Aani

Inspiration

The inspiration for Aani stemmed from a question, "How do visually impaired people play chess?". The aim was to understand how playing chess could become a highly tactile experience. This led to the discovery of an entire segment of visually impaired chess players who have been advocating for chess accessibility. Based on their hurdles in a game, the idea for Aani was created. The form and profile for the pieces are derived from examining different chess sets throughout the 20th century.

Description

Aani is a chess set for the visually impaired people. It features uniquely tactile pieces with distinct shapes. The white pieces have a ridge to distinguish them from the black pieces. The board has a steel plate underneath. Each piece has a magnet, so the pieces can attach easily to the board. The board has raised squares and contrasting colors for clear distinction. Each piece was 3D printed, sanded and spray painted. Screws with Magnet Tops were attached to the pieces. The board was constructed from MDF. A steel plate was attached to the bottom of the board, to help the pieces stick easily during gameplays.