I made some boxes to get some momentum going. Fancy mechanical boxes!
Let's talk about shape language - I got a question regarding that the other day, so here's my opinion on the matter - what does it mean?
Shape language is the sum of all techniques that help you make an attractive design. It's a combination of concepts, not a monolith. It encompasses big-medium-small, leitmotifs (repeated patterns), shape appeal, rhythm, and composition.
The best way to look at it is in terms of branding - what makes a product in the Apple family of products look like an Apple product? What about distinguishing cars brands? Especially in fabricated products, you will notice a common thread of design features that make an product look cohesive, both with itself and with other products in the same line.
Shape language, in mechanical terms, is trying to make an appealing design that looks like it was designed by a single entity/company, instead of cobbled together in a scrap yard. The bolt holes follow a pattern. They're the same size. If one hole is square, then all other holes are square. If there are asymmetrical features in the design, then they follow a size hierarchy (big/medium/small) for the sake of aesthetics. Bevels and rounded corners have a fixed radius. And so on - basically there is a care for uniformity in the features, volumes, angles, and spacing of all aspects of the product.
This is what I'm trying to do here, practicing all these elements of design at the same time. It's a lot to juggle, whether you're experienced or a novice, so how do you get there?
You watch a lot of mechanical stuff and you copy until you understand - studying and practice! You got this!
