A design post about facets would not be complete without mention of Buckminster Fuller, the godfather of the Geodesic Dome. He first erected his famous structure in the late 1940s, paving the way for Epcot Centers and Biospheres everywhere. However, our post-modern take on crystalline structure is not so perfect or symmetrical. Here are some of the key factors that make these chiseled forms interesting to architects and product designers today:

1. Soul: There is something strangely raw and beautiful about these forms that reminds us of ancient sculptural craft or revealed natural beauty.
2. Futurism: Creating an exterior, interior, campervan, chair, or necklace with faceted forms makes us feel progressive. It rejects modern right angles and classical ornamentation.
3. Senses: Designers are conscious of how artificial and natural light effect what they make. Creating a surface that picks up light on different planes throughout the day is a brilliant way to make your structure interact with its surroundings. Furthermore, these geodesic shapes are a sensory experience to touch and explore. We find ourselves asking – how can a chair of harsh angles be so comfortable?

This trend appears deeply rooted in our collective psyches and thus, is a sign of something more than a trend. In fact, I think it is a style that defines our time and our design point of view, and we will build on this motif to create even more awe-inspiring objects and spaces in the years to come.

Pictured above: Royal Ontario Museum by Daniel Libeskind  |  Starbucks “chiseled” collection  |  Konstantin Grcic chairs