Form and Function

What is form?

In print design, form is both the overall look and feel of the page as well as the shape and look of the individual components - the typefaces, the graphic elements, the texture of the paper.Form is also the format whether the piece is a poster, a tri-fold brochure, a saddle-stitched booklet, or a self-mailer newsletter.-about.com

What is function?

For designers, function is the practical, getting down to business part of the process of design and desktop publishing. Function is the purpose of the piece whether it is to sell, to inform or educate, to impress, or to entertain. It includes the copywriting message, the audience, and the cost of getting the project printed.-about.com

There are two principle between these two words.There are 'Form follow Function' and 'Function follow Form'.
So started with the meaning of 'Form follow Function',what exactly it is?


According to wikipedia,Form follows function is a principle associated with  modern architecture and industrial design in the 20th century. The principle is that the shape of a building or object should be primarily based upon its intended function or purpose.
To a simple meaning,the form of something like a gadget must have it purposes.There must be a reason why we want to created the shape of an object like why it round or rectangle.Ity must have it own purposes why the designer want it to be shape like he wanted.

for example,people created chair with various kind like big or small,tall or short.

The purposes of big chair is for adult and the small chair is for kids.

Same to all object,there must be a function why something was created in different shape.Form without function is just a pretty piece of paper.

What is function follow form?

Function follow form is a reverse processes in design.When the function follow form,its mean that it is the way of the designer just being creative by created something already have the function but making it more useful and can attract more people.For example,function is deciding that a poster plastered around town would be the best way to inform the general public about a band's upcoming club performance. Function is specifiying how much the band can spend on that poster. Form is choosing the size, colors, fonts, and images based on the function and arranging the text and graphics so that the poster attracts attention and looks good.