LOK Grips Taurus GX4 Backstrap

Working with LOK Grips has been both a privilege and an absolute blast. I’m super excited to show off our first product.
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The goal was simple: to create an aftermarket backstrap for the Taurus GX4. Nothing crazy, just an OEM style back piece that blends in nicely with the rest of the pistol.
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For a task like this, the first thing I do is to collect reference images and doing research on what’s already available through competitors. 
After that I like going through the other products of (in this case) Taurus and take note of any patterns or recurring design elements I find. 
The next step is to analyze the base product. First I follow and extend the existing lines, curves and angles to get a feeling for the general direction and the design language. Second, I highlight the defining shapes and forms in search of patterns or things that really shape the design.
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I made four designs. For #1 I started by following the lines of the bottom of the grip and used perpendicular lines on the top of the back strap. #2’s cuts mirror the four serration cuts on the front of the slide while following the downward angle of the grip. #3 is a continuation of lines both close to the backstrap and further away like from the front of the grip.
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Number four was the winner here. Through my analysis it showed that the defining element of the GX4 is the triangular shape coming from the trigger guard and extending onto the grip. Using those tangent lines I created three triangular cuts on the backstrap which I lined up with existing lines of the grip.
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After approval I edited the provided 3D model to match the chosen design using Shapr3D and then do a paint over in Procreate to get a 3/4th rear view.
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LOK Grips then machined and tested it before releasing it on their website. I think it’s amazing how fast the whole process went and it’s so fulfilling to see my work come to life like that.