Doing a test for WotC (Wizards of the Coast) I was tasked with doing a few props. A bear trap made by the Kobolds, a crystal, and a magic staff used by the head of a draconic cult.
The kobold trap was designed with the intention of looking well engineered and dangerous, while also looking like it was created using scrapped parts and whatever sharp and crude materials they could find. I tried to achieve this by giving most of the metal visible rust and wear, the spikes aren't welded on but instead are sword and dagger blades that are nailed onto the main trap apparatus. The wood planks are cracked and look like unrefined lumber scraps.
The crystal wasn't given much of a description so i started with some general exploration and research into crystal clusters. I decided to make the rocky stand the crystals burst out of the more interesting part of the prop, framing and pointing to the crystal clusters using three differently sized spires.
The staff had a very specific description. The staff was going to be used by a large beast man as if it was a mace but later on in the campaign it would be revealed to be a staff. This meant that the staff needed to be a bit more bulky and top heavy than most staffs, while still being believable as a staff. The cult who uses it for its intended purpose is a draconic undead cult. The staff was given a blood red crystal as a power source with muted browns and purples to make it feel more sinister. The dragons skull and jaw are affixed the the top, casing the crystal inside it while still being able to be seen from all angles. The crack on the top of the head is meant to imply how the dragon was originally slain as well as a place to see the crystal from the front.