This book aims to strengthen an understanding of the sculptural possibilities of form and space through developing a taxonomy and structure that recognizes and gives priority to the 3-dimensional perception of form and space. It is written so as to apply to both the active process of shaping 3-D form and space and analyzing any existing visual situation. Teaching in the Department of Industrial Design (ID) at Konstfack has given me great opportunities to further develop and document this visual study program. Using clay and paper models the students creatively question the "established terminology" and develop solutions that strengthen and/or add new concepts to the program.

The foundation of this language is derived from the inspiring courses conducted by professor Rowena Reed at Pratt Institute in New York City and also in private Soho classes. Rowena Reed´s method of visual analysis taught her students to "think with their eyes" and to translate an inner vision into concrete experiences. Her challenging way of teaching combined creative exploration with an analytical search for the "Principles of visual relationships".The last pages of this book are dedicated to summarizing her background, philosophy, and educational vision. Moreover, in order to gain a historical perspective, a map is included that outlines the relevant art movements in the beginning of this century and some of the major events in the early work of Rowena Reed and her husband Alexander Kostellow. The Russian constructivist movement is the point of origin for the artistic tendencies and formal language developed by Reed and Kostellow and further developed in this book by Akner Koler.