Karim Rashid Chess Set

It may be child's play next to the living, breathing life-size board in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, but Rashid's acrylic citrus-colored version ($50, bozart.com) is definitely prettier—and less dangerous. CHECKMATE Cairo-born product designer Rashid (author of the art book I Want to Change the World) is best known for his Issey Miyake perfume bottles, the Umbra ''Garbo'' trash can, and products for Prada, Tommy Hilfiger, and Sony. MAKING THE MOVE Inspiration for the game (a pink-and-blue version is due in January) struck at exactly the right moment. ''I was sitting in the Guggenheim café drawing chess sets and bumped into [Bozart Toys'] Larry Mangel, who saw my idea and loved it.'' ROYAL REVOLUTION Chess enthusiasts may have a snooty rep, but Rashid's game is for everyone. ''I'm a big believer in democratic design,'' he says. ''It's nice to hear other designers say they're [also]no longer producing for the elite.''