I briefly got pretty into chess for a bit.

And the first thing you learn in chess is that white goes first. Literally rule #1.
It gives that player a statistical advantage. A simple black-and-white metaphor for real world privilege.

This little insight inspired us to pitch Anomaly on building a board of our own.
One where Black Goes First. Where youth chess players could see Black get the advantage.

We designed and locally produced a custom board, then got it signed by some of the biggest voices and chess fans in Black culture:
Jay-Z, RZA, Carmelo Anthony, and the first Black chess Grandmaster, Maurice Ashley.

We built an auction site for the custom board, then donated the proceeds to Black youth chess programs.

No brief. No client. Just a proactive idea that everybody got behind and helped make a reality.

Stills of the board.

Auction site, social page, and some press coverage.