D’source 1
Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in
Design Course
Elements of Form
Exploration of 2D and 3D forms
by
Mr. Ravishankar and Mr. Nilesh S. Misal
NID Campus, Bengaluru
Source:
http://www.dsource.in/course/elements-form
1. Introduction
2. Elements of Form - I
3. Elements of Form - II
4. Elements of Form - III
5. Contact Details
D’source 2
Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in
Design Course
Introduction
Elements of Form
Exploration of 2D and 3D forms We live in the world of forms and shapes, and all the creatures in the universe is filled with infinite number of
by forms and shapes in natural and man-made objects. Forms and shapes always refer to visual appearance and
Mr. Ravishankar and Mr. Nilesh S. Misal they are categorized into basic shapes named geometric and organic. Generally man produces geometric shapes
NID Campus, Bengaluru whereas nature has wide range of geometric and diversified free -flowing organic shapes which are precise and
irregular contours or edges with a feeling of growth and movement.
Humans can use senses to the fullest and can readily assess most of the things he perceives. A bagful of popcorn
during the movie touches on these five senses for enjoyment, sight/vision and smell probably induce to buy look-
ing at first, touching becomes the delivery system from package to mouth, tasting is obvious reward and sound is
the by-product of crunching the popcorn. [1] Most of the time our opinion about visual encounters are made with
Source: a primary emphasis on sight, looking at the above shapes and forms may give us innumerable clues to the na-
http://www.dsource.in/course/elements-form/intro-
ture of the object, how it functions, how its surface would feel, what it would taste like if edible, and how pleasing
duction
it is to look at. Incisive looking sharpens our experience and heightens our visual pleasure.
1. Introduction
2. Elements of Form - I
3. Elements of Form - II
4. Elements of Form - III
5. Contact Details
D’source 3
Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in
Design Course Form/ Shape:
Elements of Form Form is the point of contact between mass and space. [2] An element of form is a method of communicating the
outer form through a product which invites to use. It emphasizes on the outer shape/form of the product which
Exploration of 2D and 3D forms communicates to the user. Elements-of-form is a cognitive exercise which needs to understand the various as-
by pects of extracting the elements like form/shape, line and texture. This process happens in the form of 2 dimen-
Mr. Ravishankar and Mr. Nilesh S. Misal sional (2D) and 3 dimensional (3D).
NID Campus, Bengaluru
The form/ shape is an important aspect for any visual appealing product. A good designed product will always
have good outer shape with unique form however it depends on the designer and the product, for a products like
consumer electronics the outer form may not have a good shape except the manipulation of radius in the cor-
ners, but an appropriate combination of elements, size and radius makes it a good form.
Source: Generally outer form/ shape applies to consumer products and can be classified in to form oriented and function
http://www.dsource.in/course/elements-form/intro- oriented, function oriented products may not have a good outer shape/form however an effort is always made to
duction create an appropriate form.
To understand better, a shape is defined as an area that stands out from the space next to or around it due to a
defined or implied boundary where as a form is any three dimensional object. Form can be measured, from top to
1. Introduction bottom (height), side to side (width), and from front to back (depth). [3]
2. Elements of Form - I
3. Elements of Form - II Primary elements of form are the point, the line, the plane and the volume.
4. Elements of Form - III
5. Contact Details
The Point indicates a position in space.
A point extended becomes a Line with (1-D) properties of length, direction,
position.
D’source 4
Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in
Design Course
Elements of Form
Exploration of 2D and 3D forms
by
Mr. Ravishankar and Mr. Nilesh S. Misal
NID Campus, Bengaluru
A line extended becomes a Plane with (2-D) properties of length and width,
shape surface,orientation, position.
Source:
http://www.dsource.in/course/elements-form/intro-
duction
1. Introduction
2. Elements of Form - I
3. Elements of Form - II
4. Elements of Form - III
5. Contact Details
A plane extended becomes a Volume with (3-D) properties of length width
and depth form and space surface, orientation, position.
This is a fundamental course for individuals creative growth happens in 3 stages which helps to develop sensi-
tivity and coordination between mind and hand which ignites the imagination. This comprehensive course is
structured for two disciplines Design for Retail Experience (DRE) and Design for Digital Experience (DDE) taught
by two experienced faculties. Students from DRE are taught about basic elements of surfaces and understanding
space where as students from DDE taught about understanding and developing forms about consumer products.
D’source 5
Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in
Design Course Aim of the course:
Elements of Form Aim of the course is to introduce the students to explore and understand the basic elements like line, shape, form
and texture and to work on creating new forms using elements in 2dimension (2D) and 3dimension (3D). Further
Exploration of 2D and 3D forms leads to form abstractions through nature inspiration in 3D. Studio assignments help students to gain hand-on
by experience to develop forms.
Mr. Ravishankar and Mr. Nilesh S. Misal
NID Campus, Bengaluru The course exploration in 3 stages:
• Elements of Form I
• Elements of Form II
• Elements of Form III
The course has diversified in stage II and III for respective disciplines with hands on exercise.
Source: The duration of course is 2 to 3 weeks and the assignment is an individual work.
http://www.dsource.in/course/elements-form/intro-
duction Bibliography:
[1] PORTER ALBERT (1974) Elements of Design SHAPE AND FORM.
Davis Publications, INC. Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
1. Introduction [2] CHING FRANCIS (2007) ARCHITECTURE Form, Space, and Order,
2. Elements of Form - I Third Edition, Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey, U. S. A.
3. Elements of Form - II
4. Elements of Form - III [3] URL: CINDY KOVALIK, Ph.D. and Peggy King, M.Ed. Visual Literacy.
5. Contact Details
D’source 6
Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in
Design Course
Elements of Form - I
Elements of Form
Exploration of 2D and 3D forms First stage of Elements-of-Form pertains to extraction of elements like line, shape, texture to create a unique
by form/shape in 2 dimensional forms using Gestalt principles and manipulation of characters like radius.
Mr. Ravishankar and Mr. Nilesh S. Misal
NID Campus, Bengaluru The skills and techniques provided to the students are as follows:
• Practice and training of the visual system (eye) to see and observe things in detail and reproduce and external-
ize the image through dreaming.
• Through different dreaming tasks students are taught the physical aspects of learning to draw for the purpose
of designing.
In this stage students also develop a sense of geometry like:
Source: • Simple geometric forms, seeing the inner geometry of forms, sense of perspective.
http://www.dsource.in/course/elements-form/ele-
• Dreaming of objects, structures, spaces, natural forms and environment and visual analysis of objects.
ments-form-i
Methodology:
With the help of 2D drawings, students would work on abstractions, composition and manipulation of elements
1. Introduction to create new forms.
2. Elements of Form - I
Class Assignment:
3. Elements of Form - II
• To develop to 2D from the forms by selecting any shapes.
4. Elements of Form - III • To develop further into a useful 2D shapes by manipulating and transforming the external shapes.
5. Contact Details • To explore more 2D shapes.
D’source 7
Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in
Design Course
Elements of Form
Exploration of 2D and 3D forms
by
Mr. Ravishankar and Mr. Nilesh S. Misal
NID Campus, Bengaluru
Source:
http://www.dsource.in/course/elements-form/ele-
ments-form-i
1. Introduction
2. Elements of Form - I
3. Elements of Form - II
4. Elements of Form - III
5. Contact Details
D’source 8
Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in
Design Course
Elements of Form
Exploration of 2D and 3D forms
by
Mr. Ravishankar and Mr. Nilesh S. Misal
NID Campus, Bengaluru
Source:
http://www.dsource.in/course/elements-form/ele-
ments-form-i
1. Introduction
2. Elements of Form - I
3. Elements of Form - II
4. Elements of Form - III
5. Contact Details
D’source 9
Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in
Design Course
Elements of Form
Exploration of 2D and 3D forms
by
Mr. Ravishankar and Mr. Nilesh S. Misal
NID Campus, Bengaluru
Source:
http://www.dsource.in/course/elements-form/ele-
ments-form-i
1. Introduction
2. Elements of Form - I
3. Elements of Form - II
4. Elements of Form - III
5. Contact Details
D’source 10
Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in
Design Course
Elements of Form - II
Elements of Form
Exploration of 2D and 3D forms Extraction of forms/ shapes using elements line, shape, texture to create a unique form/ shape in 3dimensional
by forms. In this stage transformation from 2D to 3D forms are created to perform certain tasks like Pick and Speak/
Mr. Ravishankar and Mr. Nilesh S. Misal Pick and pour/ pick and play/ pick and hear etc. keeping user in mind. Transformation of form between 2 geomet-
NID Campus, Bengaluru ric shapes also part of this stage.
Methodology:
2D drawings further developed to 3D based on previous stage to get innovative 3D forms. The process involves
much iteration for better outcome. Design for Retail Experience (DRE) students would work in the direction of
developing surfaces and 3D forms whereas Design for Digital Experience (DDE) students work in the direction of
developing forms pertaining to consumer products
Source:
Class Assignment DRE students:
http://www.dsource.in/course/elements-form/ele-
• To develop to 3D from the forms developed in previous stage.
ments-form-ii
• To develop further into a useful 3D forms and surfaces considering retail space, scenarios on shopping malls.
• To develop 3D surfaces using a cardboard, thread and nails (as shown in images).
• To develop the final form using Thermocol and Plaster of Paris (POP) material with the help of studio tools like
1. Introduction file and emery paper.
2. Elements of Form - I Class Assignment DDE students:
3. Elements of Form - II • To develop to 3D from the forms developed in previous stage.
4. Elements of Form - III • To develop further into a useful 3D forms and surfaces with an expression of pick and talk, pick and pour, pick
5. Contact Details and play etc. considering the human interaction.
• To develop the final form using Thermocol and material with the help of studio tools like file and emery paper.
D’source 11
Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in
Design Course
Elements of Form
Exploration of 2D and 3D forms
by
Mr. Ravishankar and Mr. Nilesh S. Misal
NID Campus, Bengaluru
Source:
http://www.dsource.in/course/elements-form/ele-
ments-form-ii
1. Introduction
2. Elements of Form - I
3. Elements of Form - II
4. Elements of Form - III
5. Contact Details
D’source 12
Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in
Design Course
Elements of Form
Exploration of 2D and 3D forms
by
Mr. Ravishankar and Mr. Nilesh S. Misal
NID Campus, Bengaluru
Source:
http://www.dsource.in/course/elements-form/ele-
ments-form-ii
1. Introduction
2. Elements of Form - I
3. Elements of Form - II
4. Elements of Form - III
5. Contact Details
D’source 13
Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in
Design Course
Elements of Form
Exploration of 2D and 3D forms
by
Mr. Ravishankar and Mr. Nilesh S. Misal
NID Campus, Bengaluru
Source:
http://www.dsource.in/course/elements-form/ele-
ments-form-ii
1. Introduction
2. Elements of Form - I
3. Elements of Form - II
4. Elements of Form - III
5. Contact Details
D’source 14
Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in
Design Course
Elements of Form
Exploration of 2D and 3D forms
by
Mr. Ravishankar and Mr. Nilesh S. Misal
NID Campus, Bengaluru
Source:
http://www.dsource.in/course/elements-form/ele-
ments-form-ii
1. Introduction
2. Elements of Form - I
3. Elements of Form - II
4. Elements of Form - III
5. Contact Details
D’source 15
Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in
Design Course
Elements of Form
Exploration of 2D and 3D forms
by
Mr. Ravishankar and Mr. Nilesh S. Misal
NID Campus, Bengaluru
Source:
http://www.dsource.in/course/elements-form/ele-
ments-form-ii
1. Introduction
2. Elements of Form - I
3. Elements of Form - II
4. Elements of Form - III
5. Contact Details
D’source 16
Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in
Design Course
Elements of Form - III
Elements of Form
Exploration of 2D and 3D forms Extraction of forms/shapes from nature inspiration, students individually select any 3 types from nature may be
by an animal, a tree and an insect, which inspires. The selection from nature depends on the type of product. This
Mr. Ravishankar and Mr. Nilesh S. Misal stage is a continuation from 2D and 3D where a useful 3D form is created.
NID Campus, Bengaluru
Methodology:
The inspiration is drawn from nature by selecting a bird, insect or a tree something that inspires to explore differ-
ent forms. Based on the application of form the transformation of selected from nature is manipulated.
Class Assignment:
• To select any 3 types from nature may be an animal, a tree or an insect, which inspires.
Source: • To get inspired of form selected from nature, to develop different forms by manipulating, transforming the
http://www.dsource.in/course/elements-form/ele-
external shape from 2D to 3D.
ments-form-iii
• To develop further into a useful 3D forms and surfaces.
• To develop the final form using thermocol material with the help of studio tools like file and emery paper.
1. Introduction
2. Elements of Form - I
3. Elements of Form - II
4. Elements of Form - III
5. Contact Details
D’source 17
Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in
Design Course
Elements of Form
Exploration of 2D and 3D forms
by
Mr. Ravishankar and Mr. Nilesh S. Misal
NID Campus, Bengaluru
Source:
http://www.dsource.in/course/elements-form/ele-
ments-form-iii
1. Introduction
2. Elements of Form - I
3. Elements of Form - II
4. Elements of Form - III
5. Contact Details
D’source 18
Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in
Design Course
Elements of Form
Exploration of 2D and 3D forms
by
Mr. Ravishankar and Mr. Nilesh S. Misal
NID Campus, Bengaluru
Source:
http://www.dsource.in/course/elements-form/ele-
ments-form-iii
1. Introduction
2. Elements of Form - I
3. Elements of Form - II
4. Elements of Form - III
5. Contact Details
D’source 19
Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in
Design Course
Elements of Form
Exploration of 2D and 3D forms
by
Mr. Ravishankar and Mr. Nilesh S. Misal
NID Campus, Bengaluru
Source:
http://www.dsource.in/course/elements-form/ele-
ments-form-iii
1. Introduction
2. Elements of Form - I
3. Elements of Form - II
4. Elements of Form - III
5. Contact Details
D’source 20
Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in
Design Course
Elements of Form
Exploration of 2D and 3D forms
by
Mr. Ravishankar and Mr. Nilesh S. Misal
NID Campus, Bengaluru
Source:
http://www.dsource.in/course/elements-form/ele-
ments-form-iii
1. Introduction
2. Elements of Form - I
3. Elements of Form - II
4. Elements of Form - III
5. Contact Details
D’source 21
Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in
Design Course
Elements of Form
Exploration of 2D and 3D forms
by
Mr. Ravishankar and Mr. Nilesh S. Misal
NID Campus, Bengaluru
Source:
http://www.dsource.in/course/elements-form/ele-
ments-form-iii
1. Introduction
2. Elements of Form - I
3. Elements of Form - II
4. Elements of Form - III
5. Contact Details
D’source 22
Digital Learning Environment for Design - www.dsource.in
Design Course Contact Details
Elements of Form
Exploration of 2D and 3D forms This documentation for the course was done by
by Mr. Ravishankar and Mr. Nilesh S. Misal at
Mr. Ravishankar and Mr. Nilesh S. Misal NID Campus, Bengaluru.
NID Campus, Bengaluru
You can get in touch with
Mr. Ravi Shankar at ravi_s[at]nid.edu
and
Mr. Nilesh S. Misal at nileshmsl[at]gmail.com
You could write to the following address regarding
Source: suggestions and clarifications:
http://www.dsource.in/course/elements-form/con-
tact-details Helpdesk Details:
Co-ordinator
Project e-kalpa
1. Introduction R & D Campus
2. Elements of Form - I National Institute of Design
#12 HMT Link Road, Off Tumkur Road
3. Elements of Form - II Bengaluru 560 022
4. Elements of Form - III India
5. Contact Details
Phone: +91 80 2357 9054
Fax: +91 80 23373086
Email: dsource.in[at]gmail.com
