PRINTWORKS: Play

Backgammon

The coffee table has a game plan

A couple of dice land on the table and suddenly nobody seems quite ready to call it a night. PRINTWORKS Backgammon from the Play collection gives the familiar classic a graphic new setting that makes putting it away feel rather unnecessary. Open the book-like case to reveal a playing board in soft beige and white, punctuated by vivid red points, a blue-and-white striped centre and bold circular details. White and bright blue playing pieces echo the graphic colour palette, while black dice provide a sharp contrast and everything required for a traditional game between two players. Closed, the PRINTWORKS Backgammon resembles an oversized design book, allowing it to sit naturally among coffee table books and favourite objects rather than waiting in the games cupboard. At 34.5 cm wide, 22 cm deep and 4.2 cm high, it provides a generous playing surface while remaining compact enough for a shelf, sideboard or coffee table. The game is made from paper and acrylic, with FSC®-certified paper. The result sits somewhere rather nicely between board game and interior object. Although judging by the dice, it would much rather be played than simply admired.

Chance rolls the dice, you make the decisions

Backgammon has a knack for being easy to begin and considerably harder to stop playing. Two players move their pieces around the board according to the numbers rolled on the dice, aiming to bring all of their pieces into their home board before bearing them off. The first player to remove every piece wins. Luck inevitably enters the game with each roll, but deciding which piece to move, where to create safety and when to take a risk adds the strategy that keeps each match interesting. It is this balance that turns a straightforward board game into something worth returning to again and again. The PRINTWORKS Play edition gives those familiar rules a contemporary home. Its graphic case can remain visible between games, so starting another round requires considerably less effort than finding a forgotten box at the back of a cupboard. Useful, considering how often “one quick game” develops into a best of three.

Your feed will manage without you

PRINTWORKS was founded in Stockholm in 2017 by Annette and Patrik, prompted by a familiar feature of modern life: everything was becoming faster and more connected, while genuine time together somehow felt harder to find. The brand responds by bringing analogue experiences back into everyday life. Photo albums encourage us to turn pages rather than swipe through camera rolls, while card and board games give people a reason to gather around the same table. Familiar objects are given a contemporary visual language too, allowing them to remain on display rather than being hidden away once their practical job is done. Play Backgammon captures that philosophy particularly well. There is no grand ceremony required for a little digital detox; sometimes two players, a board and the sound of rolling dice will do. It is an idea that sits naturally with LIVOSY, where we see interiors as spaces shaped by atmosphere, useful objects and the moments that happen around them.

Looks like a design book. Already planning the rematch.

The calm beige base and crisp accents of red, white and blue make PRINTWORKS Play Backgammon easy to place within different interiors. Closed and stacked beside art or photography books, it looks almost like another graphic volume; left on a sideboard it adds a measured touch of colour, while the coffee table keeps the next match conveniently within reach. Pair it with PRINTWORKS chess, memory games, playing cards or photo albums to create a collection of analogue objects designed to be both used and seen. It also makes a thoughtful gift for game lovers, design enthusiasts and anyone who enjoys backgammon but would happily retire the traditional games box. For a bolder interpretation, PRINTWORKS Art of Backgammon takes the classic in a more colourful direction, while Play keeps things crisp, graphic and calm. Ultimately, the best board games are not the ones that spend years neatly stored away. They are the ones somebody reaches for. This one has a considerable head start.