3D-Printed Chess Set : Degenerative Systems

Our last milestone project for the Object Design this semester was to create a type of chess set. Students where allowed to have total agency over how the design/models would appear.

We can see below is my take on the designs, I wanted to take it into a direction that talks about our Degenerative Economy under capitalism. According to Marjorie Kelly, "a Generative Economy is one that creates the conditions for life to flourish, an economy with a predisposition to be socially just and environmentally sustainable. In its current state all facets of modern society is exploitive and cannot be sustained because it requires natural resources with exponential needs based on growth hence the term Degenerative.

Starting from the left is my Pawn (Exploited Labor), Knight (Compulsive Consumerism ex: Fast Fashion), King ( Energy Industry/ Major Polluter), Queen (Land Management/ Real Estate), Rook (Habitual Consumerism ex: Starbucks Coffee), and Bishop (Media/Tech).

Chess pieces have distinct characteristics based on a Monarchic hierarchy. For example my version of the pawn is a living coin. Because under Degenerative Systems, the working class would always earn less than the labor they provide to owners. The pawn provides profit to the rulers because they are the first level of exploitation necessary keep the system in place.

My original design for this project was putting the symbols of our systems into pedestals. Because we seem to essentialize materialism and implementing a keen focus on the superficial.

I simply decided on a more cartoonish direction because honestly talking about this problem is incredibly depressing. Satirizing it instead would lead into some form of catharsis. Also I think they cute and simple.

Final 3d Prints: Most of the resemblances with the models transitioned well into the print. I did have issues on certain models like the Coffee cup(rook) on the left which I printed on its front side. and the Happy Meal(Queen) which had a thing McDonalds "M" sign which ended up peeling off when I removed the supports. The Bryan Cera the instructor kindly suggested splitting the label off and printing it separately which worked perfectly well.

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