Korean Gonggi Redesign
Reimagining a traditional game for modern play.
Problem
Traditional Gonggi (Korean jacks) sets including the original version that I sold featured uneven protrusions from shapes on the face of the jacks and generic cases that made the pieces difficult to remove. These design shortcomings created a poor user experience and limited the product to a low-margin commodity price point of $13.99.
Role
Product Designer
Client
Ecommerce customers
Timeline
2 weeks
Skills
User Research
The Approach
To elevate the product into a premium market segment, I analyzed real-world customer feedback and behavioral insights from my Etsy sales to execute three key design interventions:
Surface Refinement
Redesigned the Gonggi pieces with smooth, flush faces to create a more premium look and feel.
Ergonomic Case Architecture
Created a custom rectangular case with finger grooves for easier piece removal and improved usability.
Value-Driven Repositioning
Elevated the product from a basic toy to a giftable premium item, enabling successful pricing at $19.99 on Amazon and up to $30 on Etsy.
This set is pretty good, works good for play, though the 3D print job isn’t amazing, rough around edges, but for the price it’s probably great.
HL , Etsy Customer
“
Design 1: Standard Set
At the start of the project, this standard configuration represented what the vast majority of online sellers were offering. While functional, analyzing this baseline revealed significant opportunities to reduce user friction, elevate the overall aesthetic, and engineer a truly premium product experience.
From Insights to Action
A critical user review complaining about rough edges on the jacks became the catalyst for a total design pivot. To make the product truly ergonomic, I had to overcome the inherent layer-line limitations of FDM 3D printing. Rather than jumping to costly alternatives like resin printing or injection molding, I challenged myself to solve the problem directly in the print process.
Design 2: Premium Set
Through precise mechanical design tweaks and the assistance of a professional 3D Modeler, I successfully engineered a smooth finish on both faces—proving that premium product quality can be achieved by mastering and pushing the limits of the technology you already have. The gonggi Korean jacks no longer had rough edges from the protruding shapes. The case was also made ergonomic as well to facilitate easier grabbing of the Korean jacks with just 2 fingers!
Future Work
Expanding the Product Line
Refining Tactile Comfort: Designing a new variation of the Gonggi jacks featuring smooth faces on both sides with the same build plate texture to offer an enhanced tactile experience.
Portfolio Expansion: Developing two new distinct case designs to broaden the product lineup and cater to different user aesthetics.
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