Formstudie

Formstudie is a phase in design disciplines that focuses on exploring possible shapes, volumes, and silhouettes rather than on detailed construction or technical specifications. It is used in architecture, industrial design, furniture design, and the visual arts to establish the overall character and feasibility of a concept.

In a form study, designers examine how a form relates to its context, function, materials, and fabrication. Methods include rapid freehand sketches, massing models, and study drawings that test proportions, balance, rhythm, and relationships between parts. Physical models made from foam, cardboard, or clay, as well as digital preliminary models, are commonly employed to evaluate scale, light, and perception from different viewpoints.

Formstudies serve several purposes: they allow quick comparison of alternatives, reveal ergonomic or functional implications early, and help communicate ideas to team members or clients. They typically precede more detailed design work, engineering analysis, and production planning, and they guide later decisions about material choices, connections, and manufacturing processes.

In educational settings, form studies train sensitivity to form and space, encouraging iterative refinement and critical evaluation of how a shape communicates intent. While the term is most common in German-speaking and Scandinavian design contexts, the concept appears across design disciplines as a foundational step toward their finalized, buildable solution.