Mumbai, India — Independent creative agency Motley has launched ‘Cards Against Advertising’, a parody party card game that satirises work culture within the advertising and marketing industry.
Developed under Motley Orgnls, the agency’s internal platform for crew-led creative projects, the game comprises 150 cards drawing on common industry experiences, including workplace jargon, pitch pressures, late-stage changes, and internal alignment meetings. Inspired by the format of ‘Cards Against Humanity’, the game uses humour to reflect on the realities of agency life.
According to the agency, ‘Cards Against Advertising’ is intended as both satire and commentary, offering a shared space for professionals across advertising, marketing, and creative services to acknowledge industry challenges through humour rather than critique. The concept emerged amid broader conversations around long working hours, high-pressure environments, and burnout within the sector.
Priyanka Surve, founding partner and creative head at Motley, said, “This is more than just a game; it is a unique advertising-specific party experience. It’s a product designed by people who work in the industry, for people who live its realities every day.”
The project reflects Motley’s approach to creative ownership and workplace culture. Through Motley Orgnls, employees are invited to propose independent ideas beyond client work. Selected projects receive production support from the agency, with profits shared with the creators over time.
Jason Menezes, founding partner and business head at Motley, said, “In an industry driven by ideas, it’s important that creative ownership extends beyond client work. Motley Orgnls exists because creativity shouldn’t just earn a salary – it should build equity, ownership, and pride.”
Content for the game was written by professionals across different roles, including creatives, strategists, account managers, and interns. The scenarios referenced are based on informal and often unspoken moments within agency life, with the stated aim of allowing participants to engage with these experiences in a light-hearted and collective way.
Designed for players aged 18 and above, the game is suitable for groups ranging from small teams to larger gatherings, with gameplay typically lasting between 30 and 90 minutes. The agency has indicated that expansion packs focusing on specific disciplines, such as copywriting, design, and social media, are planned.
While ‘Cards Against Advertising’ does not position itself as a response to issues such as burnout or mental health challenges in the industry, the agency notes that it seeks to provide a shared and informal way to reflect on common experiences.
