This custom chess set was designed as a test of a generative design system. A system of physical forces was set up to act on a basic cylindrical mesh. By changing the connections and relative strength of the tensile forces within each piece, the overall shape could be manipulated. Because the different shapes are created using the same generative system, there are inherent formal affinities relating pawn to bishop, bishop to knight, knight to rook and so on. The different pieces work together to form a family of taut and distinctly modern sculptural gestures.
A generative chess set
Each piece was sculpted by pulling on a digital mesh.
Chess piece detail
Commonalities
Each piece resolves to a perfect circle at its base, which itself is a trace of the original cylinder.
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