If It's Hip, It's Here (Archives)

Typographic Chess Set by Hat Trick Design Is Letter Perfect.

The ultimate gift for the font-loving chess player, Hat-trick design's Jim Sutherland has created a typographic chess set based on the character forms from the Hoefler & Frere-Jones typeface Champion Gothic.

The limited edition - only 50 sets have been produced, uses laser-cut acrylic for the pieces. The King, represented by a capital K, is 50mm tall, the pawns 30mm. While Champion lends itself well to this new use, Sutherland says he had to make a couple of adjustments – the Q and P have been redrawn to make them more stable and the Kt ligature (for the Knight) has been redrawn.

Sutherland's sketches for the playing pieces:

The board itself is made from 2mm greyboard foiled in black. "It was a really tricky production in order to get the fine detail and the counters sharp, plus making sure everything stood up properly," Sutherland says. "The hope is that we will go into a longer production run in the future."

A sheet in the packaging includes information about moves and chess notation as well as a selection of chess-themed quotations. A set of postcards, also included in the pack, show how each piece moves.

Type Chess Set Details, Price and Ordering info:

A typographic chess set based on chess notation designed by Jim Sutherland.
The forms are based on typeface Champion (Lightweight) by Hoefler Frere Jones.

Limited edition: 50 sets
Pieces: Laser cut from 25mm acrylic
The King is 50mm tall, the pawn is 30mm
Packaging: 2mm greyboard foiled in black
Board size 364mm X 364mm
Published 2012

Price £275 ($440.419 USD)
Delivered by registered post
UK: £6.50 Outside UK: £22

Buy it here.

Brought to my attention via Creative Review, all images courtesy of Hat-Trick

The Spectacularly Sparkly 2013 German Vogue Swarovski Horoscope Calendar Combines Gorgeous Photography, Fashion and Jewelry.

German Vogue and SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS have teamed up to produce a series of images for a stunning new 2013 calendar. An impressive collaboration between photographer Lado Alexi (who has shot the calendar for the previous two years) Hamburg-born high-concept stylist Dennis Blys, and Ukrainian über make-up artist, Natalie Franz, the calendar features Swarovski crystallized jewelry and fashions by various designers. From dominatrix chic to modern Marie Antoinette, sci-fi siren to glamour goddess, and whimsical wood nymph to elegant eye candy, these glamazons project an attitude both provocative and remote.

COVER IMAGE:

above: Cover image features a crystal-sprinkled veil and headpiece unique to SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS Design, her sculptural earrings are by Chaingang and statement necklace by Simon Harris.

JANUARY:

above: January’s sci-fi snow queen wears a bolero by Bea Valdes and a bracelet by Ikone Paris, both embellished with SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS

FEBRUARY:

above: February is all feminine fringing on a crystal-bedecked bolero by Bea Valdes, echoed in a necklace and bracelet by Art Wear Dimitriadis, with a body by Dawid Tomaszewski. All items are made with SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS.

MARCH:

above: March’s mysterious, crystal-encrusted mask is a unique piece by SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS Design, with earrings and ring from Otazu’s Precious Flowers Collection, both available at SWAROVSKI CRYSTALLIZED™.

APRIL:

above: April is a springtime fantasy in a Dawid Tomaszewski top and ‘Fatal Dress’ from Wolford, accessorized with a glittering belt from Marjana von Berlepsch and long cuff by Philippe Audibert, made with SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS.

MAY:

above: May’s divinely decadent look comes courtesy of Jenny Manik Mercian’s eye-popping necklace and bracelets from Fotis Somos. High Class Dessous from Bordelle (customized design by SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS).

JUNE:

above: June’s languid allure is achieved in a Michalsky jacket with bejeweled epaulettes, a short necklace and ring by Sabrina Dehoff, and a long necklace from Ben-Amun, each richly embellished with SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS.

JULY:

above: July radiates fearless glamour clad in a Chapurin ‘haute armor’ mini-dress, with a warrior-princess bracelet from Marjana von Berlepsch (left) and gladiator cuff by Marmén (right)—all items are studded with SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS.

AUGUST:

above: August’s bewitching creature of the forest wears a lavishly baroque, face-framing headdress and a dramatic body piece from David Mandel’s The Show Must Go On collection, ablaze with SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS.

SEPTEMBER:

above: September’s ethereal spirit seems to have stepped out of a dream, with her intricately ornate necklace and bracelet from David Mandel’s The Show Must Go On collection, both made with SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS.

OCTOBER:

above: October’s bodypiece, designed by On Aura tout Vu, is fashioned from gleaming ropes of creamy, macramé-style pearls from SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS.

NOVEMBER:

above: November’s darkly decadent mood is captured in a short necklace by Otazu, long necklace by Delphine Charlotte Parmentier, and ring by Marmén—all available at SWAROVSKI CRYSTALLIZED™. The unique walking stick is from SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS Design.

DECEMBER:

above: December’s futuristic femme fatale is sleekly attired in a couture dress designed by Augustin Teboul and cascading necklace by Janete Zamboni with bold statement cuffs by Sahani, resplendent with SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS.

Several of the lovely pieces shown in these images can be purchased from Swarovski Crystallized.

Here's a look at 'The Making Of' The Vogue Swarovski Horoscope calendar:

all information and photos courtesy of Swarovski

It's Star Wars Time... For Real. SEIKO Launches Six Official Star Wars Wristwatches.

A collaboration between Lucas Films and Seiko brings us six Star Wars Watches, each modeled after a character from the George Lucas saga. The watches are fashioned in the men's Seiko Brightz style and vary in terms of functionality. Each has faces and bezels with emblems and icons reminiscent of the characters and their likenesses are on the back of each watch.

The Seiko Darth Vader Radio Solar Control World Time Watch: