Corner Pocket Billiards Chalk Holder

The original idea came from my client, Randy Carville, who had patented the original version of the concept—a watch-like housing with a magnet to hold the chalk. It worked in principle, but it was far from a finished product. When we began working together, my role was to take that early prototype and turn it into something players would actually want to wear a refined accessory that felt at home on the wrist of a serious billiards player.We began by setting a clear direction: this wouldn’t just be a tool, but an accessory with style and presence. I explored a wide range of sketches and design languages to find a form that felt both functional and elegant. From there, we went through countless iterations of 3D modeling, printing, testing, and refining. It was a process of constant trial and error, dialing in proportions, materials, and usability.As the project evolved, I also supported the client in preparing the product for market. That included everything from helping source manufacturing partners to optimizing the design for cost-effective production—especially important for a niche product like this. 3D printing played a huge role in keeping development lean while still allowing us to deliver a polished result.Eventually, I developed a scalable product line with multiple versions, entry-level, standard, and premium by playing with different materials and finishes. This not only made the product accessible at launch, but also gave it room to grow as demand increased. What began as a simple idea has now become a functional, wearable product with a clear identity and real market traction.

From the start, I wanted this product to carry more than just function—it needed to feel familiar and symbolic. I looked for inspiration mainly at two objects rooted in ritual and precision: the pool table and a wristwatch. Both represent craftsmanship, focus, and personal identity. My goal was to merge their design languages into a single form that felt both intentional and original.The outer housing was shaped to represent the sturdy frame of a billiard table, while its silhouette sits somewhere between the softened rectangle of a table and the circular case of a classic wristwatch. I worked consciously with design semiotics, embedding subtle visual references throughout. The insert, for example, has a matte, textured finish reminiscent of billiard cloth, while the housing is polished and smooth—mirroring the contrast between the soft felt surface and the wooden railings of a pool table. This textural contrast became one of my favorite design elements, and the natural surface quality of 3D printing made it feel even more authentic.The cap that locks together all the components of the product, was designed to evoke the depth and shadow of a table pocket. It provides visual contrast and balance, reducing the visual mass of the object.Each element was chosen to harmonize watch-like refinement with the structural language of the pool table. In the end, it’s not just a chalk holder—it’s a new wearable archetype shaped by the materials, meanings, and culture of the game.

One of the biggest design challenges came from the magnet itself. I envisioned a clean, seamless design where the components would snap together permanently, mainly to prevent users from opening or tampering with the product. But during early prototyping, the magnet turned out to be too strong. Instead of securing the parts, its force caused the device to snap apart under stress, especially during wrist movements. The solution had to be more than just magnetic, it needed a mechanical layer of security.To overcome this, I developed a custom mechanical locking feature that worked in tandem with the magnet, securing all parts firmly while keeping the assembly intuitive and tool-free. I ran dozens of digital simulations in CAD to explore how the three components could interlock reliably, and then validated each concept through iterative 3D-printed prototypes. One of my key design goals was to limit the number of components and avoid the need for screws, adhesives, or post-processing—so the product could be entirely 3D printed and assembled without extra tools.Another challenge was finding the optimal material thickness around the magnet. With 3D printing as our production method, I had to work within its tolerances and material behavior. Even slight increases in wall thickness noticeably weakened the magnetic strength. Through hands-on testing, I determined the thinnest structure possible that preserved magnetic performance while maintaining durability and fit.These technical constraints directly shaped our manufacturing approach. 3D printing wasn’t just a prototyping tool, it became the most practical way to achieve the design’s precision and simplicity. It allowed us to tightly control wall thickness, tolerances, and interlocking geometry, delivering a final product that’s elegant, robust, and easy to assemble at scale.