When Advertising Laughs at Itself

Advertising has always had a complicated relationship with humour. It sells with it, disarms with it, occasionally hides behind it—but rarely turns the joke inward.

Cards Against Advertising, a new parody card game launched by Mumbai-based independent agency Motley, does exactly that: it holds up a mirror to agency life and invites the industry to laugh, wince, and nod in recognition.

Inspired by the irreverent format of Cards Against Humanity, the game transforms everyday agency frustrations—late-night revisions, pitch chaos, jargon overload, and cultural burnout—into a shared, playable experience.

It is satire, yes, but also something more revealing: an honest acknowledgement of the emotional texture of advertising work.

A Game Built from Shared Industry Truths

The game consists of 150 cards written by professionals across the agency spectrum—creatives, strategists, account managers, and interns.

The scenarios referenced are deeply familiar to anyone who has spent time in an agency environment: sudden presentation changes at the eleventh hour, endless alignment calls, internal politics dressed up as collaboration, and conversations that happen only after official meetings end.

Motley describes the game as “a parody party game that captures the chaos, clichés, and quiet cries for help across the advertising and marketing world.”

The phrasing may be playful, but the sentiment is grounded in lived experience.

Advertising, after all, remains one of the world’s most influential industries—while also being one of its most emotionally demanding.

Humour as Release, Not Remedy

Importantly, Cards Against Advertising does not position itself as a solution to burnout or workplace toxicity. Instead, it offers something arguably just as valuable: a space for collective release.

According to the agency, the intent was to create a way to acknowledge industry realities “through humour, rather than critique or instruction.”

In an environment where stress is often normalised and emotional fatigue quietly endured, humour becomes a pressure valve—allowing teams to name what they feel without formalising it into policy language or wellness decks.

“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.

Designed by people who live the industry’s realities daily, the game leans into insider truth rather than external judgement.

Creativity Beyond Client Briefs

The project was developed under Motley Orgnls, the agency’s internal initiative supporting crew-led creative projects. That positioning matters.

In an industry where creativity is typically measured by client outcomes, Cards Against Advertising reframes creative output as something that can also build ownership, pride, and cultural commentary.

“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.

“Creativity shouldn’t just earn a salary—it should build equity.”

This approach reflects a broader shift among independent agencies seeking to diversify how creativity is valued and monetised, especially at a time when agency margins are under pressure and talent retention remains a challenge.

Who the Game Is Really For

Designed for groups ranging from small teams to large gatherings, the game is aimed at anyone who has worked within the creative ecosystem—current agency professionals, former agency employees, and even clients with enough self-awareness to recognise the jokes.

Gameplay typically runs between 30 and 90 minutes and is intended for players aged 18 and above.

Future expansion packs focusing on Copywriters, Designers, Social Media, and other disciplines are already in the pipeline—suggesting that the appetite for industry-specific self-parody is far from exhausted.

Why This Moment Matters

The launch comes amid ongoing conversations around burnout, mental health, and sustainable work cultures within advertising.

While many of these discussions take the form of panels, reports, or policy initiatives, Cards Against Advertising enters the conversation sideways—through laughter.

It does not offer answers. It does not claim reform. What it does offer is recognition.

And in an industry that often prides itself on storytelling for others, that recognition—shared across a table, card by card—may be a small but meaningful act of self-reflection.

For those curious to play, the agency invites interested parties to DM them via their official Instagram handle, @motleyhq.

Sometimes, the most honest industry commentary doesn’t come in a keynote or white paper—but in a joke everyone instantly understands.