designform
Designform is a term used in design studies to describe the intentional shaping of physical form in response to function, context, and material constraints. It treats form as a carrier of meaning and usability, not merely decoration, and is applied across disciplines such as industrial design, architecture, product design, and furniture design. The concept emphasizes how geometry, massing, and surface treatment communicate a product’s purpose and its intended mode of production.
Practically, designform covers concept generation and refinement. Designers begin with research on user needs and materials,
Techniques and vocabulary associated with designform include sketching, CAD and parametric modeling, digital fabrication, and material
Relation to theory: Designform aligns with the principle form follows function but expands it to include material