Did you ever experience an immediate emotional connection to a particular design? It’s stunning to note that some forms can connect with memories, feelings, an even stories. Organic shapes is one of the more interesting aspects of graphic design. Due to their underlying inspiration from nature, these shapes are gaining traction in the cm. one of the most cherished elements they add to a design is the smoothness and grace it tends lack. Organic shapes are far more than valuable simply for how they look. They lend personality to a design. A leaf’s curves, or the gentle curves of a stone are all good examples. Incorporating these sorts of designs into your work helps put the viewer in a vibrant space for the viewer to be in. All it took in one of my projects was a curve alongside the swirl to get my point across and I am sure if I time traveled to the point in my design journey I would be able to recall the details vividly. It feels like these kinds of curves and shapes possess some kind of hidden meaning which is only decipherable in the subconscious mind. Once again I ask you: do you remember how shapes readily used in design are capable of inciting emotion , let me repeat they incite storytelling through design. Let us delve deeper into the world of organic shapes and understanding what they truly are.
The Essence of Organic Shapes in Graphic Design
What Are Organic Shapes?
By definition, organic shapes can be best understood as shapes having an irregular, freeform look,as is typical to nature.
Comparing them with geometric shapes, or rather geometric objects such as triangles or squares, which possess straight lines, organic shapes incorporate smooth edges instead and a variety of different styles.
And if we talk about the cloud and a petal of a flower, we know that they will indeed have symmetric curves and outlines, they can also be wrinkled or potentially twisted.
The design has the capacity to shape an organic shape into something else entirely, if we use our imagination.
Suppose there’s an animated character in a logo and the character has soft round edges, then a more organic wave will form the logo.
Compared to an organic shape, a geometric shape, which is more structured and straightforward, is brutal in its precision, overlapping to the maximum the organic.
The order and structure that geometric shapes exude is almost calming, while the chaotic feeling that organic shapes provide make one feel more welcomed.
Think back to a beautiful sunset.
Rays of the sun during sunset creates surreal trails and patterns across the sky when mixed together.
That’s the essence of organic shapes— fluidity and dynamicity that seeks to portray the magnificence of nature as is.
This combination leads to an organic form that inspires a designer and produces relatable images that are so engaging.
Why Pick Organic Shapes?
It is undisputed that the use of organic shapes makes an emotional statement of some sort, and it is strong.
A design that has soft curves and flowing lines appears to provide a sense of tranquillity. On the other hand, sharp angles and edges would appear to invoke tension. I remember one project wherein I had to design a wellness brand’s website using organic shapes with the intent to induce relaxation.
The round shapes I used, in contrast to basic and generic sites, made a huge difference in the overall aesthetics; most importantly, it placed the visitors at ease. This enhanced engagement with the brand overall, and made connections stronger.
Designs that occupy organic shapes also have the touch of creativity and distinctiveness. They allow for innovations and let the designers think out of the box. It is up to the imagination of the designer on the specifics of the organic shapes and what they want to create out of it.
They provide the ability to formulate, styles and structures that mark deeply with the target audience. It’s almost like a collaboration of the designer to the designer. These forms, challenge our perspective, and take us to surprise elements of creativity and innovation.
Organic shapes have the potential to revolutionize design in the conventional world of digital rush. They are the new constant that can allow the design to be competitive in an ever-growing marketplace. With authentic e designs that are able to cultivate fresh experiences, organic shapes are the solution to the design’s struggle for competence over time.
As we delve deeper into this topic, let us think about how to incorporate these engaging structures into our patterns and allow ourselves to be innovative!
The Role of Organic Shapes in Graphic Design
Creating Visual Harmony
Organic shapes are elements of hierarchy that improve the visual appeal of a design.
In contrast to design structures that are defined with sharp angles, organic shapes introduce constant movement in an arrangement.
Consider how the path of a curvy river through a region steers the eye movement in an effortless way.
Such shapes in graphic designs contribute towards shaping an aesthetically pleasing and a visually integrated approach that encourages viewers to look at the piece without feelings of explosion in their head.
A prime example of an ideal brand in organic structure application is Aesop, a skincare company whose products are greatly influenced by nature.
Their containers are often rounded and subtle while containing natural ingredients.
This style of packaging does exactly that- it captures the eye but on a greater scale, it manages to touch the heart.
Aesop bottles offer an earthly feel that exudes serenity, encouraging the user to indulge in skin care activities.
Such organic structures evoke a sense of harmony which strongly aligns with the core principle of Aesop, that is simplicity lie in nature.
Customers are able to connect with the design on a deeper level which ultimately improves the experience, and for me, any such interaction is wonderful.
Making User Experience Easier
Organic shapes do more than just make a design visually appealing, they bolster user experience.
The shapes which are adequately incorporated into the designs are a great way to ensure good interaction.
Let’s analyze the website for Airbnb as an example.
The organic shapes that they have incorporated into the user interface are one of the factors that makes the environment to be more friendly.
Due to the applied soft edges and the flowing of layouts within the site, the experience becomes more intuitive and natural as users are able to navigate easily through the website.
I recall booking an Airbnb for a quick escape to a nice cabin tucked in the woods.
While scrolling down the listings, the tasks were easy and less stressing aided by organic shapes and great designs in other aspects.
I was motivated to search for additional information, and the entire design encouraged me to fantasize about my upcoming trip.
Organic shapes are therefore a key factor in transforming an ordinary website into something spectacular making all the users gravitate towards it.
Promoting Sustainability along with Natural Elements
Organic shapes and sustainable designs in the contemporary world have a deep relationship which is also important to maintain.
Nature loving brands get an edge once they start using organic shapes because modern consumers draw closer to green products.
Patagonia is a good example.
Their designs often depict use of comforting shapes that have a great flow and represent their commitment to the nature.
The organic forms that are used communicate the message of organic living which respects mother nature and such form is appealing for nature smart people.
Patagonia is one of the brands that depicts through its design choices that beauty and eco-friendliness can indeed go hand in hand.
Organic shapes remind us of the natural beauty of our surroundings and the duty we have to safeguard them.
page designers, using and accepting these forms enable us to create designs that we believe in and that foster sustainability.
Techniques for Integrating Organic Shapes into Your Designs
Sketching and Prototyping
Presumably, if there’s something that excites a designer it is the room given to their imagination and this is exactly what organic shapes in design do.
There’s something utterly beautiful with organic forms hand-drawn in a sketch.
It usually happens that when I grab a pencil to get the loose natural shapes, I forget about the need to reach out for perfection.
Perhaps the easiest of sketches for example a swirl or even a leaf outline, would suddenly bob up remembrance or inspiration and unlock other forms of artwork.
To start shaping organic forms you must get a sketch book first.
Don’t hold back and let your pencil dance on the page avoiding as much as possible any structure.
Then after palying with a few sketches choose the ones that appeal to you and elaborate on them.
If you want to see how those organic forms can be interfaced in a larger shape explore how to use those shapes in your design along side creating prototypes for it.
Designs that once looked impossible can now be accomplished with the use of several programs.
In as much as there are several programs, one which stood out the most to me was Procreate because it offers great options for shape experimenting.
Outlining in Illustrator using the pen tool is by far the best move for curves that require constant smooth movement which gives a lifelike feel to designs.
Try out vector brushes in Procreate too because they can be helpful, and may even be a new way to go about drawing.
These brushes can recreate natural shapes and textures. This makes it easy to render realistic forms.
You can use these tools and try out different techniques that would enhance your work and give you the ability to create realistic shapes.
Manipulating with Color and Texture.
There are organic shapes’ color and texture that are useful in making the shapes look good.
Color can be very effective as such subdued color tones can induce a serene environment, and bright shades can provide high levels of excitement.
For instance, while creating a project based on nature, it is interesting to use greens, browns and pale blue shades.
These hues can take one’s mind to an effortless and quiet wood.
Equally important, Texture.
Such features as watercolor washes or hand-drawn textures should be used to add interest and richness to designs.
A particular memorable project was the poster for a local farmers’ market.
I used a mixture of organic shapes and rich textures to create a pack that communicated the purpose of the event, which was stimulating the community to buy local produce.
The final outcome was beautiful, highly engaging, and had a clear appeal to the audience.
FAQs
What are the benefits of using organic shapes in graphic design?
Incorporating organic shapes into graphic design presents numerous advantages. To start with, these shapes tend to give off a certain warmth that is engaging and inviting. They enhance the impact of the design, enticing the audience. I remember the time when I was doing research on the use of organic shapes for a local café. With the use of soft forms, flowing curves and various branding components, the cold and stark identity of the café was changed into a welcoming and warm one. It actually served as the home for a number of customers, as they often pointed out. Organic designs assist in creating imagination and inventiveness as well. You have the opportunity to examine those forms and then you deviate from the conventions of design. This independence facilitates the generation of designs that are original and distinct, which is advantageous in a competitive business environment. Also, they have the ability to make an interface to perform and feel more user-friendly which in turn improves the user experience. They also help the eye move through the layout, creating a smooth visual experience.
How do organic shapes affect brand perception?
Organic shapes have an effect on how a company is perceived in a significant way. Such brands that employ these shapes generally have a creative approach that is not only sustainable but also has a friendly demeanor towards the consumers.
By way of example, organic shapes used in logo or product packaging lead me to believe that the brand is a pro-nature or natural brand.
TOMS or The Honest Company are good examples to consider.
Such natural forms accompany their designs and suffice to give trustworthy and caring perception to their missions that spring into motion.
On the contrary, brands that apply strict geometric forms are regarded as more business like and traditional.
Of course, such looks have their time and place but tend to lack warmth and organic feel which such soft shapes provide.
Shapes in branding are more than just decoration as they send a message, one that can illustrate the core values and the overall identity of a certain company.
Can you put organic shapes in most corporate branding?
Why not!
These could be more closely associated with the artistic or lifestyle oriented companies but certainly they also do fit well in the corporate branding strategy.
The secret is to maintain and finding a thin line.
Take Nike for example.
A modern, athletic, and, quite frankly, empowered movement is this type of logo.
One of its strains incorporate a swoosh. Isn’t this style of engineering what geometric shapes are made of?
This is one way of establishing exceptional brand personality as well as creating an empowering innovative concept.
From the experience I’ve gathered, I’ve noticed that introducing organic shapes into the corporate sphere can remove the harshness that is usually associated with the corporate design.
When businesses include these shapes, then they stand out from the crowd and appear to be able to relate to their audience more.
You’ve got to know how to use them; a few simple curves and lines in the right place can convey a message of humanity in a business identity, even if it’s completely devoid of it.
So what are the Organic shapes design softwares that work the best?
Well, Organic shapes can be created using a variety of digital tools and fortunately, there are a few more that stand out tremendously.
Adobe Illustrator, for instance, is a traditional companion, particularly the pen tool. It facilitates close adjustment of curves and lines.
Yes, I consider it best for developing logos, illustrations and a range of other designs.
Then there is Procreate, which I consider great as well, especially if you like to work with your hands.
There are different brushes to use with the Procreate app, so creating fluid, organic forms is as simple as picking one and going with it.
In fact, I first reach for Procreate to sketch an idea, and then work it through Illustrator.
Affinity Designer is yet another such versatile tool that allows users to work seamlessly working across both vector and raster graphics.
For people who enjoy experimenting, Figma can be quite useful.
Building organic trees is precisely what Figma is used for, as it encourages teamwork in designing shapes, especially in web projects.
The beauty of cutting-edge technology is that many such tools have the free demo option. You can thus test and see which tool suits your construction style.
Do organic shapes work with any design project?
There are certain limitations to the use of organic shapes especially on some design projects, even though they come with many advantages.
For instance, if one is undertaking a project that demands a precise shape, corporate look and feel then organic shapes would be out of place.`
Nonetheless, there are cases in which organic shapes are not desired, even though the designs are highly structured in nature there can be slight deviation with the organic forms.
I remember branding a financial firm that had their visuals based on straight geometric images and formalism.
In the search for a more professional look, we started to work with soft edges and slopes, for instance blending rounded shapes into the design, and the drastic change in feel came in while keeping the professional look intact.
To summarize, I believe that organic shapes are appropriate for a wide range of purposes, but only when the objectives and audience expectations of the project are clearly defined.
If on the other hand, you want to create a feeling of warmth, or creativity, or you want to create a shape inciting a connection to nature organic shapes would be an ideal option.
But, keep in mind the main intention in which a particular design was intended for it should be the guiding principles for decisions concerning the design.
Let’s conclude
Wrapping Words — organic forms in graphic design have become a topic of a dozen online discussions and one of them is building shapes.
They further instill users with an emotional aspect and increase engagement as well.
Integrating organic forms on elements as we have mentioned has a vortical impact on the general view of whether such an element actually appeals to the audience.
I recommend you try using organic shapes in your own designs.
Be it sketch or a prototype or digital tools, it is alright to go for a little wild exploration.
Allow those shapes to ignite your imagination and point you towards those designs which speak volumes to your users.
So, Now, for the next design, I would like to know from you: How organic shapes may stimulate your imagination?
Use your designs to explore mother nature and you will be surprised by the outcome!
