Beatrix's Brief

Identity Chess is a chess set that focuses on how one’s identity is formed and evolves based on their past experiences. It is composed of 32 resin cubes, with 16 containing “warm” drops of color on one side of the chess board and 16 containing “cool” drops of color on the other side. 

Each piece resembles a traditional chess set one king, one queen, two rooks, two knights, two bishops, and eight pawns per side. It is also played with traditional rules, except for one added mechanic: whenever you attack an opposing piece, they have to give you some or all of their color. This explores concepts of identity and how people are changed by their lived experiences--if a player knocks out a blue piece, the piece will become bluer, and vice versa. A piece cannot revert back to its original color just like how an individual can not take back an experience. One can only continue to grow and change, and this reflects on real life.

At the end of a chess match, a player will be able to see the ways their pieces have grown and changed throughout the game. This represents a timeline of memories, and although the players won’t be able to know exactly what happened in the match, they can try to figure it out. This will make a player think about how their interactions have changed them, and when/where they might have happened.

Zach's Brief

People grow, change and evolve every day. What if there was a chess game that reflects how people develop and transform their lives from their experiences? Every person you meet, the challenges you face can change your perspective.

"Identity Chess" follows most of the same rules as traditional chess except, all of the chess pieces are brown with a transparent container inside of it. The container is filled with a small amount of a colored liquid.  Each chess piece is has a designated colored liquid. When you defeat the other player, the loser has to pour their colored liquid into the winner's container. The victorious pawn's liquid transforms into a new color. Every time the pawn defeats another pawn, it changes color again and again. The evolution of color symbolizes experience and triumph.  

 To win the game pawns have to have gathered all the colored liquid from the opposing side, the side with the most water wins.  

 The game and changing of colors highlight the changes people go through overtime to get to where they are today.