rummy card game inspires a playful sculptural furniture collection

Atelier Arunika turns Rummy’s Rituals into Narrative Furniture

The Ramino Series is the debut collection by Indian design studio Atelier Arunika, exploring collectible furniture through postmodern forms, cinematic composition, and a series of pieces inspired by the chance, character, and rituals of the card game Rummy. Designed by Arunika Sarkar, the limited-edition collection draws on the social rituals, personalities, and unpredictability associated with the game rather than conventional material references. Titled The Ramino Series, it approaches furniture as a group of narrative objects, with each piece taking on a distinct character while contributing to a broader domestic composition.

The collection considers furniture as more than a functional element, using proportion, materiality, craft, and composition to shape the atmosphere of an interior. Tables, cabinets, consoles, and storage pieces are conceived as interconnected elements within a larger visual narrative, allowing storytelling to function as part of the design process.

JOLLY — The Joker Console | all images courtesy of Atelier Arunika

Postmodern Geometry and Symmetry Shape The Ramino Series

The collection’s formal language draws from postmodern design, combining expressive geometry with a controlled sculptural approach. Rounded forms interrupt more rigid silhouettes, while playful details contrast with architectural precision. Familiar furniture typologies are reconfigured through distinctive proportions and graphic compositions, positioning the pieces between functional furniture and collectible objects.

The visual approach also references the cinematic compositions associated with filmmaker Wes Anderson, particularly through symmetry, color, carefully structured arrangements, and a sense of nostalgia. Indian design studio Atelier Arunika translates these influences through the collection’s overall composition rather than through direct visual references.

JOLLY — The Joker Console

Five Furniture Characters Translate Rummy into Sculptural Form

At the center of the series is Canasta, a bar cabinet that functions as the collection’s primary anchor. Its symmetrical composition transforms a functional storage typology into a focal point for gathering and social interaction. The piece is designed to establish a strong spatial presence while connecting the practical function of storage with the rituals surrounding shared spaces. Jolly, a sculptural console, takes its character from the expressive qualities of the joker card. Its proportions and graphic form introduce an element of unpredictability, positioning the piece between furniture and sculpture. The design relies on scale and composition rather than ornament to establish its visual identity. Fiore introduces a softer interpretation of the collection’s geometric vocabulary through a series of clustered spherical forms that extend across its surface. The arrangement creates rhythm and movement while maintaining a structured overall composition, demonstrating how playful formal gestures can be integrated into a controlled design language. Cuiro combines storage with a more character-driven approach. Spherical feet and heart-shaped hardware introduce a sense of humor into the console’s design, while its overall proportions maintain a refined appearance. The piece reflects the collection’s broader interest in incorporating emotional and symbolic associations into functional objects. The collection is completed by Picche, a chest of drawers defined by layered curves and stacked volumes. Its sculptural silhouette reinterprets a familiar storage typology, reinforcing the architectural and cinematic qualities that run throughout the series.

Together, the five pieces position Atelier Arunika within a growing field of Indian studios working across collectible design, art, and interior architecture. The Ramino Series avoids both strict minimalism and decorative excess, instead using narrative, symbolism, craftsmanship, and function as interconnected components of the design process. By translating the mechanics and personalities of Rummy into sculptural furniture, Atelier Arunika develops a collection in which stories act as generators of form. The resulting pieces are conceived not only as functional objects but also as elements that contribute to the composition and character of the spaces they inhabit.

JOLLY — The Joker Console

CUIRO — The Cute Storage Console

CUIRO — The Cute Storage Console

CUIRO — The Cute Storage Console

CANASTA — The Bar Cabinet

CANASTA — The Bar Cabinet

CANASTA — The Bar Cabinet

PICCHE — The Chest of Drawers

PICCHE — The Chest of Drawers

FIORE — Bloom Into Beautiful Living

FIORE — Bloom Into Beautiful Living

FIORE — Bloom Into Beautiful Living

project info:

name: The Ramino Series
designer: Atelier Arunika | @atelierarunika, Arunika Sarkar | @arunikasarker

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edited by: Christina Vergopoulou | designboom

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