Tag Archives: chess

3D printed chess pawns transform into queens thanks to magnets and springs

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Chess is a game that has existed for centuries, and it hasn’t really changed much during that time, especially in recent decades. The rules of the game are pretty much the same, which includes “power-ups” that were invented way before the term even showed up in video games. Of course, these moves don’t require any special piece outside of what’s already included in the entire set, but that doesn’t mean we can’t do anything to spruce it up.

This rather elaborate 3D printed design, for example, solves the practical problem of how to represent a pawn that has reached the opposite end and “evolved” into a queen. Sure, you can just try to remember which is which, but wouldn’t it be easier if you had spare queen pieces instead? Better yet, why not just literally evolve the pawn instead, keeping the chess set simple, relatively?

Designer: Works By Design

“Queening” is what happens when a pawn is crowned and gains the queen’s large movement powers when it reaches the opposite end of the board. In some cases, when your queen has already been captured, you can simply swap out the pieces. But what if your queen is still there or, by some stroke of luck, you have two pawns that become queens?

This form-changing pawn is one solution that utilizes 3D printing, springs, magnets, and a rather complicated internal design. The challenge was to take a regular-sized pawn and have it not only expand to the size of a queen but also exhibit its features, particularly its flared crown. If you’ve ever watched Transformers, then you might get the idea more or less.

The design underwent several iterations, particularly with the spring mechanism that holds the pieces together and then pushes them out to expand. In the end, the simpler version won out, though the final pawn size was definitely larger than normal. Fortunately, it still fits within international standards, so it probably won’t be contested in an official match.

The 3D-printed pawn uses magnets in its feet to trigger the expansion mechanism, so placing it on any metal surface, like the back row of this custom-made chess board, would make it spring into action, so to speak. It’s definitely a convoluted design for a rather simple problem, but it also adds a bit of excitement and thrill to the game, becoming a goal of its own in addition to actually winning the match.

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Wearable chess set turns one of the oldest games into a fashion statement

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Although video games today have become a multi-billion dollar industry, there are analog games that have existed for centuries and continue to be a beloved pastime and sport today. Chess, for example, is still going strong across peoples of all ages, but it isn’t just players who find the game to be a treasure trove of inspiration.

The variety of chess set designs shows how the game is so open to interpretation, much more than most video games, resulting in products ranging from artistic to technological. This rather unusual take on the classic strategy game takes chess in a slightly different direction, presenting a game you can literally wear and take with you anywhere, ready to set up a match at a moment’s notice.

Designer: Louis Le Joly Senoville

We’ve seen many interpretations of the classic chess set design, from minimalist to brutalist to self-playing technological marvels. Most of these sets are designed to be installed in one location, while portable chess sets are sometimes too small because they’re meant to fit inside bags. They still take up space, of course, so that means giving up room that’s meant for your other, equally important stuff.

Ha Mat, which is short of “eched ha mat,” (“checkmate” in Breton) solves this problem by turning the chess set into something completely inconspicuous when not in use. In this case, the chess board becomes a scarf, the pieces become rings, and the timer becomes a watch. It’s literally a chess set you can wear as a fashion piece, allowing you to play anywhere there’s a flat plane to place everything on.

Of course, Ha Mat needs to actually look fashionable to qualify as a fashion statement, and it definitely fits the bill. The “board” takes inspiration from silk maps and military training scarves on antiquity, and the color scheme even tries to pay homage to luxurious hues used on chess boards in the past, particularly leather and wood. The watch that’s part of the set is quite peculiar because it can split in half and act as a timer for both sides.

The most interesting designs, however, are the chess pieces themselves. They have flat bottoms so they can stand on the “board,” but they have holes in the middle to wear as rings on your fingers. The pieces have tops that are more symbolic and iconic to identify their position on the board, simplifying their identity in order to fit the need to have flat pieces.

Of the 32 chess pieces, you can wear 16 on eight of your fingers if you pair similar pieces together. These would make you look like you’re wearing knuckle dusters, so they might not exactly be safe to wear in public. Still, the concept is quite intriguing, as it transforms one type of product into a completely different kind, without losing either one’s identity. In fact, it elevates the chess set from a game to something that’s an integral part of your life.

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3D Printed Chess Set pays respect to the Ukraine invasion with a poignant war-themed design

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Unless you are Elon Musk and believe chess is “too simple to be useful in real life,” you know, chess is a strategic and competitive game. It requires meticulous planning and clear objectivity. If you don’t have an objective in mind, your moves will be directionless and you will end up wasting time thinking and moving without purpose. Through the gameplay, it instills cognitive thinking, benefits mental well-being, and can now be a source of thoughtful restoration in the war-torn Ukraine.

Cuibiono, a design-first not-for-profit, has been at the forefront of providing aid to the regions where geopolitical conflicts like war have damaged humanity. With the new chess set, it has conceived using recycled biomaterials (PLA) and 3D printing, the NGO is giving everyone a chance to jump onto their journey of creativity, sustainability, and giving back, helping make a difference and restore homes in Kharkiv, Ukraine.

Designer: Cuibiono

The stackable chess set is inspired by the war-torn and displaced Kharkiv, which has been on the receiving end of the Russian invasion. Called the Kindachess – S, this set 3D-printed from naturally degradable bioplastics – features a board segmented to depict the nation under war. It is designed as fractures on the earth’s crust. But when it’s stacked to be stored, the dividing lines on the board form the Ukrainian flag to depict unity and the satisfaction of returning home.

The idea of a chess set whose profit from sales proceeds would go into restoring homes in Kharkiv is the brainchild of designer Liam Hwang of Cuibiono. The compact, stackable chess set is 3D printed sustainably in Hackney, London. It measures 200mm x 200mm when laid out for playing and fits into a case measuring 290mm x 164mm after use.

This is not Cuibiono’s first such sustainably driven product with the idea of giving back. The NGO states, “we are committed to sustainability.” All the products designed in their facilities are crafted with eco-friendly materials (like recycled PLA in the case of the chess set). The chess set, selling in two color contrasts: wheat and sky, ivory and walnut, is now available at £200 (approximately $250). Buy now, and support the cause becoming a part of the community that cares.

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Chess set concept commemorates Nakhchivan’s 100th anniversary

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If you’re the type to collect special edition chess sets, you’re probably always on the lookout for those that have a pretty unique design. You also probably don’t really play these sets on a regular basis but you’re more likely to display it somewhere in your space or if you’re planning to open a chess museum or something. If you’re also into sets that seem to belong on a set of fantasy epics like Game of Thrones, then this is something you might want to look at if this becomes a reality.

Designer: Adam Yuniso and Hatam Yunisli

Nakhchivan may not be a household name when it comes to places that you’d like to visit someday but based on what I’ve “researched” (read: Googled) so far, it is a place worth considering. The official name is Nakchivan Autonomous Republic, and is a “landlocked enclave” of the Republic of Azerbaijan bordered by Armenia, Iran, and Turkey. To celebrate its 100th anniversary, a souvenir project was proposed and it’s a stunning looking chess set (that also seems expensive).

Instead of the usual chess pieces, each one is designed to represent various Nakhchivan architecture like the Garabaghlar Mausoleum, Nakhchivan Memorial Museum, and several other mausoleums that hold significance to the republic. They look like they would look right at home at a classic castle that displays awesome-looking chess sets. Instead of being positioned in the traditional way that the pieces are placed, the designers said that they are placed in relation to the other chess pieces.

Now I don’t know if that means the rules are quite different ofr this Nakhchivan Chess Set but it does look pretty impressive based on the product renders. It may also not be something you’d play on a regular basis but a chess set that can be displayed especially if you have a strong connection to Nakhchivan.

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Take your chess game on the road with unique, portable set

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I never really properly learned chess or at least remembered the basic rules, although I did enjoy Netflix’ The Queen’s Gamit. I also have close friends who really enjoy playing the game or watching people play the game. But the problem sometimes is that chess sets are pretty hard to carry around if you wanted to play outside your home like in the office or when traveling. There are some small, portable chess sets that you can bring around but it’s probably not as stylish as this one.

Designer: Sofia Gegunde

The Hyde Chess set is built for practicality and portability but is also designed to look like something different from your usual chess sets. For one, the pieces aren’t the traditional ones that you see but are a re-imagining of the pawns, rooks, knight, bishop, queen, and king but in circular pieces that can fit easily into the smaller and portable set and box. They’re all the same height except for the king and queen. There is a cylindrical holder inside to store the pieces when they’re not in use and there are also slots on the chess board to “stabilize” them when you’re actually using them to play a game of chess.

When not in use, everything is just stored inside a small box. But when it’s time to actually play chess, just open it and assemble the chess board with the rectangular pieces. You can then remove the circular chess pieces from their storage and arrange them on the board like you would a regular set and start the game whenever you’re ready. The pieces are made with a CNC router while the wooden parts are made from guatambu and dark cedro.

The assembly and disassembly are pretty easy and learning the different pieces should be pretty easy. Even though they’re circular pieces, the designs are based on the traditional chess pieces. If they actually produce and sell this, it would be a pretty neat gift item for my chess-loving friends and they may even eventually convince me to play with them.

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Rimowa Chess Attache offers a luxurious way to carry your luxurious game pieces

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Chess is a game that spans centuries and while the basic mechanics haven’t changed much, it has taken various forms over the course of its very long history. Chess sets today come in a variety of styles, from cheap plastic to fragile class, from classic designs to abstract geometric shapes. Some sets, usually the expensive ones, are kept safely at home, while others go wherever their owners go, ready to challenge a fellow enthusiast at a moment’s notice. Rimowa, best known for making premium luggage and bags, is trying its hand at striking a middle ground with a high-quality aluminum chess set housed in a signature Rimowa case, ready to travel and make you the envy of all your chess colleagues.

Designer: Rimowa

Portable chess sets do exist, but the most common design you might see is a thick wooden board that folds in the middle to transform into a miniature suitcase for the wooden pieces. It’s practical and, to be fair, a bit sustainable, but also terribly uninspiring. Nothing lights a chess enthusiast’s fire better than a captivating and elegant chess set, one that embodies the long-lasting legacy of a game that had enchanted and beguiled even monarchs.

The new Rimowa Chess Attache is both a homage to the classic chess design but also a rejuvenation with a more modern aesthetic. Each chess piece is crafted from black and silver (for white) anodized aluminum, emblazoned with a laser-engraved Rimowa monogram. The board, though made of wood, is wrapped in leather materials and has magnets that keep the pieces steadily in place until you or your opponent is ready to make the next move. That board’s aluminum frame also bares Rimowa’s logo, signifying its place in the brand’s selection of premium products.

Of course, this wouldn’t be a Rimowa product if there is no travel container involved, and indeed, a major part of the Chess Attache’s appeal is exactly that attache case. The small suitcase’s rounded edges and ribbed faces carry the hallmarks of Rimowa’s iconic design language. Inside, the chess pieces like in compartments cut out from foam and a suede-like microfiber, securing them in place until the time comes for them to be taken out and played. A delicate protective leather layer then sits in between the pieces and the magnetic wooden board that’s secured to the attache with premium leather straps.

Of course, there’s also plenty of Rimowa branding to be found inside, from the black leather lining down to the monogram-engraved snaps of the leather straps. Every inch of the design screams luxury product, and it’s probably good that a metallic lock system is integrated directly into the case’s shell. Whether it’s the chess set itself or the case that carries them, this Rimowa Chess Attache elevates not just your game but also your traveling experience.

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Home tools displayed as chess pieces in unique metal display

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When you’re living alone for the first time, one of the things that people advice you to have at home is a box of tools for whenever something needs tinkering or fixing. I do have one but it’s mostly just stuck in a drawer somewhere since I don’t really know how to tinker or fix things. But for those who use these tools a lot, this concept for a set of tools and how they are stored would be pretty interesting.

Designer: Seongjae Park

Tips for Chess combines metal tools and a chess set so fans of these two will probably be interested to have such a thing displayed in their homes. In fact, even if you don’t use them a lot, it’s still an interesting piece to have in your home and may fool people into thinking you’re a toolhead or a chess aficionado. This is mainly made from metal, from the “chess board” to the various tools included in the set.

The different chess pieces are represented by different kinds of tools. You get hexagonal wrenches with different sizes to serve as your pawns. The rook is the square and triangular wrench, the Bishop is the crosshead screwdriver, while the Knight is a a flat-blade screwdriver. Representing the main pieces are the hexagonal wrench as the Queen and the U-shaped screwdriver as the King. In case you won’t be able to remember which is which, the chess roles and the tool roles are imprinted on the bottom of the tip.

To make it even more interesting (or confusing to people like me) the chessboard itself also provides information. The coordinate system (right angle and straight line) provides a scale of cm and inches. I would probably just have this as a display since it’s too pretty to actually use although they are built to be functional. Also, as mentioned, I don’t know how to use them so they’ll just be on display at home.

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This Ingenious LEGO Chess Board folds into a Sculptural Tower when not in use

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You could design a board game to be so compact that it folds into practical nothingness when not in use… or alternatively, you could turn it into an object of art that disguises the board game as home decor. Ferbrick1’s Tower Chess LEGO build takes the latter approach. The cleverly designed chess board morphs into a castle tower when not in use, storing the chess pieces in built-in racks, while the board wraps around to become the tower’s brick facade. Nobody would guess that an entire chess set is hidden underneath, but the minute you open the setup, it’s guaranteed to drop a few jaws and elicit some audible gasps!

Designer: Ferbrick1

An incredibly clever entry into the LEGO Ideas forum, this particular build comes from the mind of LEGO creator Ferbrick1. Designed to look like the tower of a castle or the ‘rook’ chess piece in the game, it fits all the players inside its hollow design and has the LEGO board wrapping around it to conceal the pieces. When you want to play a game, unwrap the board and lay it on a flat surface, before taking the pieces off their individual racks. Once a piece is killed off in the game, it can be placed back on that rack to keep the entire game organized.

The kit transforms into a standard chess board with 64 squares and 32 chess pieces

The Tower Chess Set’s beauty lies in its biggest constraint – it’s made ONLY out of LEGO bricks that have been assembled ‘legally’. That means no gluing pieces together, no wedging them into one another, and no using non-LEGO pieces to build the set. Ferbrick1 hasn’t fashioned us with any details about the number of pieces or the overall dimensions, but his entry into the LEGO Ideas forum does have over 6,000 votes from the LEGO community. If it does get to the coveted 10,000 mark, it’ll be reviewed by LEGO’s internal team before being turned into a retail box set. If you want to see that happen, I’d recommend giving the Tower Chess your vote!

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A ‘Phygital’ Approach to Board Games Gives A Fresh Take On Traditional Chinese Chess ‘Go’

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For all chess enthusiasts and parents seeking engaging board games for their children, the EIFplay chessboard is a groundbreaking product that offers a host of innovative features to address the common concerns associated with traditional board games. From worries about storing pieces and missing parts to issues of portability and child safety, this intelligent chessboard from EIFplay, a startup company based in Shenzhen, provides an elegant and practical solution.

Designer: Kai Xia

Go is an abstract strategy board game for two players in which the aim is to surround more territory than the opponent. If you are an avid ‘Pentoku’ or ‘Go’ player, you might have experienced the inconvenience of storing the pieces and the frustration of losing them over time. The EIFplay chessboard presents a revolutionary concept that eliminates these issues, making it an ideal choice for chess and similar game lovers. By employing a unique button system, this smart chessboard can effortlessly switch between the two pieces in Go (Chinese board game), showcasing two different colors to represent the pieces for each game. This innovative design allows for seamless transitions and ensures that your game is never interrupted due to missing pieces.

Parents often face the challenge of choosing suitable board games for their children, and traditional chess boards can pose a range of problems. Not only do they present the same issues of missing and storing pieces, but they also raise concerns about the safety of very young children who might accidentally ingest the small pieces. Furthermore, busy schedules can hinder quality bonding time over board games.

Fortunately, the EIFplay chessboard caters to the needs of parents as well. For families with young children, the intelligent design of the chessboard’s button system ensures that the game remains safe and free from small parts that could be swallowed. This eliminates the risk of serious consequences and makes the chessboard an ideal choice for family fun.

Additionally, the EIFplay chessboard provides the option to play against the computer, offering a man-machine mode with adjustable difficulty levels. This feature is precious when parents find it challenging to dedicate time to play board games with their children due to busy work schedules. Now, kids can enjoy the game at their convenience while sharpening their strategic thinking skills without having to engage with any smartphone or device, therefore, reducing distractions.

With their cumbersome size and numerous chess pieces, traditional chess boards are not the most portable gaming options. However, the EIFplay chessboard addresses this issue efficiently. With a compact size of 21mm*21mm, smaller than an A4 paper, this chessboard fits conveniently into school bags or travel cases, allowing you to carry your favorite board game anywhere you go.

The chessboard’s lithium battery, rechargeable through a type-c interface, provides a battery life of more than 4 hours. This impressive longevity ensures uninterrupted gameplay during long journeys or when access to power sources is limited.

The EIFplay chessboard is a remarkable innovation that caters to the needs of chess enthusiasts and parents alike. Its intelligent design, compact size, and long battery life make it a convenient and hassle-free option for playing chess games on the go. Whether you are looking for an engaging board game to enhance your strategic thinking skills or a safe and enjoyable activity for your children, this intelligent chessboard from EIFplay promises to deliver an exceptional gaming experience. Embrace the future of chess with the EIFplay chessboard and bid farewell to the worries associated with traditional chess boards.

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Chess gets a minimalistic, fresh upgrade to elevate your gameplay experience

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Chess, a game of strategy and intellectual prowess, has been enjoyed for centuries. While the rules and gameplay remain unchanged, the aesthetic appeal of chess sets has evolved. One remarkable example is the conceptual design for a minimal chess set with partly self-balancing pieces, presented through this stunning Chess set.

The minimal chess set immediately catches the eye with its clean lines and contemporary aesthetics. The designer’s vision combines simplicity and elegance, resulting in a visually pleasing set that stands out among traditional designs. The focus is on creating a modern interpretation of chess, offering players a fresh experience while retaining the game’s essence.

Designer: Louis Berger

One of the standout features of this chess set is the innovative use of partly self-balancing pieces. Each individual piece has been meticulously designed as a rotational body, enabling it to achieve a delicate equilibrium when placed on the board. This remarkable engineering not only enhances the visual appeal but also adds a touch of functionality by improving the stability of the pieces during gameplay.

The chess set is available in two material variants, each offering unique characteristics and visual appeal. The first variant is crafted from solid beech, a durable and environmentally friendly wood known for its warm tones and natural grain patterns. This choice provides a classic and timeless look, blending seamlessly with various interior styles. The second variant utilizes 7000 series aluminum, a lightweight and robust material often used in aerospace and automotive industries. The aluminum variant infuses a sleek, modern touch into the design, adding a contemporary flair to the chess set.

To achieve the desired design language, the production process involved the use of Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining. The designer employed a subtractive method, gradually removing material in a minimal number of passes. This approach creates simple yet distinctive elements that enhance the visual appeal and functionality of the chess set. The precision and attention to detail in the manufacturing process ensure that every piece meets the highest standards of quality.

The conceptual design for this minimal chess set with partly self-balancing pieces represents a perfect harmony of aesthetics and functionality. With its clean lines, innovative engineering, and choice of material variants, this chess set offers a fresh take on a classic game. Whether you prefer the warmth of solid beech or the sleekness of 7000 series aluminum, this exceptional design will undoubtedly captivate chess enthusiasts and design lovers alike. Embrace the elegance of the minimal chess set and elevate your gameplay experience to a whole new level.

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