Compass and straightedge

Design

Published in Wanda Grimsgaard, Design and Strategy, 2023

Geometric shapes can be constructed with a compass and straightedge, and are based on the basic shapes square, circle and triangle.76 In geometry a shape can be explained as a set of lines that enclose a space. According to this, the shape of an object is the external form or appearance of an object in space that can be represented by a set of lines oriented in some way’ (Bolano, 2018). Strategic use of basic shapes is about knowing what they express, or what can be associated with them, for example: The square can express stability and firmness.The circle has motion in it and can express something repetitive, organic and inclusive.The triangle has a more dynamic expression, and can be both stable and unstable depending on the rotation or perspective.

Geometric problem solving with strings and pins

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Journal Information

Published in Spatial Cognition & Computation, 2019

Christian Freksa, Thomas Barkowsky, Zoe Falomir, Jasper van de Ven

Classical compass-and-straightedge geometry permits elaborate constructions involving points, lines, circular arcs, areas, and angles. Viewing a string without pins as a generalized straightedge and a string with pins as a generalized compass, we can conceptualize any geometric construction with strings and pins that we can conceptualize with the compass-and-straightedge metaphor. Strings and pins, however, allow for an even wider range of geometric constructions than compass and straightedge.

Compass and straightedge

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Geometric problem solving with strings and pins