PRINTWORKS: Play

Chess

Checkmate, now in sky blue

Chess has a reputation for looking rather serious. This one clearly missed the memo. PRINTWORKS Play Chess brings the classic game back in sky blue and creamy white, packaged in a format that is refreshingly easy to take along. Inside the graphic box is a 25 x 25 cm folding chessboard made from FSC-certified, acid-free paper, accompanied by 32 wooden chess pieces in blue and beige. The complete set weighs approximately 0.6 kg, while the closed package measures around 35 x 18 x 4.2 cm. That makes this PRINTWORKS chess set considerably easier to pack than a substantial wooden board and a natural companion for a weekend bag, holiday or visit to friends. Once you arrive, unfold the board, arrange the pieces and the neat rectangular box becomes a complete game of chess for two. Instructions are included in English, German and French, and PRINTWORKS recommends the game for ages five and above. Back home, its blue and white checked box has enough character to remain on a shelf or coffee table rather than being dispatched to the games cupboard.

First moves welcome, long evenings encouraged

Play Chess is particularly approachable as a chess set for beginners. PRINTWORKS leaves the familiar rules intact and uses recognisable chess pieces, while the sky-blue colour palette gives the game a much lighter personality than many traditional sets. Someone learning chess gets a complete, straightforward game without the formal appearance of tournament equipment; experienced players get exactly the same strategic challenge dressed for rather more cheerful surroundings. That makes it a thoughtful gift for beginners, children aged five and above, adults returning to the game or anyone keen to spend a little more time playing away from a screen. The combination of folding board, light weight and compact box also makes it particularly useful for holidays, weekends away and visits where an evening could benefit from a little friendly competition.

Wooden pieces, paper board, screens elsewhere

Choosing between a wooden and plastic chess set is not simply a question of which material lasts longer. Plastic can be light, resilient and easy to care for, while a well-made solid wooden board can remain in use for many years and brings natural grain and tactile warmth to the game. Play Chess deliberately sits somewhere between the two approaches. Its pieces are made from wood, while the folding board and box use FSC-certified, acid-free paper. The result weighs just 0.6 kg, making it far easier to carry than a substantial all-wood chess set. As a gift, that balance makes sense for anyone who values the feel of wooden pieces but also wants a game that can move easily between home, holidays and weekends away.

That combination feels very PRINTWORKS. Founded in Stockholm in 2017, the brand has built its world around analogue objects that give people a reason to spend time together: photo albums to leaf through, cards to shuffle, backgammon and memory games to play, and chess pieces that require actual hands rather than another swipe. At the same time, these familiar objects are designed to belong visibly in contemporary homes instead of being hidden once their job is done. It is an idea that sits naturally with LIVOSY too: the things around us can contribute to the atmosphere of a room while still earning their place through use.

Thirty-two travelling companions, no chargers required

Within the PRINTWORKS chess collection, Play is an especially practical choice for travelling. The 25 x 25 cm board folds away, all 32 pieces return to their box and the complete set remains light enough to pack without much negotiation over luggage space. Those looking for a heavier wooden chessboard intended primarily as an interior object may prefer one of PRINTWORKS' more substantial editions such as The Minimalist; Play puts portability, colour and everyday use first. At home, the sky-blue palette works beautifully alongside clear glass, pale ceramics, natural timber and colourful accessories, while the checked box can sit comfortably amongst books and other PRINTWORKS games. Pair it with backgammon, card or memory games, or one of the brand's photo albums for a collection of analogue favourites. For the next trip, though, one game may be quite enough. You still need room for two players and somebody willing to accept that the innocent-looking pawn was, in fact, part of the plan.