Resources for Form & Space Course

[Ajdari]

Dear List members

We have in Iran a bachelor course for Industrial Design Students named  
under title "Form & Space" , maybe equal to form studies in other  
countries , where students learn how to deal with form and it's  
relation to space. The key items
for study are :

a. Structure of Form
b. Shaping and Formation of Form based on Specific Function
c. Internal and External Functional Relation.
d. Spatial Relation of Form in Stability and in Motion
e. Analysis of Forms of a Whole Set ( with each other and in relation  
to their surrounding space whether natural or artificial)

Could you please introduce some resources which could support these key items?

To open the discussion, I remember when I was in Delft I could  
recognize two groups working simultaneously on Form Studies: One group  
based on perception of form based on Affordance Theory, which was  
originated by Gerda Smets and the other trying to translate the term  
space as context and even linguistic Context
,in comparison to the term space as we described before.

In Italy , I mean Politecnico di Milano , I can find that two  
publications which are somehow related , one is old and the other newer.

Arnaboldi , Mario & Enrico Garbagnati (1971): Genesi della Forma.  
Padova: 1971.

Hachen, Massimo (2007): Scienza della visione : spazio e Gestalt,  
design e comunicazione . Milano: Apogeo.

Unfortunately both of them are in Italian. While the former could  
cover some key items, the latter is nearer to a Design course which we  
call, Foundations of Figurative Arts, more related to elements and  
principles of mostly 2D forms perception based on Gestalt Principles.


Sorry for long post, I wish I could open up a fruitful discussion. If  
needed , I would be happy to share my own experiences about these items.


Best wishes
Alireza Ajdari

--
Alireza Ajdari, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor in Industrial Design,
Department of Industrial Design,
University of Tehran ,Iran.
Cell : [phone]
Tel :  [phone]

[sukantamajumdar]

Dear Alireza,

It is interesting. There is a request, is it possible to see more in detail about
a. Structure of Form?
b. Shaping and Formation of Form based on Specific Function?
c. Internal and External Functional Relation.?
d. Spatial Relation of Form in Stability and in Motion?
e. Analysis of Forms of a Whole Set ( with each other and in relation to their surrounding space whether natural or artificial)?

If you kindly share your experience, it will be better.

Thanks,

Sukanta
India

[Ajdari]

Quoting sukantamajumdar@...:

Dear Sukanta

These key items are what has been introduced as the syllabus for the  
course Form and Space in our booklet of Design course description,  
which had been composed in 1994. Teachers are expected to design their  
lecture or exercises based on the items introduced in Booklet.  
Unfortunately I don't have any access to the authors of these courses  
so I can't give you more explanations.


The reason I opened up this discussion was that maybe there are some  
researchers worldwide who could be reminded of some activities or  
resources  regarding what they see by these Items. Mostly these Items  
would be listed under title Form Studies, I think. I can imagine there  
were some form studies courses in Ulm School of Design. And also there  
are now valuable resources for Study of Form from Semantic point of  
View  such as these resources :

Ian Brown , Christopher (1999): Product Semantics, the style of  
Information age ?. Doctoral Dissertation, Nottingham Trent University.

Krippendorff,Klaus( 2006) : the Semantic Turn, a new foundation for  
Design. New York , Taylor & Francis Group.

However I was wondering if there are some more specific resources  
regarding these topics. Maybe members who have some background in  
architecture could also inspire us with how they study form and the  
methods.


Bests
Alireza

--
Alireza Ajdari, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor in Industrial Design,
Department of Industrial Design,
University of Tehran ,Iran.
Cell : [phone]
Tel :  [phone]

> Dear Alireza,
>
> It is interesting. There is a request, is it possible to see more in  
>  detail about
> a. Structure of Form?
> b. Shaping and Formation of Form based on Specific Function?
> c. Internal and External Functional Relation.?
> d. Spatial Relation of Form in Stability and in Motion?
> e. Analysis of Forms of a Whole Set ( with each other and in  
> relation to their surrounding space whether natural or artificial)?
>
> If you kindly share your experience, it will be better.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Sukanta
> India
>

[ranjit menon]

Hi Alireza,

Though I am not from industrial design myself, I hope there is some
relevance to your query in the following resource:

"Notes on the Synthesis of Form by Christopher Alexander"

He has written several books, but another resource close to form could be "A
pattern language"


I think the books are pattern and architecture based but with far reaching
implications in diverse design contexts.

Also I remember, Konstfack University in Sweden, having a master's programme
in "Formgiving Intelligence". Perhaps it might help to get in touch with
their department, I know some of faculty there to be really helpful!

Hope that helps in some way! :)

cheers!







http://www.konstfack.se/konstfack/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=10&t=1&l=en

On Fri, Jul 3, 2009 at 10:44 AM, Alireza Ajdari <alireza.ajdari@...>wrote:

> Quoting sukantamajumdar@...:
>
> Dear Sukanta
>
> These key items are what has been introduced as the syllabus for the course
> Form and Space in our booklet of Design course description, which had been
> composed in 1994. Teachers are expected to design their lecture or exercises
> based on the items introduced in Booklet. Unfortunately I don't have any
> access to the authors of these courses so I can't give you more
> explanations.
>
>
> The reason I opened up this discussion was that maybe there are some
> researchers worldwide who could be reminded of some activities or resources
>  regarding what they see by these Items. Mostly these Items would be listed
> under title Form Studies, I think. I can imagine there were some form
> studies courses in Ulm School of Design. And also there are now valuable
> resources for Study of Form from Semantic point of View  such as these
> resources :
>
> Ian Brown , Christopher (1999): Product Semantics, the style of Information
> age ?. Doctoral Dissertation, Nottingham Trent University.
>
> Krippendorff,Klaus( 2006) : the Semantic Turn, a new foundation for Design.
> New York , Taylor & Francis Group.
>
> However I was wondering if there are some more specific resources regarding
> these topics. Maybe members who have some background in architecture could
> also inspire us with how they study form and the methods.
>
>
> Bests
> Alireza
>
> --
> Alireza Ajdari, Ph.D.
> Assistant Professor in Industrial Design,
> Department of Industrial Design,
> University of Tehran ,Iran.
> Cell : [phone]
> Tel :  [phone]
>
>
>  Dear Alireza,
>>
>> It is interesting. There is a request, is it possible to see more in
>>  detail about
>> a. Structure of Form?
>> b. Shaping and Formation of Form based on Specific Function?
>> c. Internal and External Functional Relation.?
>> d. Spatial Relation of Form in Stability and in Motion?
>> e. Analysis of Forms of a Whole Set ( with each other and in  relation to
>> their surrounding space whether natural or artificial)?
>>
>> If you kindly share your experience, it will be better.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Sukanta
>> India
>>
>>

--
Ranjit Menon
New Media
National Institute of Design
India

[Jose Luis Casamayor]

Hi Alireza,

 

There is one publication (book) about form based on a PhD thesis, titled: Form & formlessness by Cheryl akner-koler, 2007. I must admit i have not read it yet, so i cannot give you an opinion about the quality of the content but it could of interest to you. In addition to Klaus Krippendorf, you can also search for publications of Reinhart Butter who has done a lot of work in product semantics too.

 

Hope this helps,

 

Jose
 

> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 04:11:08 +0200
> From: alireza.ajdari@...
> Subject: Resources for Form & Space Course
> To: PHD-DESIGN@...
>
> Dear List members
>
> We have in Iran a bachelor course for Industrial Design Students named
> under title "Form & Space" , maybe equal to form studies in other
> countries , where students learn how to deal with form and it's
> relation to space. The key items
> for study are :
>
> a. Structure of Form
> b. Shaping and Formation of Form based on Specific Function
> c. Internal and External Functional Relation.
> d. Spatial Relation of Form in Stability and in Motion
> e. Analysis of Forms of a Whole Set ( with each other and in relation
> to their surrounding space whether natural or artificial)
>
> Could you please introduce some resources which could support these key items?
>
> To open the discussion, I remember when I was in Delft I could
> recognize two groups working simultaneously on Form Studies: One group
> based on perception of form based on Affordance Theory, which was
> originated by Gerda Smets and the other trying to translate the term
> space as context and even linguistic Context
> ,in comparison to the term space as we described before.
>
> In Italy , I mean Politecnico di Milano , I can find that two
> publications which are somehow related , one is old and the other newer.
>
> Arnaboldi , Mario & Enrico Garbagnati (1971): Genesi della Forma.
> Padova: 1971.
>
> Hachen, Massimo (2007): Scienza della visione : spazio e Gestalt,
> design e comunicazione . Milano: Apogeo.
>
> Unfortunately both of them are in Italian. While the former could
> cover some key items, the latter is nearer to a Design course which we
> call, Foundations of Figurative Arts, more related to elements and
> principles of mostly 2D forms perception based on Gestalt Principles.
>
>
> Sorry for long post, I wish I could open up a fruitful discussion. If
> needed , I would be happy to share my own experiences about these items.
>
>
> Best wishes
> Alireza Ajdari
>
> --
> Alireza Ajdari, Ph.D.
> Assistant Professor in Industrial Design,
> Department of Industrial Design,
> University of Tehran ,Iran.
> Cell : [phone]
> Tel : [phone]

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[Martyn Evans]

Dear Alireza

The following may be of interest predominately from a product semantics standpoint:

Boucharenc, Christian (2008) Design for a Contemporary World. NUS Press, Singapore
Evans, Martyn & Sommerville, Simon (2007) Seeing is Believing: The Challenge of Product Semantics in the Curriculum. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ENGINEERING AND PRODUCT DESIGN EDUCATION, NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, UK.
Karjalainen, Toni-Matti (2006) Semantic Transformations in Design. University of Art and Design, Helsinki
Karjalainen, Toni-Matti (2007) It looks like a Toyota: Educational approaches to designing for visual brand recognition. International Journal of Design, 1(1),
67-81.
Butter, Reinhart (1989) Putting Theory into Practice: An Application of Product Semantics to Transportation Design. Design Issues, Vol. 5, No. 2, pp. 51-67
PRODUCT SEMANTICS '89 CONFERENCE, & VÄKEVÄ, S. (1990) Product Semantics '89: Proceedings from the Products Semantics '89 Conference, 16-19 May 1989 at the University of Industrial Arts Helsinki UIAH. Helsinki, University of Industrial Arts.

Best

Martyn Evans
Senior Lecturer: Design
Lancaster University
T: [phone]
W: www.imagination.lancaster.ac.uk/people/martyn_evans/

-----Original Message-----
From: PhD-Design - This list is for discussion of PhD studies and related research in Design [mailto:PHD-DESIGN@...] On Behalf Of Alireza Ajdari
Sent: 03 July 2009 03:11
To: PHD-DESIGN@...
Subject: Resources for Form & Space Course

Dear List members

We have in Iran a bachelor course for Industrial Design Students named  
under title "Form & Space" , maybe equal to form studies in other  
countries , where students learn how to deal with form and it's  
relation to space. The key items
for study are :

a. Structure of Form
b. Shaping and Formation of Form based on Specific Function
c. Internal and External Functional Relation.
d. Spatial Relation of Form in Stability and in Motion
e. Analysis of Forms of a Whole Set ( with each other and in relation  
to their surrounding space whether natural or artificial)

Could you please introduce some resources which could support these key items?

To open the discussion, I remember when I was in Delft I could  
recognize two groups working simultaneously on Form Studies: One group  
based on perception of form based on Affordance Theory, which was  
originated by Gerda Smets and the other trying to translate the term  
space as context and even linguistic Context
,in comparison to the term space as we described before.

In Italy , I mean Politecnico di Milano , I can find that two  
publications which are somehow related , one is old and the other newer.

Arnaboldi , Mario & Enrico Garbagnati (1971): Genesi della Forma.  
Padova: 1971.

Hachen, Massimo (2007): Scienza della visione : spazio e Gestalt,  
design e comunicazione . Milano: Apogeo.

Unfortunately both of them are in Italian. While the former could  
cover some key items, the latter is nearer to a Design course which we  
call, Foundations of Figurative Arts, more related to elements and  
principles of mostly 2D forms perception based on Gestalt Principles.

Sorry for long post, I wish I could open up a fruitful discussion. If  
needed , I would be happy to share my own experiences about these items.


Best wishes
Alireza Ajdari

--
Alireza Ajdari, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor in Industrial Design,
Department of Industrial Design,
University of Tehran ,Iran.
Cell : [phone]
Tel :  [phone]

[David Balkwill]

Here's one of the most thought provoking articles I've read for a long time, pointing not just
at some brilliant observation of natural forms, but linking through to the lazyness
encouraged by CAD.

Full marks from me to Gray Holland for this work.

http://www.core77.com/blog/featured_items/a_periodic_table_of_form_the_secret_languag
e_of_surface_and_meaning_in_product_design_by_gray_holland_12752.asp

[Bosse Westerlund]

Hi.
I suggest you have a look at:
Elements of Design: Rowena Reed Kostellow and the Structure of Visual  
Relationships
by Gail Greet Hannah

Rowena Reed developed a language for talking about abstract shapes and  
their relations which is great and necessary for design work. The book  
gives accounts for some of that.

This is somewhat related to the suggestions of Cheryl Akner Koler's  
thesis and the Core 77 page by Gray Holland.

cheers,
Bosse


3 jul 2009 kl. 04.11 skrev Alireza Ajdari:

> Dear List members
>
> We have in Iran a bachelor course for Industrial Design Students  
> named under title "Form & Space" , maybe equal to form studies in  
> other countries , where students learn how to deal with form and  
> it's relation to space. The key items
> for study are :
>
> a. Structure of Form
> b. Shaping and Formation of Form based on Specific Function
> c. Internal and External Functional Relation.
> d. Spatial Relation of Form in Stability and in Motion
> e. Analysis of Forms of a Whole Set ( with each other and in  
> relation to their surrounding space whether natural or artificial)
>
> Could you please introduce some resources which could support these  
> key items?
>
> To open the discussion, I remember when I was in Delft I could  
> recognize two groups working simultaneously on Form Studies: One  
> group based on perception of form based on Affordance Theory, which  
> was originated by Gerda Smets and the other trying to translate the  
> term space as context and even linguistic Context
> ,in comparison to the term space as we described before.
>
> In Italy , I mean Politecnico di Milano , I can find that two  
> publications which are somehow related , one is old and the other  
> newer.
>
> Arnaboldi , Mario & Enrico Garbagnati (1971): Genesi della Forma.  
> Padova: 1971.
>
> Hachen, Massimo (2007): Scienza della visione : spazio e Gestalt,  
> design e comunicazione . Milano: Apogeo.
>
> Unfortunately both of them are in Italian. While the former could  
> cover some key items, the latter is nearer to a Design course which  
> we call, Foundations of Figurative Arts, more related to elements  
> and principles of mostly 2D forms perception based on Gestalt  
> Principles.
>
>
> Sorry for long post, I wish I could open up a fruitful discussion.  
> If needed , I would be happy to share my own experiences about these  
> items.
>
>
> Best wishes
> Alireza Ajdari
>
> --
> Alireza Ajdari, Ph.D.
> Assistant Professor in Industrial Design,
> Department of Industrial Design,
> University of Tehran ,Iran.
> Cell : [phone]
> Tel :  [phone]