Overview

To create a fun and unique chess set that encourages the user engagement in a new way.

Chess Sets in Chess Sets

There are so many pre-existing chess sets, so when making my set I considered ways to take it in a new direction. Most re-designed sets differ via a visual theme (e.g. all pieces resemble different famous buildings), I wanted to come up with a design that altered the way you interacted with the pieces.

I did task analysis, breaking down how people interact with chess sets, and noticed that for most of the chess sets “life” it is not in use but instead is in storage, tucked away in a box. I thought about how I could re-design the storage experience to be more intentional, and fun, for the user. I thought it would be interesting to have the pieces fit together like a 3D puzzle. At first I was thinking the pieces could connect into a large cube, before deciding it would be more topical to form a giant king piece. It was then a matter of calculating all the necessary angles and sizes.

Knowing the illusion would be most satisfying if the giant king piece broke apart into only the chess pieces, I designed it to not need an additional central spine that the pieces attached to. Instead I designed the pieces to hold each other together with their pegs. The prototype shown is 3D printed.