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Shape Grammars: A Comprehensive Handbook on Generative Shapes

Jannis Maroscheck's Shape Grammars is a pioneering study on generative shapes, aiming to explore the possibility of mass-producing unique pieces. The project began in Wuerzburg in October 2019, completed in Tokyo, and published by slanted publishers, Karlsruhe in July 2020. The 836-page soft-bound catalogue, produced using custom generative software, measures 185x235x45mm and features digital print. It is a comprehensive designer's handbook, showcasing 150,000 generated shapes and offering insights into the potentials and limitations of generative design.

The book presents 12 production systems designed and programmed by Maroscheck, capable of generating an unlimited number of individual graphic shapes. These shapes, sorted from strictly geometric to organically free, serve as a valuable resource for designers, architects, and anyone working with shapes. The project involved the translation of a broad range of geometrical principles for shape generation into machine-readable code, as well as the development of layout and sorting programs.

Maroscheck's main challenge was to create simple rulesets capable of generating a high variety of shapes, all while adhering to core geometrical principles and eschewing detailed decorations. The resulting book is not only a systematic catalog but also a kind of dictionary of shapes, offering a glimpse into the nature of infinite graphic variation through automated design.

Jannis Maroscheck, a German designer, studied at the Faculty of Design Wuerzburg and the Tokyo University of the Arts. His work spans print, digital, and spatial products, with a research practice focused on automation processes in graphic design, form- and image synthesis. The publication Shape Grammars has garnered international acclaim and is available worldwide.

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