Stories

Highlighting the magic behind people, places, science, and art.

3 Must-See Puzzle Movies

3 Must-See Puzzle Movies

For fans of puzzle movies, three films stand head and shoulders above the rest: The Last of Sheila (1973), Clue (1985), and The Game (1997).

hands holding volume 1 of tangram

Tangram Vol. 1 Puzzle Hunt - Hints and Solution

Overview Hidden throughout the pages of Tangram Volume 1 are 6 puzzles, themed around each of the 6 artists featured in the journal. A small red tangram piece marks the starting point for each puzz...

Paula Scher Designs Playing Cards

Paula Scher Designs Playing Cards

Just Type is a modern reinterpretation of classic playing card design and a tribute to the different ways in which the spirit of type can be modified.

The Absurd Genius of Joseph's Machines

The Absurd Genius of Joseph's Machines

Instagram artist Joseph Herscher builds absurd Rube-Goldberg machines for life’s most mundane tasks.

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Backgammon

How to Play Backgammon

What makes backgammon so compelling is its balance of chance by incorporating dice rolls, and strategy. It’s also very easy to learn and can scale in difficulty depending on who you’re playing; so,...

The Wavelinks Puzzle

The Wavelinks Puzzle

Four heavy steel pieces interlock to create a modern masterpiece of mechanical puzzles. Elegant, challenging, and deeply satisfying.

Eames "Hang-It-All" Playing Cards

Eames "Hang-It-All" Playing Cards

Designed by Art of Play in close collaboration with the Eames Office. A tribute to the timeless sensibilities of Charles & Ray Eames.

Tension Carved Into Wood, a Q&A with Gibus

Tension Carved Into Wood, a Q&A with Gibus

French sculptor Jean-Baptiste Boutin carves guttural truth from wood, freezing tense moments in a forever state.

The History of the Slinky

The History of the Slinky

Some of the greatest inventions in the world happened by accident. Silly String, Play-Doh, and ... the Slinky. Even stranger? The inventor himself.

Julia Ibbini Evolves the Language of Arabesque

Julia Ibbini Evolves the Language of Arabesque

She's spent the past five years applying her own visual language to these ancient motifs, painstakingly crafting biomorphic paper sculptures.