gestalten

Gestalten is a German verb meaning to shape, form, design, or organize something in a deliberate way. It is widely used in contexts such as graphic design, architecture, urban planning, product development, and event planning. The related noun Gestaltung denotes the act of shaping or the result of that process—a design, layout, or composition.

The word derives from Gestalt, meaning form or figure. As a finite verb it follows regular conjugation: ich gestalte, du gestaltest, er gestaltet; wir gestalten, ihr gestaltet, sie gestalten; perfect tense uses hat gestaltet. The feminine noun Gestaltung is common in phrases like die Gestaltung einer Website (the design of a website) or die Gestaltung von Räumen (the shaping of spaces).

Usage and context: In design and media discourse, Gestaltung covers principles such as layout, typography, color, and spatial arrangement, as well as broader concepts like holistic design (ganzheitliche Gestaltung) and design processes (Designprozess). It is distinct from Gestalt in the sense used by Gestalt psychology, where Gestalt refers to a perceived whole or pattern. The term also appears in education and industry as Gestaltungskonzept (design concept) or Gestaltungsprinzipien (design principles).

Other note: Gestalten can appear with a capital G as a noun in plural form Gestalten (die Gestalten), meaning “the forms” or “the figures.” This noun usage is less common in everyday design talk but may appear in literary or analytical contexts when referring to shapes or personae. Overall, gestalter work emphasizes intentional composition and purposeful arrangement.