Designing for Online Learning
Menu
  • ENGAGEMENT
    • Close
      • Elements
        • Close
          • Overview
            • Close
              • Elements of Design
            • Close
          • Line
            • Close
              • Use of Line
            • Close
          • Shape
            • Close
              • Use of Shape
            • Close
          • Form
            • Close
              • Design Trends: Dimension
            • Close
          • Color
            • Close
              • Use of Color
              • Color Theory
              • Color Codes
            • Close
          • Value
            • Close
              • Design Trends: Gradients
            • Close
          • Space
            • Close
              • Use of Space
            • Close
          • Texture
            • Close
              • Use of Texture
            • Close
        • Close
      • Principles
        • Close
          • Overview
            • Close
              • Principles of Design
            • Close
          • Contrast
            • Close
              • Use of Contrast
            • Close
          • Scale
            • Close
              • Use of Scale
            • Close
          • Repetition
            • Close
              • Use of Repetition
            • Close
          • Symmetry
            • Close
              • Use of Symmetry
            • Close
          • Alignment
            • Close
              • Use of Alignment
            • Close
          • Proximity
            • Close
              • Use of Proximity
            • Close
          • Hierarchy
            • Close
              • Use of Hierarchy
            • Close
        • Close
      • Putting It All Together
        • Close
            • Use of Photographs
            • Composition: Extolling the Hero
        • Close
    • Close
  • TECHNOLOGY
    • Close
      • Tools
        • Close
          • Open Tools
            • Close
                • Free Online Tools
                • Bible Study Tools
                • Google Tools
                • Presentation Tools
                • Video Recording Tools
            • Close
          • Moodle Tools
            • Close
                • How to Set up a Peer Review in Moodle
                • How to Import Quiz Questions in Moodle
                • How to Set Up Moodle Q&A Forums
                • How to Set Up Moodle Books
                • How to Set Up Moodle Lessons
                • How to Set up the Gradebook (Part 1)
                • How to Set Up the Gradebook (Part 2)
                • How to Embed Links and Videos
                • Extending Moodle Using HTML (Part 1)
                • Extending Moodle Using HTML (Part 2)
            • Close
        • Close
      • Tasks
        • Close
          • Content Creation
            • Close
                • Using Images in Moodle
                • Finding Images to Use
                • Best Practices for Using Video Online
                • Alternatives to Video
            • Close
          • Learning Activities
            • Close
                • Moodle Books and Lessons
            • Close
          • Communication
            • Close
                • Video Conferencing for Meetings
                • Forum Subscriptions in Moodle
            • Close
        • Close
    • Close
  • LEARNING
    • Close
      • Understanding Learners
        • Close
          • Learner Differences
            • Close
                • Multiple Intelligences
            • Close
          • Readiness to Learn
            • Close
                • Readiness to Learn
            • Close
          • Learner Experience (LX)
            • Close
                • Learner Experience (LX)
            • Close
        • Close
      • Understanding Learning
        • Close
          • Adult Learning
            • Close
                • Adult Learning – Part 1
                • Adult Learning – Part 2
            • Close
          • Self-Directed Learning
            • Close
                • Self-Directed Learning
                • SDL Skills
                • SDL Learning Processes
            • Close
          • Reflective Learning
            • Close
                • Reflective Learning
            • Close
          • Active Learning
            • Close
                • Active and Participatory Learning
            • Close
          • Collaborative Learning
            • Close
                • Collaborative Learning
            • Close
          • Transformative Learning
            • Close
                • Transformative Learning
            • Close
          • Lifelong Learning
            • Close
                • Lifelong Learning
            • Close
        • Close
      • Learning Pathways
        • Close
          • Modalities
            • Close
                • Course Modality Paradigms
                • Blended Learning
                • Blending Synchronous and Asynchronous Approaches
            • Close
          • Information Architecture (IA)
            • Close
                • Information architecture
            • Close
          • Professional Development
            • Close
                • Communities of Practice
            • Close
          • Other Pathways
            • Close
                • Designing for High and Low Bandwidth Contexts
            • Close
        • Close
      • Backward Design
        • Close
          • Overview
            • Close
                • Backward Design in 7 Steps
            • Close
          • Outcomes
            • Close
                • Writing Cognitive Objectives
                • Writing Behavioral Objectives
                • Writing Affective Objectives
            • Close
          • Evidence
            • Close
                • What counts as evidence?
            • Close
          • Assessment
            • Close
                • Diagnostic Assessment
                • Formative Assessment
                • Summative Assessment
            • Close
          • Blueprint
            • Close
                • Scaffolding, Alignment, and Distribution
                • Creating a Design Blueprint
            • Close
          • Evaluation
            • Close
                • Evaluation
            • Close
        • Close
      • Developing Content
        • Close
          • Open Educational Resources (OER)
            • Close
                • Open Educational Resources (OER)
            • Close
          • Pedagogical Strategies
            • Close
                • Designing Good Discussion Questions
            • Close
        • Close
    • Close
    • Close
    • Close
Elements of Design: Shape

Use of Shape

By Jill Zwyghuizen

» Engagement » Elements » Shape » Use of Shape

Types of Shape: Geometric, Natural, Abstract
Geometric shapes: Children learn how to draw geometric shapes and identify them by the number of sides they have: triangles, squares, pentagons, hexagons, octagons, circles. Geometric shapes are commonly seen in everyday objects, whether used on their own or combined into patterns.
Geometric shapes can be used in design to convey subtle meanings. (Stability, completion, instability, movement)
Some shape and color combinations are distinctive. They are used to give warnings or directions. Designers make use of these sorts of combinations in expected--or unexpected--ways.
Natural shapes: Many shapes come from the natural world around us: flowers, leaves, water drops, stars. All of these organic shapes can be found in nature. This category also includes shapes like paint splatters that are formed by humans. They tend to be more freeform and less regular than geometric shapes.
Basic geometric shapes have straight lines and are perfectly symmetrical. They suggest order and stability; in patterns they evoke ideas of repetition, sameness, and predictability. Natural shapes, on the other hand, tend to have curved, free-flowing line and they tend to be asymmetrical. Some organic shapes exhibit symmetry, but many others are not perfectly symmetrical. They evoke beauty, creativity, artistry, variety, and uniqueness.
Abstract shapes: Everyday objects can be used to represent concepts pictographically. Icons, symbols, stick figures, and emoji are examples of these kinds of abstract shapes. Their pictographic nature makes them a highly useful communication tool to convey meaning without the use of language. What do the symbols convey? What do the signs represent? What do the emoji express? These are powerful design elements that communicate without words.
Use of Line
PrevNext
Design Trends: Dimension
Sitemap
Contact us
Horizon Education

© 2021 Horizon Education Network. All Rights Reserved.