Aspects of Communication in the Consumer-Product Relationship. The Simplicity of Form as the Main Factor

The visual assessment regarding the type, intended behavior and function of a product is one of three main factors, forming the relationship between the consumer and the product itself. This assessment is performed at many levels - semantic, predictive, sensory, correlation with social status, etc. - all of them staked in the form of the product and its expressiveness. Following the law of economy in nature, simplicity of form is asserted as the main factor. Achieving simplicity requires the application of some basic means, which remain unchanged in the evolution of the design practice. The report clarifies the foundation of visual communication, focusing on the informational expressiveness of the product. A classification of six main compositional elements has been created, which define the simplicity of the form as both a basic requirement and a sought-after outcome - characterized by a small number of form-generating elements, symmetry, simplicity of the geometric model, abstraction through a common contour, abstraction through color, and uniformity of the form-generating elements. The function of contrast has been acknowledged as an essential initial trigger for the communication process between the user and the product.