Lucy Aboonour playing with flora ergonomic chess set designed for touch on a wooden table.

Lucy Aboonour Crafts Ergonomic Flora Chess Set for Touch-Based Play with Oak and Walnut

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Written by John Oliver

2026-10-27

An Innovative Approach to Chess Design

Industrial designer Lucy Aboonour presents the “Flora ergonomic chess set,” a chess set designed to be recognized and maneuvered through touch rather than sight. The design responds to ergonomic challenges found in minimalist chess sets, where visual abstraction can complicate piece identification. Aboonour’s project stems from four years of observational research in New York City parks and chess clubs.

Chess set with tactile pieces on a wooden board for touch-based play.
lucy aboonours flora chess set is designed to be played by touch 1

Flora Chess Set: Thoughtful Design for Seamless Play

Each chess piece in the collection features a wide base, tapered shape, and weighted core to ensure stability. The pieces are designed with convex curves for a two-finger pinch grip, which distributes fingertip pressure and enhances hand stability during fast play. Aboonour created numerous prototypes using recycled PLA and wood composites from 2021 to 2025 before finalizing the set in contrasting American white oak and walnut.

For a broader view of how design is being transformed, read about BAYT’s Sleek Walnut and Leather Organizer, which similarly integrates design with function.

Close-up of ergonomic chess pieces, designed for tactile interaction.
lucy aboonours flora chess set is designed to be played by touch 2

Beyond Earth: Exploring Space Applications

Aboonour’s ergonomic research doesn’t stop with traditional gameplay. She examines how tactile chess recognition and grip dynamics can be applied in microgravity environments, offering potential applications for hand-operated interfaces on orbital stations. The ergonomic design is particularly relevant in these settings.

Detail of chess board with touch-friendly knight piece on display.
lucy aboonours flora chess set is designed to be played by touch 3

Prototype Iterations and Final Design

The chess set underwent extensive prototyping, refining its ergonomic features and ensuring functionality both on Earth and in space. This process involved iterative 3D printing and testing of the pieces to ensure high readability and performance.

Flora chess set showing intricate designs suitable for tactile play.
lucy aboonours flora chess set is designed to be played by touch 7
Side view of ergonomic chess set highlighting the oak and walnut materials.
lucy aboonours flora chess set is designed to be played by touch 9
Chess board setup emphasizing the unique flora-inspired design elements.
lucy aboonours flora chess set is designed to be played by touch 12

Project Details

Project Name: Flora Chess Set
Designer: Lucy Aboonour | @lucy.aboonour

Queen prototype sketches and mesh studies with design diagrams visible.
prorotype – queen prototype – mesh study first sketches diagram – center of gravity diagram – volume diagram – cross-sections
Mesh study and diagrams showing design process for the chess set.
prorotype – queen prototype – mesh study first sketches diagram – center of gravity diagram – volume diagram – cross-sections
Design process diagrams for chess piece prototypes, including cross-sections.
prorotype – queen prototype – mesh study first sketches diagram – center of gravity diagram – volume diagram – cross-sections
Queen chess piece design sketches alongside gravity and volume diagrams.
prorotype – queen prototype – mesh study first sketches diagram – center of gravity diagram – volume diagram – cross-sections
Prototype mesh studies with detailed diagram overlays for chess queen.
prorotype – queen prototype – mesh study first sketches diagram – center of gravity diagram – volume diagram – cross-sections
Design diagrams of chess piece prototypes focusing on balance and structure.
prorotype – queen prototype – mesh study first sketches diagram – center of gravity diagram – volume diagram – cross-sections
Oak and walnut chess set board featuring uniquely shaped tactile pieces.
Lucy Aboonour playing with flora ergonomic chess set designed for touch on a wooden table.

Sources & Links

Source: designboom.com

Frequently asked questions

What is the Flora ergonomic chess set designed for?

The Flora ergonomic chess set is designed to be recognized and maneuvered through touch rather than sight, addressing ergonomic challenges found in minimalist chess sets.

What materials are used in the final Flora chess set?

The final Flora chess set is made from contrasting American white oak and walnut, after numerous prototypes using recycled PLA and wood composites.

How does the Flora chess set enhance playability in space?

Aboonour’s ergonomic research extends to exploring how tactile chess recognition and grip dynamics can be applied in microgravity environments, offering potential applications for hand-operated interfaces on orbital stations.

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