Motley launches satirical card game reflecting agency culture realities

Mumbai-based independent creative agency Motley has launched ‘Cards Against Advertising’, a parody party card game designed to reflect the realities of agency life through satire. Released on December 18, the game uses humour to highlight common industry behaviours, pressures and cultural patterns familiar to professionals across advertising and marketing.

The game consists of 150 cards that reference everyday scenarios within agencies, from internal meetings and pitch pressures to workplace jargon and unspoken norms. By framing these experiences in a playful format, the game aims to provide a light-hearted way for industry professionals to acknowledge challenges that are often normalised or left unspoken.

‘Cards Against Advertising’ is inspired by the format of Cards Against Humanity and has been developed under Motley Orgnls, the agency’s internal platform that supports crew-led creative projects. The initiative allows team members to propose original ideas beyond client work, with selected projects receiving production backing from the agency.

Positioned as both satire and commentary, the game reflects shared experiences across advertising, marketing and creative services. It is not intended as a critique or commentary on specific organisations, but rather as a collective reflection on industry-wide habits and pressures that many professionals encounter regardless of role or seniority.

Advertising continues to be one of the most influential industries globally, while also being associated with long working hours, high expectations and burnout. Many professionals enter the sector drawn by creativity and ambition, only to face challenges that are rarely addressed openly. According to Motley, the game was conceived as a way to acknowledge these realities through humour rather than instruction or criticism.

“This is more than just a game; it is a unique advertising-specific party experience,” said Priyanka Surve, founding partner and creative head at Motley. “It’s a product designed by people who work in the industry, for people who live its realities every day.”

The project also reflects the agency’s broader approach to creative ownership and workplace culture. Unlike traditional internal initiatives, Motley Orgnls enables employees to develop independent ideas with long-term value. Creators whose projects are produced receive a share of the profits over time, extending ownership beyond standard employment structures.

“In an industry driven by ideas, it’s important that creative ownership extends beyond client work,” said Jason Menezes, founding partner and business head at Motley. “Motley Orgnls exists because creativity shouldn’t just earn a salary – it should build equity, ownership, and pride.”

The content of the cards has been written by professionals from across the agency ecosystem, including creatives, strategists, account managers and interns. The scenarios draw on familiar industry moments such as late-stage changes, alignment calls, feedback loops and informal conversations that often sit outside official processes. The intent is to provide a collective release valve through shared humour.

Designed for groups ranging from small teams to larger gatherings, the game is aimed at anyone who has worked within the creative ecosystem, including current agency professionals, former employees and clients with a self-aware understanding of the industry. Gameplay typically lasts between 30 and 90 minutes and is intended for players aged 18 and above. Expansion packs focused on specific roles such as copywriters, designers and social media professionals are planned.

The launch comes amid ongoing conversations around burnout, mental health and sustainability within advertising. While ‘Cards Against Advertising’ does not position itself as a solution, it offers a shared and accessible way for industry professionals to recognise common experiences through humour and self-reflection.