MENTAL MODEL · M0964

Form Follows Function

CreateHigh supportDesign Thinking

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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

The external form of a product or building should be primarily determined by its intended function or use, rather than decoration for its own sake.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

- Minimalism guideline: When making PPTs, writing articles, or designing products, examine every element—"What function does this ornament serve?" If it has no function (conveying information/guiding the eye), remove it.

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Anchor fast decisions

This principle advocates that the external form of a product, building, or information should be determined by its intended function, and decoration should serve function rather than the reverse. It opposes unnecessary ornamentation, emphasizes the match between structure and purpose, and is a core concept of modernist design.

MINIMUM ACTION

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Practice this model in one real situation:

Clarify the core function of the object and user needs
use functional constraints to drive form design
remove decoration that does not serve function
prioritize function when form and function conflict.

Check to track your progress (stored locally)

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Source support: Explicit

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zh.wikipedia.orghttps://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%BD%A2%E5%BC%8F%E8%BF%BD%E9%9A%8F%E5%8A%9F%E8%83%BDZH · Explicit
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