This project consists of a creation of a deck of custom illustrated playing cards with 54 unique illustrations depicting architecture, transportation, and culture of (uncommonly known) ‘Soul Sister Cities’ Mumbai and New York.

The design considers the structural and iconographic hierarchy required for these to be functional for fair gameplay and visually intriguing to serve as souvenirs or takeaway pieces.
Each card has illustrated elements from each city that helps one know how similar the two cities really are. As playing cards function in both orientations, the Mumbai elements are placed on opposite sides of the New York elements almost mirroring the illustrations in their own way displaying that they are exact equivalents of each other. For example, the Wall St Bull is placed opposite Mumbai’s Financial Area on the number 5 card to reflect that both cities are financial capitals of their own countries.

The project consists of a deck of 54 playing cards, travel coupons, landmark stickers and an Instagram AR filter. The filter resembles a portal which was created using Spark AR to give a glimpse of the two cities. One could walk up to the portal and look through to the footage recorded in New York City or Mumbai to get a bit of magic even before they visit. This project is an attempt at bringing two cities placed on complete opposite sides of the map, just a little closer.