A pair of enterprising graduates from Glasgow have just launched a new business creating chess pieces inspired by iconic buildings from around their home city.
Alex Duff, 25, and Michael O'Donnell, 24, who both recently graduated from the University of Glasgow, are now producing the Clydeside Chess sets with pieces based on landmarks such as the Armadillo and the Duke of Wellington statue from their base in the southside.
A homage to their home city, they hope the sets will appeal to visitors to the city as well as those who live there.
Speaking about the new products, Alex said: "We felt as if Glasgow was largely ignored on the art and design scene in favour of other cities like London or even Edinburgh, even though it has so much to offer.
"We are both from Glasgow and love it so much, so we wanted to pay homage to our home town."
The pair say each of the chosen landmarks has a special meaning to them as well as featuring prominently in Glasgow's heritage.
Michael added: "Each of the pieces has a story behind it on why it was selected. For example, we met at Glasgow University and have been inseparable since and for that reason it features as the King piece.
"My great grandfather worked on the shipyards all those years ago and for that reason we picked the Finnieston crane as the rook, to acknowledge Glasgow's shipbuilding history".
Having originally sold out 2D versions of the chess sets in 2018 at a Glasgow School of Art pop-up shop, Alex and Michael decided they could go one better and create a new 3D version.
The entrepreneurial duo said that they make the pieces using an eco plant-based resin, which they create using new MSLA 3D printing technology which allows them to get incredible detail for each of the pieces.
Each set also features the Armadillo as the pawns, the Duke of Wellington Statue as the Knights, the Riverside Museum as the Bishops and the Tolbooth Steeple as the Queen pieces.
Alex explained that the response to their chess sets has been overwhelmingly positive they now have plans to create the models on their own in the future, with plans to release these products as soon as they are able.
He said: "The reception to the sets has been great, people love Glasgow and we don’t see of it enough in art and media."
Anyone looking to get a hold of the Clydeside Chess Sets can find them on the pair's dedicated website, which also has extra information about each of the landmarks used.
Michael added: "You can also get them through our Etsy shop, the Scottish Design Exchange, and the University of Glasgow shop and they make ideal Christmas presents."
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