PROjECT 2
ICE Block
city
timeline
February 2025 – March 2025 (4 weeks)
main material
wood
Epoxy Resin
id category
Product Design
Form Exploration
Materials & Process Research
skill used
Modeling & Prototyping
Material Research (Wood, Resin)
Woodworking & Casting
Sketching & Form Exploration
intro to project
This project reinterprets traditional chess piece forms through material contrast and simplified geometry.
The design balances visual presence with functional clarity, creating a chess set that is both strategic and sculptural.
research overview
Chess sets exist not only as games, but as objects within everyday living spaces.
targer user
Children to seniors
Individuals and families
Home-centered environments
key takeaway
A chess set must function as a clear game system during play and as a sculptural interior object at rest.
From Nature
design direction
Simplified, legible forms
Material contrast for visual hierarchy
Balanced presence between play and display
inspiration board
final design sketces
Material Test with High fidelity
Design Concept
-
This project begins by defining a clear design attitude rather than a specific form.
Simplicity, balance, and restraint were established as core principles to guide all design decisions. -
The design direction emphasizes material contrast and geometric clarity over symbolic or decorative elements.
This framework ensures visual cohesion across the entire chess set.
low Fidelity Models
From structure
5 set form exploration
This stage focuses on developing five distinct families of form through iterative thumbnail sketches.
Each set explores a cohesive design language for the chess pieces, allowing comparison and refinement
to identify a final direction for further development.
Traditionally associated with wooden game boards, chess is reinterpreted here through a modern lens,
emphasizing simplicity, clarity, and a refined aesthetic suited to contemporary spaces.
high Fidelity Models
PROCESS OVERVIEW
Base dimension testing
Wooden master carving
Rubber mold fabrication
Clear resin casting
Resin + wood material evaluation
Surface and quality inspection