Shape language: How people describe shapes and shape operations

This research investigates which terms designers use to exteriorise and communicate shape. An experiment was devised for two test subjects, who both receive a picture of a shape. Subject A receives, in addition, a picture that is said to be a modified version of the initial one. Subject A is asked to explain the modified shape to B, who sketches it. The shape terms used are registered and categorised. The research method is described in detail and the observed terms are presented. The most frequently used categories of terms were Locations, Courses, Shape_characteristics, Values and Shape_instantiations. We observed differences in the use of shape terms between subjects with distinct educations. We discuss implications of the results for design support systems.

► Shape terms that are used by designers are categorised and analyzed.
► Proposals for more intuitive shape design systems are derived.
► We advise new, easy ways to identify locations for use in downstream operations.
►  A tracking algorithm should solve implicit identifications of shape elements.
► Popular shape characteristics, operations and object shapes should be recognized.