Walnut Wood Chess Set
Target Demographics:
Ray: Chess Player and Set Collector
Michael and Sonia: Design Savvy Couple
Kate: Art Enthusiast
Consumers ages 35 to 60 years old who fall into at least one of the following categories:
Appreciates innovative designs that offer meaningful, interactive experiences
Values quality artistry as well as time with family and friends.
Seeks to enhance their living spaces with unique décor
Design Criteria
Aesthetic Appeal
Functionality
Craft
Materiality
Exploration of Visual Harmony Via Shape
Identified family of shapes
Main forms traced
Similarities found between each family shape
Inspiration from every day objects explored
Concept Development
Idea Board
Circled forms represent top picks from peer feedback to narrow down ideas.
Focusing and Refining Concepts
Ideas further refined showing best family of form sets
Focused on Visual Appeal & Natural Curvature
Narrowed Down
to Two Sets
Prototyping
Started with low fidelity clay models
Moved to foam models
Key Learnings:
Due to High level of contours- best to use lathe
Use harder wood for final models to ensure durability
Pine wood to be used for prototyping for cost efficiency
Walnut wood for final model
Created low fidelity foam models
Created high fidelity set of physical pine wood models using a Dremel
Prototyping: Using the Lathe
1st Set High Fidelity
2nd Set High Fidelity
3rd Set High Fidelity
Human Factors
Completed preliminary visual assessment of
chess pieces on a board
Evaluated ergonomic factors for usability via
human tests
Revised Models
Adjustments made to main pieces in need of revising
Revised Models Based on Changes
Comparison of Revised to Old Models
Final Sketch
Based on adjustments a final sketch was made to depict
Size
Shape
Texture
Finishing Pieces
Obtained measurements for pieces to determine feasibility of use
Sanded pieces on the lathe using steel wool and by hand using sandpaper
Applied coat finishes
Committed to top material on pieces- Rhinestone overlay
Rendered Set
Materiality and Details
Opposing side: Maple wood
Overlayed with a slightly lighter shade of black
rhinestones
Chess Board:
8 x 8 square configuration with 14.4 sq. in board
Boarder complements the contours of chess pieces
Made of a two tone walnut wood
Black chess squares are made of reflective black
glass- complementing the rhinestones
