Q WHAT IS LIGHTHOUSE?

It means deungdae (lighthouse) in Korean. A deungdae shines light on the lightless ocean to guide others, and that’s what we do. We design things in a creative light.

Q WHAT LED YOU TO CREATE A CHESS SET INSPIRED BY GYEONGJU’S CULTURAL HERITAGE?

I was born and raised in Gyeongju, so I’ve seen the Silla Dynasty’s heritage. I thought about how to turn these great heritage sites into unique, practical, and valuable interactions. I then thought of chess, which I used to play often. I matched cultural heritage sites with similar chess pieces: the Emile Jong (Bell of King Seongdeok) as the Queen, the Bonjonbul (rock-carved sitting Buddhist statue) as the King, and so on. The heritage sites match each piece’s meaning, so the chess set becomes a playable, historical, and artistic souvenir. I think it’s an opportunity for foreigners to experience the Silla Dynasty’s culture.

Q DID YOU MAKE ANY MISTAKES WHILE TURNING THIS IDEA INTO A REALITY?

I worried about compromising the unique characteristics of existing cultural heritage monuments by turning them into simple, modern chess pieces, so I put the most effort into the details. Balancing the overall symmetry when putting the pieces on the board was done through a sophisticated 3D-modeling process.

Q OUT OF THE 12 PRIZEWINNERS, YOU’RE THE ONLY BEST IDEA WINNER. WHAT PART OF YOUR WORK DO YOU THINK THEY ADMIRED THE MOST?

Gyeongju was initially known as a site for field trips and is still visited by many people. I also have nostalgic memories of my childhood here. I think that my strategy to combine the Silla Dynasty’s unique culture with chess seemed novel compared to the other souvenirs. I had some consultations and learned how to understand and design products in different ways. It motivated me to create products that can fulfill consumers’ needs instead of pursuing what enterprises are after.

Q WHICH ADVICE FROM THE JUDGES WAS THE MOST HELPFUL?

They said that I could attract more customers if I made the pieces smaller to be used for purposes other than camping. It was a good time for me to scrutinize the product’s marketability.

Q ANY FUTURE PLANS?

I hope to collaborate with other brands to make practical products that everyone will want, elevating my company’s value. I’m almost releasing a limited-edition chess game made in collaboration with Pelican Korea.