A human figure contains rotating chess pieces, representing calculation, hesitation, and decision-making.
The looping structure reflects the repetitive and non-linear nature of thought, while layered 2D/3D elements allow the viewer to read the piece at multiple levels, from overall form to subtle internal motion.
The use of familiar chess imagery and hierarchy makes the concept immediately legible but risks oversimplifying cognition. A more abstract visual language could better shift the focus from competition to internal thinking processes.
The mirrored composition risks reading as two opposing players rather than a single internal process, while symmetry and literal chess elements reduce tension and abstraction. As a result, the imagery emphasizes confrontation over the evolving nature of thought.
Although more abstract, the imagery still leans toward recognizable chess forms and visual density, suggesting a need to further clarify cognition as a dynamic process rather than a contained object.
I intentionally kept a limited amount of chess imagery to act as cognitive anchors. Rather than removing the symbolism entirely, I reduced and reframed it so the focus shifts from the game itself to the mental process behind decision-making.