Trans RINA, Vol 153, Part C1, Intl J Marine Design, Jul - Dec 2011
leisure boats can be successfully sold with both G0 and G2 surfacing
G0
G1
G2/G3
Figure 8 Surface transitions in product design Image Credit G Holland
In Figure 8 we can see that G1 is used very often used as a ‘signifier’ for the design of useful ‘signified’ is this case strong purposeful object.
products, the utility, a practical,
G2/G3 surface treatment is used here as a ‘signifier’ to demonstrate the ‘signified’ - that these products are comfortable and are a natural extension of our bodies. This is a positive ‘sign’ for products which we wear, the sunglasses, or are in very close contact with, the seat.
G Holland10 analyses how G0, G1 and G2/G3 surface transitions are used in Transportation Design
G0 G1 G2/3 Figure 10. Surface transitions in yacht & boat design
In Figure 11 we can look at how Apple has evolved their design language over the last decade.
2001 G0
2003 G1
Figure 11 Apple design evolution
The signified in this case is the hi-technological achievement of a thin lightweight computer. By using surface G2 surface treatment (the signifier) on their latest laptops Apple express even more strongly the thinness (the signified) of their computers.
When the screen is
open and the observer looks at the edge of the screen, the back surface curves away, exaggerating the thinness of the screen.
5.3 G0, G1, G2/G3 CURVES IN GRAPHIC DESIGN AND TYPOGRAPHY.
G0 G1 G2/G3
Figure 9 surface transitions in Transportation Design Image Credit G Holland
In Figure 9 we can see that the designers of the off road vehicles in the centre have chosen to highlight the utility of their vehicles (the signified) by using G1 tangency transitions as the signifier. The G2G3 surface treatment suggests a very natural, organic flowing vehicle. The stealth plane has to uses G0 joints to avoid radar detection, but the surfaces evoke an aggressive brutality and strength that the designer of the concept car below wished to be signified through the use of G0 corners (the signifier).
If we finally use the same analysis of yacht and boat design, (Figure 10) we can see the same principles apply with utilitarian work boats using mostly G1 fillets,
Here in Figure 12 we can see the evolution of a graphical symbol, the introduction of G3 curves to the design has increased the line quality dramatically. On the left it is possible to see curvature errors circled, on the right is the corrected version
2008 G2
Figure 12. Image credit Aphex Twin
©2011: The Royal Institution of Naval Architects
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