Project Objective:
Combine both the raw and gritty elements of skateboarding culture with the sophistication and elegance of the game of chess.
Culture Inspiration
During the 80's and 90's skateboarding started to become something way more than just a piece of wood with 4 wheels attached to it. It represented creativity, personal expression, and rebellion against the "societal norm". Skateboarding wasn't just something to do in your free time, it became a culture.
Aesthetics of Design
Thrasher Magazine
Tyshawn Jones- StockX
Mid 90's- GQ
Material Inspiration
Sketching and Iteration
Final Shape Choice
For designing the shapes of the pieces, I took inspiration from skateboard brands, logos, and other elements of skateboarding. For example, the shape of the knight closely reflects the shape of a ramp at my hometown skatepark in Charleston, WV.
Pawn
Knight
Rook
Bishop
Queen
King
Prototyping and Rendering
Clay Model
Wood Shape Test
Rendering done in Fusion 360
Acquiring and De-gripping Boards
Donated by Blacklist Boardshop in Cincinnati
Cutting, Gluing, and Sanding Board Pieces
Creating the Base Piece
Final
Acknowledgements
Massive Thank you to Blacklist Boardshop in Cincinnati, Oh for kindly donating the skate decks
Huge Thank You to Jaxsen Beardslee for modeling for the photoshoot
Thank You