During our 3-week odd-semester seminar, the first week was led by Swati Maskeri and the next two by John Mathew, whose relaxed yet professional approach emphasised practical skills over theory. His sessions helped me improve my technical drawing and perspective work. The calm classroom environment reminded me of the peace I feel around family and friends, which inspired me to create a meaningful gift for a close friend who loves chess.

What began as a jewellery box idea evolved into a multifunctional chessboard-tepoy—a chessboard that doubles as a side table with a glass top. Made from teak, it is both durable and elegant. Though heavy and not easily replicable, the project taught me a lot about 1:1 scale drawings, construction techniques and time management. While I may not refine this design further, the experience gave me valuable skills for future work and showed me how personal meaning can guide functional design.