Shape Grammar Rules

1. A blend of different taste …
The Language of coffeemakers

2. Introduction:
There are many brands and various shapes but the main design
motive is the function over shape. For this reason
Regardless of the brand, most coffee makers follow the same
function
From the study of all coffeemakers and the way they function,
general rules were extracted to reach a shape grammar for
Coffeemakers that can be applied to get different designs
Filter
Water tank
Bottom
Central point
(initial shape)

3. Procedure:
1. Storing water in a container
2. Heating the water
3. Filtered through a tube in the upper part
after being mixed with coffee
4. Then the coffee is poured into the coffee
pot (where its kept warm on another part)
Storing heating Filtered
pouredreheated
According to this function we can divide the coffeemaker into three parts
Top part
bottom
Water
tank

4. Coffee Maker Brands:
Braun Design Principles:
- High quality
- Reliable
- Durable
- Expensive
Black & Decker:
- Hardly reliable
Proctor Silex:
- Simple
- Inexpensive
- Works well
Krups:
- High quality
- Expensive
- Lasting
- Contemporary

5. According to the grammars, each part is designed alone then blended together around the core part.
Grammar:
Upper Part: Filter
- Rotating (FM2) or sliding (FM1)
- Flat (FT2) or conical (FT1)
- Fixed (FF1) or variable flow (FF2)
- Presence of a sensor (FS1) or not (FS2)
Bottom part :
- Polygonal base (8)
- Elliptical section (6)
- Single heating ( ) or no heating
Water tank:
- Hinged top (9)
- Single ( ) or double heating ( )
Shape grammars help companies extract their general motive and style by figuring out the rules they use. It also
allows them to know about their competitors. This gives the producers more options to choose from when designing
each part of the coffee maker before blending them together.
In order for the grammar not to be limiting the options, they can modify some parts of the rules to produce new
designs under the same language.

6. Rules:
Core element
(all the other parts are
designed around it)
Base part
Filter
Water
tank
Double Heater RulesSingle Heater Rule
Core element
(all the other parts are
designed around it)
Single heater
Filter parametric rules Bottom rear Bottom front

7. The first 3 constraints ensure a symmetric filter unit
There are no reentrant corners in the filter
The first 2 constraints ensure no reentrant corners
Horizontal base
Ensure that line w’y’ lies on the common boundary
between the water storage unit and the base.
Bottom rear constraints:

8. Bottom front constraints:
No reentrant corners
Restrictions on the form of the unit for desired design
characteristic

9. Next the 3 units are designed separately
Filter unit:
• These rules are used to address the filter functional requirements through the manipulation of labels
• Once the functionality of the filter unit is specified, its form is designed by rules of 16-26.
Filter
Remove unnecessary labels
• Partition the filter into a top portion and a movable bottom filter
• Generates a top view

10. Sliding filter
Rotating filter
Center point
Conical filters
Flat filters

11. Adding water tubing to the filter
Changing the label in order to allow the water storage unit to be designed later
No water stop exists

12. Base Unit:
Base unit
Remove unnecessary labels
Polygonal section
Elliptical section

13. One heating element Two heating elements
If label 8 is added to rule 28 then rules
32-37 are applied
Elliptical shapes are assumed to have a smooth blend and thus require no additional rules

14. Water storage unit:
The right hand part of the center side cross section of the water storage unit was formed by
The preceding rules by merging the initial shape with the shape boundary between the water
Storage unit and the filter and base units.
Hinged top
Grafting at the top
Place the water tubing
Inserting heater for a double heater design

15. The design is completed with rules 43-100 resulting in a
Water storage unit that conforms to the filter and base
Units
Exception where the rest show top view

16. Completion rules top view

17. 45-90 parametric rules
Each rectangular
shape have
specific dimensions
The grate on the top (45-70) 71-90 sweep rules
90-100 merging rules

18. Conclusion:
 Units may appear to be unique, but small changes in the application of the rules of this
grammar and the selection of the parametric values are the only real differences in their
shape characteristics .
 choice of material, control unit, color and finish all affect the final product
 By following these 100 rules you can design a coffeemaker with a different form and by
maintaining the same function.

19. Thank you