Gestalte

Gestalte is a form of the German verb gestalten, which means to shape, form, design, or organize. The base verb is gestalten; gestalte can function as the first-person singular present tense (ich gestalte) and as the imperative singular used to give a command to one person (Gestalte!). The third-person singular present is gestaltet, and the past participle is gestaltet. Related nouns include Gestalt, meaning form or shape, and Gestaltung, meaning design or the act of shaping.

Usage of gestalte centers on creating or shaping objects, spaces, or plans, as well as organizing processes or experiences. In design and creative work, one might say ich gestalte eine Website or ich gestalte eine Ausstellung. In everyday language, gestalte can refer to forming arrangements, plans, or appearances, such as Wohnungen, Veranstaltungsabläufe, or Kommunikationsstrategien. The imperative Gestalte! is commonly found in briefings or directives, urging someone to actively shape a project or piece of work.

Etymology and related terms: gestalte derives from Gestalt, the noun for form or figure, plus the verb suffix -en. The word Gestalt is also a central term in gestalt psychology, where it denotes a whole perceived as more than the sum of its parts; however, the verb gestalte remains a general-purpose term for designing or forming in German. In use, gestalte is contrasted with Gestaltung, the noun for the process or result of shaping, and with Gestalt, the noun for a particular form or character.