Shapesaretwo-dimensionalareaswitharecognizableboundary.Theycanbeopenorclosed,angularorround,bigorsmall.Shapescanbeorganicorinorganic.Theycanbefree-formorgeometricandordered.
Shapescanbedefinedbytheircolororbythecombinationoflinesthatmakeuptheiredges.Simpleshapescanbecombinedtoformcomplexshapes.Complexshapescanbeabstractedtomakesimpleshapes.
Thedifferentcharacteristicsofashapeconveydifferentmoodsandmeanings.Changingthecharacteristicsofashapealterhowweperceivethatshapeandmakeusfeeldifferentlyaboutadesign.Shapesareapowerfulwaytocommunicate.
Designersuseshapesto:
Circleshavefreemovement.Theycanroll.Shadingandlinescanenhancethissenseofmovementincircles.Circlesaregraceful.Theyarewarm,comfortingandofferasenseofsensualityandlove.Theirmovementsuggestsenergyandpower.Theircompletenesssuggeststheinfinite,unity,andharmony.
Becausetheyarelesscommonindesigntheyworkwelltoattractattention,provideemphasis,andsetthingsapart.
InBuddhistsymbolismasquare(earthbound)insideacircle(eternalwhole)representstherelationshipbetweenthehumanandthedivine.
Trianglescandirectmovementbasedonwhichwaytheypoint.Theycanbeusedtosuggestfamiliarthemeslikepyramids,arrows,andpennants.Spiritually,theyrepresentthereligioustrinity.Theycanalsosuggestself-discoveryandrevelation.
Whendesigningalogo,thedynamicnatureoftrianglesmakethembettersuitedtoagrowinghightechcompanythanastablefinancialinstitution.Trianglescanbeusedtoconveyprogression,direction,andpurpose.
Spiralsareexpressionsofcreativity.Theyareoftenfoundinthenaturalgrowthpatternofmanyorganismsandconveyfeelingsassociatedwiththeprocessofgrowthandevolution.Spiralsconveyideasoffertility,birth,death,expansion,andtransformation.Theyarecyclesoftime,life,andtheseasons,andareacommonshapeinreligiousandmysticalsymbolism.
Clockwisespiralsrepresenttheprojectionofanintentionandcounterclockwisespiralsrepresentthefulfillmentofanintention.Doublespiralscanbeusedtosymbolizeopposingforces.
Crossessymbolizespiritualityandhealing.Theyareseenasthemeetingplaceofdivineenergies.Thefourpointsofacrossrepresentself,nature,wisdom,andahigherpowerorbeing.Crossessuggesttransition,balance,faith,unity,temperance,hope,andlife.
Theyrepresentrelationshipsandsynthesisandaneedforconnectiontosomething,whetherthatsomethingisagroup,anindividual,ortheself.
Aswithlines,verticalshapesareseenasstrongandhorizontalshapesareseenaspeaceful.Mosteverythingsaidaboutverticalandhorizontallinescanbealsosaidaboutverticalandhorizontalshapes.
Curvedshapesofferrhythmandmovement,happiness,pleasure,andgenerosity.Theyareseenassofterthansharpershapes,whichofferenergy,violence,andanger.Sharpshapestendtobeviewedasbeingmorelivelyandyouthful.
Shapescanbeusedtoconveydepthbyvaryingtheirsizeandpositionwithinadesign.Largershapeswillappearclosertotheviewerandsmallershapeswillappearfurtheraway.Shapesthatarelocatedlowerinadesignwillalsoappeartobecloser,andthosehigherupwillappeartobefurtheraway.Overlappingshapesisanotherwaytocreateasenseof“oneinfrontoftheother”andcanadddepthtoyourdesign.
Shapesthatleantowardaprotagonistappeartobeblockingorstoppingprogress.Shapesleaningawayfromtheprotagonistgivetheimpressionofaidingprogressbyopeningupspace.
Thereareaninfinitevarietyofshapesandshapecombinations.Mostoftheshapesyouuseandencounterwilllikelybegeometricso,whereappropriate,trytoworkinorganicshapesthatwillstandoutandcreateinterest.
Lookaroundandobserveshapesindesignsandnatureandthinkaboutwhatthey’resayingtoyou,whattheymakeyoufeel,andwhatthey’recommunicating.Dotheyenhanceorhinderthemessageofthedesignsyouencounter
Keeppenandpaperhandyandscribbleanddoodlevariousshapes.Noticetheshapesyoudraw,howtheyaffectyou,andhowyoucanusetheminyourdesigns.
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