The Most Beautiful Shape, Ranked

Voting rules: Choose the shape you think is the most beautiful!

Updated on Apr 24, 2024 06:27

In the world of design and aesthetics, the debate over the most beautiful shape remains as lively as ever. People from various backgrounds and professions - artists, architects, mathematicians, and even casual admirers - often find themselves engrossed in discussions about which shape carries the highest aesthetic value. Ranking these shapes helps clarify public opinion and provides a fun, interactive way to engage with our surroundings. Our intuitive ranking system offers everyone a chance to cast their votes and see how different shapes stack up against each other in real-time. Whether you're a geometry enthusiast keen on angles and symmetry, or someone who appreciates beauty in its many forms, your opinion can help sculpt the ongoing list. Participate in shaping a unique, crowd-sourced collection of truly beautiful designs.

What Is the Most Beautiful Shape?

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85
votes
Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain

The circle

The circle is a symbol of infinity, completeness, and unity. It has no beginning or end, and its perfect symmetry is pleasing to the eye.
The circle is a geometric shape that is perfectly round, with all points on its boundary equidistant from its center. It is a closed curve with no corners or edges.

Perimeter: 2πr, where r is the radius of the circle

Area: πr², where r is the radius of the circle

Diameter: Twice the length of the radius

Circumference: The distance around the boundary of the circle

Symmetry: The circle has infinite lines of symmetry passing through its center
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38
votes
Burkhard Mücke · CC BY-SA 4.0

The spiral

The spiral is a symbol of growth, evolution, and progress. Its dynamic shape draws the eye in and creates a sense of movement and direction.
The spiral is a curved shape that continuously moves away or towards a central point while rotating around it. It is characterized by its graceful and flowing form.

Mathematical Definition: A spiral can be mathematically defined as a curve that follows a specific mathematical equation, such as the logarithmic spiral or the Archimedean spiral.

Growth Patterns: Many natural phenomena, such as the growth patterns of shells, galaxies, and plants, exhibit the spiral shape in their structures.

Aesthetics and Design: The spiral is often considered visually appealing and is frequently utilized in various forms of art, architecture, and design to create a sense of movement and harmony.

Symbolism: Throughout different cultures, the spiral holds significant symbolic meanings, often representing growth, transformation, evolution, and the cyclical nature of life.

Musical Notation: In music, the spiral can be represented graphically to convey information about pitch, duration, tempo, or other musical aspects.
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31
votes
DrJanaOfficial · CC BY-SA 4.0

The heart

The heart is a universal symbol of love, compassion, and emotion. Its curves and symmetry make it an aesthetically pleasing shape that resonates with people across cultures.
The heart is a symbolically beautiful and universally recognized shape that represents love, affection, and emotion. It is often depicted as a symmetrical, stylized representation of a human heart, featuring a curved top and a pointed bottom.

Meaning: Symbolizes love, affection, and emotion

Symmetry: Typically symmetrical, with a curved top and pointed bottom

Shape: Resembles a stylized representation of a human heart

Recognition: Universally recognized symbol

Versatility: Can be used in various forms of art, design, or communication
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14
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The triangle

The triangle is a stable and balanced shape that is often associated with strength, power, and stability. Its sharp lines and angles create a sense of precision and focus.
The triangle is a three-sided polygon with three vertices and three edges. It is a closed geometric shape that has been widely recognized for its simplicity and elegance.

Sides: Consists of three sides of equal or different lengths.

Angles: Contains three angles that sum up to 180 degrees.

Classification: Varies based on the lengths of its sides and the measures of its angles, with classifications like equilateral, isosceles, scalene, acute, obtuse, and right triangles.

Symmetry: Has at least one axis of symmetry.

Mathematical Significance: Fundamental in geometry and trigonometry, forming the basis for various mathematical principles.
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25
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Geek3 · CC BY 3.0

The sphere

The sphere is a three-dimensional version of the circle, with the same qualities of symmetry and completeness. Its roundness makes it a soft and gentle shape that is pleasing to touch and hold.
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8
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The crescent

The crescent is a shape that is often associated with the moon, and is therefore linked to the cycles of nature, growth, and change. Its curved shape is soothing and calming to the eye.
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11
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Diliff · CC BY-SA 3.0

The square

The square is a stable and balanced shape that is often associated with practicality, reliability, and structure. Its corners and straight lines create a sense of order and symmetry.
The square is a geometric shape characterized by four equal sides and four right angles. It is a regular quadrilateral and belongs to the family of polygons. The square is a simple and symmetrical shape that is widely appreciated for its harmonious and balanced appearance.

Number of sides: 4

Equal side lengths: Yes

Right angles: Yes

Number of vertices: 4

Number of diagonals: 2
8

8
votes
The star

The star is a shape that is often associated with guidance, hope, and inspiration. Its points and angles create a sense of direction and purpose.
The star is a geometric shape that consists of a set of line segments connecting a central point to an equal number of points arranged symmetrically around it. It resembles a celestial body with multiple rays extending from a central core.

Symmetry: The star exhibits perfect radial symmetry, with each ray equidistantly spaced from the others.

Points: The star typically has five or more points, but there are variations, such as the commonly known five-pointed star or the more intricate seven-pointed star.

Lines: The star is formed by connected straight line segments between the central point and each of the outer points.

Angles: The angles between the line segments of the star vary depending on the number of points, but they are typically acute angles.

Symmetry Axes: The star possesses multiple symmetry axes passing through the central point.
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6
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Jerry Cone · Public domain

The diamond

The diamond is a shape that is often associated with luxury, elegance, and beauty. Its sharp angles and facets create a sense of depth and sparkle.
The diamond is a gemstone renowned for its brilliance, elegance, and enduring beauty. It is a crystalline form of carbon that has been subjected to immense pressure and heat deep within the Earth, resulting in its unique structure and captivating sparkle.

Chemical Composition: Carbon

Hardness: 10 on the Mohs scale

Color: Various hues including white, yellow, brown, pink, blue, and green

Clarity: Ranges from flawless to included

Cut: Varies in shapes including round brilliant, princess, emerald, cushion, and more
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5
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The infinity symbol

The infinity symbol is a shape that is often associated with eternal love, unity, and continuity. Its flowing curves and loops create a sense of infinite possibility and potential.

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Discussion

Ranking factors for beautiful shape

Symmetry

Symmetry plays a significant role in determining the beauty of a shape. A symmetrical shape is visually appealing because it demonstrates balance and harmony.
Proportion

The proportion between the different components of a shape greatly affects its beauty. Shapes with pleasing proportions are easier to process visually and are considered more attractive.
Simplicity

Shapes that are simple and easy to understand tend to be regarded as more beautiful. Complexity can sometimes make a shape appear chaotic or confusing, detracting from its appeal.
Curvature

Shapes with smooth, flowing curves are often perceived as more beautiful than shapes with sharp angles or jagged lines. Curvature creates a sense of movement and fluidity that is visually appealing.
Fibonacci sequence and Golden Ratio

Shapes that incorporate the Fibonacci sequence or the Golden Ratio in their proportions have long been considered aesthetically pleasing. These mathematical principles create a sense of harmony and balance in a shape, contributing to its overall attractiveness.
Uniqueness

The beauty of a shape can also be influenced by its uniqueness or originality. Shapes that are distinctive and unusual are often considered more interesting and visually appealing than those that are common and repetitive.
Emotional resonance

Shapes that evoke positive emotions or have a strong symbolic meaning may be considered more beautiful. For example, a heart shape often represents love and affection, while a circle can symbolize unity and wholeness.
Context

The context in which a shape is viewed or used can also affect its perceived beauty. A shape that works perfectly within a specific design or environment may be more attractive than when it is viewed in isolation.
Contrast

The use of contrast - such as light and dark, or contrasting colors - can enhance the beauty of a shape by creating visual interest and depth.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most beautiful shape. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or shape is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

2967 views
240 votes
10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each shape once every 24 hours. The rank of each shape is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

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More information on most beautiful shape

The concept of beauty is subjective and often varies from person to person. However, when it comes to shapes, there are some that are commonly perceived as more aesthetically pleasing than others. Shapes that are symmetrical, proportionate, and balanced tend to be perceived as beautiful. The most commonly cited beautiful shape is the circle, with its smooth curves and perfect symmetry. The circle has been used in art and architecture for centuries and is often associated with concepts such as unity and infinity. Other shapes that are often considered beautiful include the triangle, which is seen as strong and stable, and the spiral, which represents growth and change. Some people also find the simplicity and elegance of the square or rectangle to be beautiful. Ultimately, the most beautiful shape is a matter of personal preference and can be influenced by cultural and societal norms. At StrawPoll, we love to see what shapes our community finds most beautiful through our polls and rankings.