Abstracting Nature: Design Methodology Study
Role: Visual Research · Illustration · Concept Development · Design Methodology
In daily life, we instinctively simplify and abstract what we see to make sense of the world. This ability to reduce complexity helps us navigate shapes, systems, and ideas. But what if this process—abstraction, simplification, and deconstruction—were applied intentionally in design? Could breaking things down reveal new insights, forms, or functions within a creative or problem-solving context?

This project investigates abstraction, simplification, and deconstruction as tools for creative thinking and problem-solving. Based on the idea that our brains naturally simplify what we perceive, the project explored whether this process could be intentionally applied within the design process to generate new perspectives on form and function.

The exploration began with seashells as the central subject—organic, intricate objects that provided a rich base for visual investigation. Through a combination of digital and freehand sketching, technical drawing, and color analysis, the forms were examined and progressively abstracted. This iterative process involved scaling, rotating, twisting, and reconstructing elements to study how visual identity evolves through simplification.

A key output was a series of illustrated prompt cards used to spark ideation and guide exploration. Despite significant reduction in detail, the abstracted forms retained a trace of their origin, raising questions about recognizability, symbolism, and perception. The work drew on semiotic theory, focusing on how signs are interpreted and how meaning is constructed through levels of visual abstraction.

To deepen the study, three seashells were selected for controlled abstraction, each with specific constraints: a set number of steps, a defined color palette, and chosen techniques. This structured experimentation highlighted abstraction not only as a visual method, but as a way to enhance understanding, provoke new ideas, and approach complex design problems through a different lens.