Topic 3: Shapes
Much of the form and structure that goes into the
design and layout of visual designs comes from a series
of shapes. Contemporary designers tend to be very
guided in their work by the use of shape and shape
forms.
Shape describes the external outline of a form and the
three main shapes that are found across all forms of
design are the circle, triangle and rectangle. Whilst
many other shape forms exist, these can all be
generated by manipulations of these basic shapes.
that repeat;
• Octagons, the shape of the stop sign;
• Stars, attention seeking and visually attractive
images.
related concepts
Shapes are usually produced through the use of lines
which act to enclose a space. However shapes can be
often be made visible without lines. Consider how an
artist creates a shape for a painting and how
photographs assume shapes without lines.
Fig 3.2 Diagram demonstrating use of geometric
shapes to demonstrate relationships
Fig 3.1 Tangrams
A traditional activity comprising simple shapes used to
create a raft of image forms
Some ways that shapes are used in design activities
include:
• to organize, connect, separate
• to symbolise concepts and ideas;
• to suggest motion and to create movement
• to depict texture or depth
• to convey a mood or emotion
• to emphasise some aspect of a image;
• to create a map to demonstrate a model or
framework
b. Natural Shapes
Designers often use natural shapes to constrain
elements of their graphics. For example a doorway or
a window. Natural shapes can add interest and suggest
a theme. In many cases, in place of a square or a
rectangle, designers will use natural constraints in
creative ways, for example, the branches of a tree, a
ribbon or a bow. Often such a shape will add to the
ambience of the image.
There are several forms of shapes that graphics
designers and visual designers can work with.
a. Geometric Shapes
In addition to the basic square, circle, and triangle
discussed so far, other geometric shapes have specific
meanings, some culturally-based. Well known shapes
include:
• hexagons, which are often used for tiles and shapes
Topic 3: Shapes
Fig 3.3: A shape created by natural elements
1
c. abstract Shapes
There are many shapes in use today which are used to
represent concepts and abstractions in a visual form.
Such shapes tend to transcend cultures and language
and are often used in places like airports and public
buildings where signage is important. Some of the
more common abstract shapes include exits, stairs,
emergency facilities, male and female facilities,
telephones, restrooms etc.
More and more we see abstract and stylized shapes
used for operating instructions. Cameras, computers,
video machines etc. all use icons and graphics of
varying forms to assist in the operation. The icons that
are used tend to have quite universal understanding.
Fig 3.4: Universal shapes used for controls on media
devices.
3. 1 The square
While circles, squares, and triangles are the three basic
shapes used in graphics design, the most familiar shape
to is the square and its stretched form, the rectangle.
Almost all the media we use to present imagery, for
example, billboards, books, magazines and screens, are
rectangular in shape and suit the square as a building
block for visual design.
If you look at the way this page is presented, you see
rectangular and square shapes everywhere. Whilst it
would be easy to add some triangles and circles for
particular purposes, in terms of layout and
presentation, the rectangle is a guiding force.
The square is said to depict such attributes as honesty
and stability. Squares are familiar shapes, and their use
comes naturally. The vast majority of the text we read,
and the vast majority of the images the text contains, is
set in square and rectangular forms of the page and
screen. When designing a page, it is very secure and
safe to use a standard rectangular layout.
Squares and rectangles are probably the most common
geometric shapes we encounter. A few books,
Topic 3: Shapes
especially those for kids, may be cut in irregular shapes
but adult (i.e. 'serious') correspondence comes in
squares -- both the physical shape of the books,
magazines, newspapers, and the rectangular columns of
set text.
Some of the ways designers use squares and rectangles
in their work include:
• The design of letterheads;
• The layout of pages;
• The shape of photographs and images;
• To highlight portions of text through use of boxes
and rectangles;
• To demonstrate patterns in data and information;
Fig 3.5 Rectangles
Rectangles and squares are natural forms used in most
instances of desk top publishing.
The layout and design of text and images uses
rectangles and squares in significant ways since the
page often uses a grid for its layout and the grid
represents these forms of rectangular shape.
Rectangles are common shapes used in the design of
letterheads and business cards. These forms of
stationery use this shape as a principal element.
Graphics Design Team
Fig 3.6 Business Card
Rectangles and squares are basic elements that
influence the design of business cards.
2
b. circles
c. triangles
Circles are a very common element of design. Their
curved lines suggest infinity suggest infinity and the
encompassing form of the graphic also suggests a form
of security and safety. Since a circle is one of the most
symmetric shapes around, circles are also used to
suggest forms of balance and regularity.
Triangles are very common graphical elements. They
are widely used with the other graphic forms and
typically convey the suggestion of action. They can be
used in contrast with circles to portray impressions of
contrast and dynamism. Triangles can take many
shapes and are often used to point or convey direction.
Circles are less common in layout and design that
squares and rectangles so they represent useful
elements for attracting attention and highlighting.
Triangles ca be formed to create a variety of shapes
and are used as bullets as well as images in their own
right.
Ways in which circles are used in graphic design
include:
• as symbols for such effects as security, harmony,
unity;
• to demonstrate and highlight patterns in images;
• in diagrams and schema to show relationships; and
• as design elements in their own right.
Fig 3.9 Triangles showing direction
Triangles show direction and suggest action in a
diagram/graphic.
Triangles are suggestive of many different shapes and
ideas. They are used in such shapes as stars, pyramids,
flags, arrows and pennants.
Fig 3.7 Page layout and wrapping
Circles can be used to create visually appealing layouts
for page and screen design.
Many logos and graphics used circles in their design.
Circles provide the means to portray a number of
features and to create impressions with the visual
elements. All drawing tools provide many options for
drawing and displaying circles and circular forms for
graphics design.
Fig 3.8 Circles as a graphical element
A graphic showing several forms for circles.
Topic 3: Shapes
Triangles are often used in images for such purposes
as:
• to demonstrate constituency eg. the wedge of a pie
graph;
• to highlight related elements through use of bullets
and pointers;
• in stars and similar shapes to create a strong visual
image;
• to stylize text and writing in logos and graphics;
Fig 3.10 Triangles in graphics
Triangles use in graphics and images.
3
3.2 Shapes and space
Shapes can be displayed in many forms in graphics and
images and often through creative design strategies, the
shape is created in unusual and innovative ways. One
strategy that is often used in the development of shapes
is through the use of negative space.
influence how people from different cultures and
backgrounds will respond to images and graphics
developed from a Western standpoint.
In an image, most shapes are created through a process
of drawing an image on top of a background. When an
image is created in this way, the image is said to be an
example of positive space, and the background
representative of negative space. The background is
where there is no shape, even though it may have been
drawn in the form of a shape. Often creative designers
create images using negative space. The image uses
the background effect and makes use of the imagery
conveyed through aspects of the background as well as
the foreground. The are many ways to use negative
space to create powerful and appealing images.
Fig 3.12 Chinese architecture
Chinese architecture showing the distinctive forms of
the columns and roofing.
Fig 3.11 Shapes created with negative space
This image uses shapes created with negative space.
3.3 Cultural influences
Across different cultures and ages, the use of shapes
and forms in visual designs varies. It is important to
recognize these differences because even in a Western
country like Australia, there are many variations in
people’s backgrounds and ethnicities which will
influence how they perceive and understand what is
being displayed.
The use of shapes in images and diagrams is all about
conveying messages and meaning. But different shapes
can mean different things to people depending on their
backgrounds and cultures. The samples and images
shown in this set of notes have been written from the
viewpoint of Western culture and an Australian
context. They will apply generally to other Western
cultures as would be found in Europe and the USA.
But would they apply in other cultures, for example,
Middle Eastern, Asian?
When one examines art and architecture from such
cultures, there are often distinct differences to Western
forms and this suggests that there will be strong
cultural differences in visual design forms and
principles between these cultures and our own.
It would be impossible to try to distinguish the
principles of visual design including the use of shapes
and space and to indicate how these vary across
cultures in such a brief treatise as this set of notes
represents. It is important to recognize there are
cultural differences and to be aware that these will
Topic 3: Shapes
Fig 3.13 St Basil’s Cathedral, Moscow
A view of a famous cathedral in Moscow revealing
distinctive shapes and forms.
4
Links of Interest
Topic 3: Revision Questions
When working with layout, it is essential to focus on
balance and the shape of the unused space. This
website explores how every element on the page
effects how other elements on the page are perceived
by exploring structuring and balance of whitespace.
http://www.siggraph.org/education/materials/graphics_
design/mitchell_S96/chap1_3.htm
1. Describe the basic shapes that form the building
blocks of visual images.
Explores how creating shapes through symbolising,
colour, images etc, you can attract attention and
communicate new ideas to your audience.
http://www.cis.rit.edu/htbooks/dtp/elements/shape.html
4. Describe how triangles can be used in graphics.
What expressions and forms can triangles be used
to convey?
A brief introduction on the principles of balance,
rhythm, unity and harmony, that a designer should
consider. This website mainly focuses on sign design
and layout
http://www.signweb.com/design/cont/signlayout.html
2. Describe how rectangles are used in graphics and
page layouts.
3. Describe how circles and curves are used in
graphics and page layouts.
5 Give some examples of where triangles, squares and
circles occur naturally, What impressions, feelings
etc. do these naturally occurring examples
engender?
6. List and describe instances where shapes other than
triangles, rectangles and squares are used in images
and graphics.
7. What is negative space? In what instances can
negative space be used in the design of images?
8. What shapes do you think are most prominent in
Western culture as conveyances of expression?
9. Describe shapes that are prominent the visual
imagery of other cultures.
10. In your previous design experience, eg. page
design, images and graphics used in assignments
etc. what shapes have you mostly used? What has
influenced your choice of these shapes?
Topic 3: Shapes
5