GT Experience Gaming Enclosure

The main idea behind GT Experience is to bring the emotional tension of real motorsport into a gaming and simulation environment.

In racing, the driver is not only looking at a screen. The surrounding space, peripheral vision, body tension, and atmosphere all influence the feeling of speed and concentration. I wanted to create a physical enclosure that shapes the player’s field of view and makes the racing experience feel more immersive.

The inspiration came from motorsport tension, cockpit environments, aerodynamic forms, and the rising pulse of a race. Instead of adding only digital effects, I wanted to design a physical space that supports immersion through form.

My main focus was to create immersion without fully closing the player inside a heavy cockpit.

GT Experience uses large side panels to influence peripheral vision while keeping the space open enough for home use, events, and esports venues. I wanted the player to feel surrounded by speed and tension, but not trapped.

I also wanted to turn the visible layer lines of 3D printing into a positive design feature. Instead of hiding them as a weakness, I treated them as a surface language that expresses manufacturing, motion, and accumulated tension.

GT Experience began as a concept, but I believe it has potential for event spaces, gaming venues, esports exhibitions, and home simulator environments.

In the future, I would like to refine the structure, materials, modularity, and installation method so that it can be used more easily in different locations. I am also interested in developing variations for different simulator sizes and event requirements.

The award gives this project stronger credibility, and I hope it can lead to opportunities for collaboration with companies in gaming, mobility, 3D printing, and experiential design.

The decision to preserve the layer lines was not something that was determined from the beginning.In this project, the initial challenge was how to create a large enclosure that surrounds a gaming chair. I explored various methods such as FRP and wood, aiming to create something impactful and unlike anything that existed before. The concept came first, and 3D printing was discovered later as a possible means to realize it.At the beginning, based on my prior experience with 3D printing, I understood that layer lines would inevitably appear. Therefore, I initially considered using it as a master model, assuming that the surface would eventually be finished and refined, rather than preserving those marks.However, the moment I saw actual large-format 3D printed samples, that assumption completely changed. The surface possessed a unique glimmer and relief-like texture that went beyond a mere byproduct of the process. I recognized it as a distinctive expression that could only emerge from this method of fabrication.From that point, I shifted my approach. Instead of concealing the layer lines, I began redesigning the form under the premise that they would be intentionally preserved. The goal was not simply to expose the marks, but to integrate them into a coherent whole that could be perceived as a valuable and refined object.At the time, 3D printing was often perceived as a tool that could create anything. I felt a certain discomfort with that idea. Rather than treating it as a universal solution, I believed it was more meaningful to explore what only this process could uniquely offer.In that sense, this project was not about compensating for imperfections, but about transforming inherent characteristics into value.

The target users for this project were individuals with a deep passion for cars—people who actively enjoy driving and experiencing the sensation of controlling a vehicle. I myself have also had many opportunities to engage with real cars, including filming and actual driving, and through these experiences I have felt the tension, excitement, and non-ordinary sensations that come with real driving.While I also enjoy simulation games, I always felt that they remain confined within the domain of a “game.” With this project, I wanted to move beyond that boundary.Typically, realism is pursued through large-scale mechanical systems or motion-based simulators. However, in this case, I chose not to rely on such mechanisms. Instead, I explored how spatial design and form alone could recreate the sense of driving, including its tension and immersive qualities.One of the key approaches was to create a cockpit-like, tightly controlled space. By carefully designing the field of view—balancing what is visible and what is concealed—I aimed to enhance concentration while generating a unique sense of enclosure. This interplay between openness and restriction produces a subtle psychological state where anticipation and tension naturally emerge.In terms of form, I incorporated visual cues inspired by speedometers and tachometers, particularly the sensation of entering the red zone. At the same time, I referenced organic structures such as the human nervous system and skeletal form, introducing a sense of tension and dynamism into the geometry.As a result, the enclosure creates a feeling of motion and non-ordinary experience even when stationary, suggesting speed and intensity purely through its presence.

The use of elastomer as a material in this project was not something I was initially familiar with. Through close collaboration and experimentation with the manufacturing team, we gradually recognized that it was a suitable choice for this particular application.Elastomer has rubber-like flexibility and offers a high level of safety for users due to its softness. At the same time, its tendency to deform easily presents a structural challenge. Addressing this balance between flexibility and stability became a key aspect of the design process.In large-scale structures, weight and deformation are closely related issues. It was necessary to find a way to support the form without compromising the intended design. The solution we arrived at was a modular segmentation strategy.By dividing the structure into multiple parts, we were able to stack and assemble the enclosure efficiently. This also improved transportability and ease of installation. In addition, if a specific part becomes damaged, it can be individually reproduced and replaced, which is a significant advantage of this unit-based system.This modular approach also introduces adaptability. By altering only certain components, the design can evolve into new variations. In this sense, the product is not a fixed outcome but a continuously updatable system.Furthermore, the domestic large-format 3D printer used in this project includes a recycling capability, where used materials can be shredded and reprocessed into feedstock. This allows damaged or unnecessary parts to be reintroduced into production as new components.Through this project, my intention was not only to highlight the properties of elastomer, but also to demonstrate the broader potential of large-format 3D printing as a production method. The ability to recycle, reconstruct, and update a product continuously presents a new form of value that was difficult to achieve with conventional manufacturing.In this sense, the characteristics of 3D printing are not merely technical features, but are deeply integrated into the design philosophy of the work itself.