Shape Grammars ᱯᱩᱛᱷᱤ

Press Kit

Unique Properties

Shape Grammars is a study on generative shapes, asking: how can unique pieces be mass produced? 12 production systems that can generate an unlimited number of individual graphic shapes were designed and programmed. The result is a designer's handbook which, in addition to 150,000 generated shapes, shows some potentials and limitations of generative design.

Dimensions & Packaging

Soft-bound catalogue, digital print. 836 pages. 185x235x45mm

Tags

generative, shapes, book, massproduction, graphic production, shape collection, dictionary of shapes

Production Technology

The content as well as the book layout was produced with custom generative software.

Design Challenge

The main challenge was to create very simple rulesets, which are able to generate a high variety of shapes. Simple means, their logic can be expressed in a sentence, that is easily understood. Simple also means they make use of a core geometrical principle. Detailed decorations were not allowed.

Research

Graphic shapes and systems were collected, categorized and reverse-engineered. A broad range of geometrical principles for shape generation were translated into machine readable code.
Furthermore layout and sorting programs were developed.

Inspiration

Noam Chomsky has tried to formalize all sorts of languages that obey some rules. With Shape Grammars I have made a similar attempt for graphical systems. Of course, this could never be completed, but at least I wanted to try to cover as large a spectrum of geometric principles as I could.

Project Duration

The development of the book started in Wuerzburg in October 2019, was completed in Tokyo, and published by slanted publishers, Karlsruhe in July 2020

Operation Flow

The 836 page book is meant as a tool. The format is balanced between having enough space to show the shapes and being handy enough to be used during work at the desk. The weight and thickness of the book is a result of and communicates the sheer endless collection of shapes, that can be discovered, and used as a source of inspiration.

Patents

© 2020 – 2021 slanted publishers & Jannis Maroscheck

Image Credits

all images by Jannis Maroscheck