One abstract shape often has both direct and figurative meanings. Some abstract shapes can be too difficult to recognize because they are stylized and only small details give a hint to what it is. They are usually visual symbols of abstract ideas or simplified versions of natural shapes. For example, a rose is a flower of love and passion, while a lion is a symbol of pride and bravery but this is another topic to discuss. In addition, animals and plants can also have their own characteristics and symbols. They often bring a feeling of refreshment and unity with the natural environment.

Natural shapes have clear meanings of the plants and animals which they symbolize. Leaves, flowers, trees, animals, and many other representatives of flora and fauna become the source of inspiration for artists and designers. In modern society, they are seen as a sign of creativity and a fresh mind.Īll the things created by mother nature have a unique shape. Also, in some cultures, spirals may represent knowledge or information.

These shapes can be often seen in nature, for example, shells and some flowers, the reason why it’s often associated with the circle of life and growth. In addition, unlike the previous shapes, circles don’t have angles, so it makes them softer and milder. That’s why round shapes may give the feeling of magic and mystery. The circle has a long association with the sun and Earth as well as other cosmic objects, while ellipse is similar to the whole universe. The first and foremost meaning of this shape is eternity since they have no beginning or end. An upright triangle brings feelings of stability and balance but the reversed one looks risky and ready to fall giving people a sense of tense. The lines are placed that way so our eyes automatically move to the top of a triangle or in the direction it is placed. Triangle is an energetic and dynamic shape that is always associated with motion and direction. People strongly associate squares and rectangles with buildings the reason why they bring the feeling of trust and authority. Straight lines and right angles of these two shapes give a sense of reliability and security. The walls and furniture, books or monitors, cell phones and cameras as well as many other everyday things have square or rectangular shapes. These two shapes are thought to be the most commonly used. There are plenty of geometric shapes that people see daily including squares, circles, rectangles, and others. Hearing the word shape most people think about geometric figures first. Social network tutorial animation Geometric shapes meaning Many years of research and tests have helped professionals to define what meaning each shape typically brings and how it can influence human perception. For example, a favorite figure can tell about a person’s character traits, a quickly chosen shape can show what’s on the mind. There are many psychological tests that are used to define the personality or mental condition via shapes. The study claims that each shape has its own meaning and influences our minds and reactions differently. The science studying the influence of shapes on people is known as the psychology of shapes. People may not always notice what figures and shapes surround them still they have a great impact on our consciousness and behavior. For example, an average house may be perceived as a rectangle with a triangle on the top and the sun is often presented as a circle with lines around it. Psychology of shapesĪll the visual objects can be analyzed in terms of shape. Let’s see what this direction studies and how it can help designers in the creative process. The aspect which we want to cover in today’s article is called the psychology of shapes. In one of our articles, we’ve already discussed the role of psychological principles in design and described how useful they can be on the way to understanding users. There are many factors influencing human perception and the significant part goes to psychology. The success of any visual composition highly relates to how people perceive it.

Different types of shapes