Geometric Chess Set

Design Statement:

Create a chess set with a consistent cast piece and strong family of form.

5 Week Project - Spring 2025

Mid Fidelity Models

I 3D printed a master of the stackable base piece, and molded it out of resin, and experimented with different resin dyes. I used scrap wood to create mockups of the top pieces.

Human Grasp Assessment

I performed a human grasp assessment to discover where my classmates naturally chose to grasp the pieces.

The testers primarily used the tip grasp, using their thumb and index fingers. They favored grabbing the thickest part of each piece, and close to the base for stability.

The testers struggled to decide where to grasp the rook and bishop. This was due to the top piece being equal in size and weight to the base. To fix this, I noted to shrink the top section for those pieces.

Final Prototype