↙ Back to Projects
Samsara
Samsara is a conceptual deck of playing cards inspired by the rich culture and history of Indian superstitions and mythological stories. Created as part of a 6-month collaborative design experiment within the Young Designers India community, Samsara blurs the line between game, art, and storytelling. Each card represents fragments of the Indian psyche - the rituals, omens, and spirits that have shaped how generations interpret fate, luck, and destiny.
Designed by Abhinav Yadav, Isha Arora, Suramya Pathak, Sparsh Goyal, and Rishav Kumar
YDI Community Project Edition #1 2025
Samsara - the cycle of life, death, and rebirth - takes form in a forgotten world caught between the material and the spiritual. In this realm, spirits and superstitions coexist, their fragile balance disrupted by conflict between light and darkness.
At the heart of it stands Vidyasagar, the wise spirit sent by nature to restore equilibrium. Realizing that the chaos of Samsara can never be destroyed, only contained, he locks the entire realm, and himself, inside a deck of cards, hidden deep within the bhootvaas.
Centuries later, the deck resurfaces.
Do you dare to explore further?
Cards
Every card in Samsara is a fragment of Indian culture - a superstition, a story, a symbol. From the Kali Billi (the black cat) that guards the 9 of Spades to kings inspired by folklore like Jinn, Pisach, and Vikram-Betaal, the deck is filled with layered meaning. But there are two special cards, that elevate the stakes.
Karma is the card of consequence. It lets you swap your entire hand with another player, changing everything in an instant. It’s a reminder that every action comes back around . What you give is what you get.
Maya is the card of illusion. It can pretend to be any card you want - a king, a queen, or an ace. But illusions never last forever. Sooner or later, the truth shows up.
Together, they bring life and philosophy into the game. One shapes destiny, the other hides it.
Chess has always been about discipline and order. This chess set introduces a single, thoughtful shift - an additional queen (as seen above) when a pawn reaches the final line. This subtle change highlights transformation, reminding us that even small moves can carry big meaning.
The team began with one simple rule: keep the process open. There were no strict roles or directions, just a space where everyone could share ideas freely, from stories and sketches to cultural references.
They filled a shared FigJam board with inspiration from across India, chasing the idea of capturing superstition and spirituality through design. The goal was to make something that felt deeply Indian, not by imitation but by emotion — something imperfect, human, and alive. That’s why every card was hand-sketched instead of digitally rendered, to preserve the raw character that comes from touch and instinct.
As the theme developed, Sparsh’s red and black hourglass sketch defined the visual language. It felt bold, textured, and perfectly imperfect. Around the same time, Rishav suggested creating a trailer to bring the world to life. That idea gave the project its cinematic soul. What started as an experiment grew into a collaboration filled with curiosity, teamwork, and storytelling. The result inspired a creative world built by designers coming together around one powerful idea.
