Meet the Tabletop Tabbies
A fur-midably fun, and collectible-figurine-inspired chess set
A unique, abstracted chess set catered towards cat lovers and figurine collectors. Designed to question and contrast traditional Staunton and Art Deco style sets with its bubbly and playful aesthetic, Tabletop Tabbies welcomes a new audience to chess by being friendly, fun, and inviting.
While traditional chess sets have both high and low-cost options, abstract chess sets are either too expensive or unintended for play.
Abstract chess sets are enjoyed in the online chess community, but are not accessible in the physical market.
Inspiration was taken from figurine collectibles, stylized cat characters, and soft body toys, with reference to brands such as Sanrio, Pusheen, Minecraft, and Funko Pop.
Key aesthetic goals:
Friendly, playful, character-like pieces
Rounded cuboid
Toy-like, but not low-quality, cheap
Abstract representation of cats – visually and emotionally
Playfulness, emotion, and variety were key focuses of exploration sketching in order to establish a sense of character.
Procreate was used for detail exploration and quick iteration. Several elevation views were sketched to assess the hierarchy and overall effectiveness of various iterations.
Blender was used for digital 3D iterations because of its versatility and character design capabilities. Additionally, the modular design of the set allowed for quick accessory exploration and asset reuse.
An elevation view was used to assess the effectiveness of the overall set. Special attention was paid to:
The hierarchy of the pieces in terms of visual importance versus scoring value.
Details that should be removed due to visual noise or manufacturing constraints.
Whether the thematic goals and characterization was being achieved.
Family of form, Gestalt Theory, and overall aesthetic value of the set.
Pieces were 3D printed, sanded, and smoothed using an epoxy filler. Whiskers were printed separately at extreme fidelity and attached after sanding.
After priming, base colors were blocked in with spray paint. Masking was used to prevent buildup and color mixing.
Eyes, whiskers, mouth, and other details were hand-painted with acrylics. Hats were attached with glue, and cats were press fit into their bases.
High-fidelity prototypes were created of a pawn, rook, knight, bishop, queen, and king.
In-context renders were created in Blender.
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Peer critiques helped to understand how others perceive a product or design choice. They provided helpful feedback and ensured designs communicated the desired mood.
Prototyping may not reflect how something is manufactured; for example, some prototypes were print-in-place, but in reality would need separate manufacturing and assembly.
Saving iteratively and working non-destructively makes tweaking details easier. For example, the crenels (notches) needed to be wider and softer for better family of form.
