A shape is any two-dimensional area with a recognizable boundary. This includes circles, squares, triangles, and so on.

Shapes are a vital part of communicating ideas visually. They give images heft and make them recognizable. We understand street signs, symbols, and even abstract art largely because of shapes.

Shapes have a surprising number of uses in everyday design. They can help you organize or separate content, create simple illustrations, or just add interest to your work. See if you can spot the many examples in the image below.

Shapes are important because they’re the foundation of so many things. Learn to look for them in other designs, and soon you’ll start seeing them everywhere.