Everything in design is made of form, and many different forms do something unique. The main types of form are the dot, the line, and the plane.
The dot is the point of our focused attention and will provide a reference point for the eye to other surrounding forms. Although a dot is a simple concept, it is a fundamental building block to the different forms. Any shape can be considered a dot depending on how it is used in the space and if it has a recognizable center. A photo can be viewed as a dot if it’s the largest shape in the space. There can even be multiple dots in a space and still follow the same rules.
The size and color of dots can affect their relationship as well. If there is one smaller dot and one larger, it will change the perception of spatial depth. The same can be said for a darker dot with a lighter dot. Finally, and most commonly, a dot can be used as a pattern or texture like a halftone effect.
The line is the second form. A line will unite and connect an area within a composition. The main job of a line is a visible form traveling back and forth between a starting and ending point. Lines are more dynamic than dots because they contain movement and direction. Lines also have multiple jobs such as separating spaces, joining spaces, enclosing, constraining, or intersecting.
There are many combinations of lines that can be used in designs. Breaking a line can increase its movement without being distracting, multiple thin lines together can create texture like dots, and changing the weight of lines can create depth and tension. Not all lines have to be straight up and down, they can create angles and join to create new directions.
Plane and Mass create the sense of shape. They are very similar to dots but differ by size. Plane and Mass can act as a dot if the space surrounding it is larger than the plane. The size and simplicity of the shape can have an impact on its mass or weight. The amount of texture will also affect its mass or weight. Usually, planes with a filled texture appear much lighter whilst a completely solid plane will appear heavier.
Geometric forms appear angular or hard-edged which is created by humans rather than its opposite, organic form. Dots and lines can both be considered geometric forms but will also appear in nature. Geometric forms convey artificial shapes and are usually symmetrical. The most common geometric shapes are polygons, circles, and triangles. Squares usually is the most stable and take the most mass. Despite being round, circles are just as stable as squares. Circles hint at a sense of rotation happening in a design. Finally, triangles are the least stable because they create eye movement around surrounding objects.
Organic forms are the opposite of geometric forms. These shapes are irregular and complex and can be found in nature. These shapes may be asymmetrical, differ in length and size, and are obscured. Nature is unrefined, textured, and complicated so, organic forms should carry that message.
Surface activity helps differentiate forms from each other. For example, varying sizes, shapes and densities of a group of dots create the perception of surface activity. Texture and pattern fall under this form. Texture is a surface having irregular activity without apparent repetition. Texture may create an illusion that you can feel the texture on a surface despite it being on a screen or piece of paper. Pattern is a specific kind of texture in which components are arranged purposefully in a repeated structure. Clusters and overlaps of forms like lines and dots can be texture, but if arranged parallel and purposefully, it is considered a pattern. Surface activity can be useful in digital projects because it will fix the flatness of the objects and create a more attractive design.
