Objective:
Design and create a chess set that abstracts the stereotypical chess piece form, while maintaining the hierarchy between pieces, and a common family of form through a casted element.
Skills: Sketching, Wood-Working, Lathe Machinery, Mold-Making, CNC Machinery
Materials: Maple Wood, Resin, Cork
Timeline: 5 weeks
Date: Spring '25
My objective was to design a multifunctional chess set where the space it occupies feels intentional. I drew inspiration from the historical roots of chess as a war-inspired game and paired it with the spice trade—another arena of conflict and cultural exchange throughout history. This led me to develop the concept of a “spice rack chess set,” blending strategy, history, and everyday function into one design.
Sketches
Form Explorations
First lathe explorations of form
Experimentation with crown pieces and possible family of form
Mold Making Family of form
Mixing the resin to fill molds
By vacuum forming a wooden master piece, I created a mold to cast my family of form piece.
My family of form piece was part of the insertion point of the spice, where the resin encased the spice they enhabited.
Final steps
Pieces before addition of mineral oil.
Resin pieces with their respective chess piece and CNC'd cork
FINAL PRODUCT
