket. What you need is a wireframe, not finalized assets.

I hope that helps. Board game design is very satisfying.