Geometric shapes encodes values as closed outlines whose corners and symmetry carry meaning. Euclid’s Elements (~300 BCE) still names the school set; modern UI reuses it.
In reports, ads and assignments it fits icons, posters, worksheets, brand marks. Skip it when you need to encode a quantity — use a chart, not a pretty triangle.
Parts
- Mark — The core mark of Geometric shapes is closed outlines whose corners and symmetry carry meaning.
- Scale — The scale must show zero (or a declared break) and units.
- Axis — Axis titles name the variable, not a mood.
- Legend — A legend is weaker than a direct label. Write beside the mark when you can.
- Label — Numbers are optional. If comparison is the job, label the ends only.
- Grid — Keep the grid faint. Data should own the ink.
- Annotation — One annotation sentence. Date the source.
- Frame — A thin frame. Never a 3-D box.
Variants
- Primitives — Variant 1 of Geometric shapes. Same encoding, different layout.
- Euclidean set — Variant 2 of Geometric shapes. Same encoding, different layout.
- Poster solids — Variant 3 of Geometric shapes. Same encoding, different layout.
- Geometric shapes 4 — Variant 4 of Geometric shapes. Same encoding, different layout.
Labels
- Axis — On Geometric shapes, make Mark readable.
- Legend — On Geometric shapes, make Scale readable.
- Label — On Geometric shapes, make Axis readable.
- Grid — On Geometric shapes, make Legend readable.
- Annotation — On Geometric shapes, make Label readable.
Geometric shapes: honour closed outlines whose corners and symmetry carry meaning, and switch when you need to encode a quantity — use a chart, not a pretty triangle.