Role
Full-cycle product designer(Concept planning, user research, product design, manufacturing coordination, promotion)
Overview
Shogito is a redesigned version of traditional Japanese shogi, aimed at enabling play between people of different languages and generations. The project was independently developed to promote connection through universally understood visual elements.
Key Challenges
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Shogi’s interface limits accessibility for non-Japanese users
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Aim: Allow cross-generational, cross-linguistic play without verbal explanation
Outcome
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High purchase rate at workshops
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Positive feedback on product quality and user engagement
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Learned how to scale production, navigate international regulations, and adapt design to real-world constraints
Ddesign Process
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Tested with users from 16+ countries and all age groups
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Removed all language-based cues, using shapes and colors instead
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Created and iterated 11 prototypes based on workshop feedback
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Added a beginner-friendly version that completes in ~30 minutes
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Collaborated with a Dutch shogi champion on intuitive setup for new players
Manufacturing & Launch Product
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Self-funded → Launched on Kickstarter
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Faced rejections from 7 manufacturers before succeeding with the 8th
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CE certification acquired; shipping and logistics managed during COVID-19
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Exhibited at SPIEL (Essen) in 2017, 2018, and resumed in 2022+
Tools Used
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Tools Used
Illustrator / Photoshop / Fusion 360 / 3D Printer / Laser Cutter
About Shogi
Shogi encourages strategic thinking and enjoyment of tactical battles with opponents. It is loved by people of all ages and is often played as a way to connect with family and friends.
Shogi is a traditional Japanese board game with a history of over 1,000 years. Players take turns moving their pieces with the goal of checkmating the opponent’s king. Unique to Shogi are rules like the “drop rule,” which allows players to reuse captured pieces as their own, and “promotion,” where pieces gain new moves when they reach the opponent’s side. These rules make Shogi a deeply strategic and complex game.
Design Development
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Prototype Test
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Workshop & Play Test
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