CLASS NOTES:
CG130 Drawing & Design Fundamentals

3 Dimensional

2 Dimensional (Outline / Contour)

Forms are three dimensional and Shapes are two dimensional

"Get the form right, and the shape will follow."

A silhouette is the most instantly recognizable characteristic of the thing or activity. There are however good and bad silhouettes, some are more recognizable in a lateral format than head on, and vice versa. For example:

What is this a silhouette of?

(See answer at the bottom AFTER you have come up with an idea or two.)

Some silhouettes are more recognizable than others. It is up to you to pick the
best choice of which silhouette to use for your design. Never be shy about trying different points of view to explore a variety of possibilities before choosing your best solution. Compare the two silhouettes of the same action below, determine which one gives you more information, and why.

Recognized the fastest

Average recognition speed

Recognized slowest

Silhouettes are recognized solely by their shape, and not their inherent meaning
such as symbols. (See the Pictographs and Ideographs below. Ask yourself how silhouettes differ from them.)

Symbols:

Pictographs
(Think cave paintings.)

Ideographs
(Think advertising.)

What is this a silhouette of?

ANSWER: A dime.

One silhouette is much more recognizable than the other.