Form Follows Function

What is Form Follows Function?

This question was on my mind the first time my lecturer said the words.

Well, based on 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.Wainwright Building by Louis SullivanIn the context of design professions form follows function intuitively seems like good sense, but on closer examination it becomes problematic and open to interpretation. Linking the relationship between the form of an object and its intended purpose is not always by itself a complete design solution. Defining the precise meaning(s) of the phrase 'form follows function' opens a discussion of design integrity that remains an important, lively debate.

From my point of view, I guess that in every design created in this world, there must be a reason for it. Therefore, the foundation of design would probably be form follows function.

An example for us to understand better about this:

Race car design

The aerodynamic shape is what we called form that follows the function which helps the car to accelerate faster with its form built like that.

Another example, is this 'Form Follows Function' sofa designed by Dutch designer Daan Mulde

Description from the designer:

A three dimensional model of the sofa is created with a computer program. The model consists of three curved faces which can be virtually unfolded. Next, these faces are manufactured from steel plates with a laser cutting process. The plates are bent and welded together to obtain the final shape of the sofa. All functionalities of the sofa are created from one continuous line.

This is the prefect of example to understand better about the phrase. From my opinion, the sofa is creatively designed by him with gorgeous elegant form which looks almost like a sculpture. But, the form created, also compliments the function as seen in the picture where the model captured a few poses which translates better about the function of the sofa.