Shape Language technique is a powerful tool used by designers that uses shapes to convey emotions and meanings. Designers and artists use this method to enhance their communication and to make it easier to convey complex ideas and evoke desired emotional responses from the audience.
In this blog we will define shape language, why it matters for character designers, and how to make characters out of shapes for engaging animations.
What is Shape Language?
Shape language is a design language that focuses on the psychological and emotional effects of different shapes. The direction and flow of shapes guide the viewer’s eye through the composition.
- Geometric shapes like circles, squares, and triangles convey stability, structure, and simplicity.
- Organic, free-flowing shapes create a natural, relaxed feel.
- Contrasting shapes add visual interest and balance
- Repeating shapes create unity and harmony.
- Minimalistic, simplified shapes create focus around the core message.
Shape selection influences the overall tone. Angular shapes feel forceful, while curved shapes feel calmer.
By thoughtfully using shapes in design, artists can evoke meaning, emotion, and visual hierarchy, allowing them to make a powerful impact.
Basic Shapes in Character Design
Let’s get into the 3 common shapes and its meaning.
Triangles, squares, and circles are the most basic geometric shapes everyone knows. Understanding shape theory and character design can enhance your drawing skills and comprehension of shape language in art.
Orientation of Lines
The power of shape language lies in the orientation of lines. So before we get into shapes and their meanings, let’s first talk about them.
Horizontal Lines
- Peaceful – Grounded – Calm – Stable
Vertical Lines
- Active – Power – Growing
Diagonal Lines
– Turbulence – Unrest – Dynamic
Character Design Shape Language
Now let’s talk about the 3 character design shapes and its meaning.
Triangles, squares, and circles are the most basic geometric shapes everyone knows. Understanding shape theory and character design can make you better understand shape languages in art and enhance your drawing skills.
Circles are an element of art shape that reflects harmony, triangles symbolize power, and squares represent solidity in shape psychology.
Circle Shape Language
-
-
- Circles often evoke images of bubbles, clouds, and wheels. Their roundness and smooth surface create a sense of freedom in movement.
- Symbolic Meaning: Circles represent unity, wholeness, infinity, and the cyclic nature of life. With no beginning or end, they suggest inclusion, protection, and perfection. Circles convey a sense of community and completeness.
- In driving, circles are also known as stop signs.
-
Triangle Shape Language
-
-
- Triangles often convey danger, evil, and unpredictability. They give a sense of action and power, symbolizing strength despite conflict.
- Symbolic Meaning: The triangle is associated with action, tension, and conflict, representing energy and dynamism. Triangles can symbolize science, law, and religion. Their wide base suggests stability and sturdiness.
- Danger and warnings are expressed with triangular signs.
-
Square Shape Language
-
- Squares, though less flashy, add depth to characters. They convey a sense of stubbornness, sturdiness, reliability, and support.
- Symbolic Meaning: The square represents stability, balance, structure, and permanence, connoting safety, shelter, and containment. Squares suggest logic, order, and predictability, often seen as masculine shapes.
Shape Theory in Character Design
Shape theory in character design is a fundamental concept that involves using geometric shapes like circles, squares, and triangles to achieve balance, proportion, and harmony. Designers select these shapes to convey specific attributes and set the visual tone of a composition.
Character shapes can express particular emotions and personality traits. Shape language theory makes the character visually appealing and adds to its communicative power, making designs more memorable and engaging.
Shapes in Character Design
Using shape language adds depth to a character. Designers can use basic shapes to create characters that communicate their roles and traits without additional exposition. This technique is a powerful tool in a designer’s arsenal.
Shape language can greatly impact the audience’s perception and increase engagement.
How to Make Characters Out of Shapes
Let’s use the power of shapes for creating a character.
Step 1 – Pick a Shape
Start to draw with basic shapes which will drive the style of the character.
Step 2 – Sketch the character
Choose a circle if you want the character to be friendly and approachable. You can later on add color and details as you want.
Do’s and Don’ts
Characters with well-defined shapes are more memorable and evoke strong emotional responses.
Shape Language in Visual Storytelling
Using shape language effectively enhances character depth. Designers can use basic shapes to create characters that visually communicate their roles and traits without additional exposition. This technique is a powerful tool in a designer’s arsenal.
Shape language significantly impacts audience perception and engagement. Characters with well-defined shapes are more memorable and evoke strong emotional responses. This makes shape theory a vital aspect of character design, aligning visual cues with the story’s themes and character arcs.
Combining Shapes for Complexity
By blending basic shapes, designers can transform simple character design into more complex and nuanced characters, depicting multifaceted personalities and relationships, thereby enriching visual storytelling.
Balance in Design
Balance in character design refers to the visual weight distribution within a character’s form. Balanced designs feel harmonious, while imbalanced ones can create tension and draw viewers’ attention.
Visual Hierarchy and Focus
Visual hierarchy and focal points guide the viewer’s eye to the most critical parts of a character. Strategic use of shapes ensures essential details stand out, enhancing design effectiveness.
Final Thoughts
You must’ve understood by now that shape language is one of the fundamental parts of a character design. This practical technique is used not just in character design, but also in game background design, and object creation.
While there are many methods to convey a character’s personality, character shape language is the most effective one used in drawings of characters. Basic shapes and their meanings are always visible and memorable, guiding your audience towards your goals.
If you are looking for professional animators for your next successful project, contact us today.
