This project was part of a Solidwork’s skill builder assigned by Dr. Nicole Batrouny in GE1502 during the Northeastern Spring 2025 semester. With a partner, we were tasked to create a chess set in Solidworks from scratch: we choose the theme, piece shape, design, and color. There were set instructions for the base that each piece would sit atop as well as certain Solidwork’s featured we were required to use to design the pieces, but otherwise, we were free to make what we wanted.
My partner, Joshua Makuwa, and I decided on the theme of buildings and abstract architecture, choosing the pieces to be as follows:
- King: Empire State Building (designed by Makuwa, not included)
- Queen: One World Trade
- Bishop: Saint Basil’s Cathedral
- Knight: Marina Bay Sands (designed by Makuwa, not included)
- Rook: The Great Wall of China
- Pawn: Stone Henge (designed by Makuwa, not included)
These three pieces were a blast to make! Because of the amount of freedom we were given, it was easy to dream a little too ambitious for what a first year engineering student would be able to create; but I was happy with the result regardless. This project required me to learn CADing techniques outside of class and what was expected so I could design these structures (especially the cathedral) just like I pictured them in my head. Each piece had its challenges: the patterned fillets around the domes of the cathedral, the top rings of the One World Trade, and the brick-like pattern and flag for The Great Wall, but with perseverance and ingenuity I was able to swiftly problem solve – and now I have my own personal chess set as well!
If you have any questions about this project or the Solidwork’s features used, please reach out whenever.