·
5 to 7 hours
HD·F3·02 Basic → Advanced

Form Exploration

Form is found by making many, not choosing one early.

Form exploration is the deliberate search for three-dimensional shape. This course covers sketching, massing, subtraction, addition and iteration so designers can discover and refine forms rather than settling on the first idea.

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In Development

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LEARNING OUTCOMES

  1. 01 Generate many distinct forms for one brief
  2. 02 Use massing models to test volume quickly
  3. 03 Apply addition, subtraction and transformation to a form
  4. 04 Evaluate forms against function and meaning
  5. 05 Document a form study to explain decisions
01

Why Explore Before You Decide

Early attachment to one form limits quality. A large, varied set of options gives better material for selection.
01 ▶ present
02

Sketching and Massing

Thumbnail sketches and foam or clay masses test proportion fast. Rough models answer volume questions that drawings cannot.
02 ▶ present
03

Adding, Subtracting and Transforming

Cutting, joining, bending and scaling generate families of related forms. Systematic operations make exploration repeatable.
03 ▶ present
04

Form and Function

A form should support how an object is held, used and understood. Testing with hands and eyes exposes mismatches early.
04 ▶ present
05

Documenting a Form Study

Photographs and annotated sets record what was tried and why. Clear documentation supports critique and later decisions.
05 ▶ present