Form follows function

THE TERM “ FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION” IS BASED ON THE PRINCIPLE OF DESIGN

It is associated with late 19th- and early 20th-century architecture and industrial design in general. The intended function or purpose will basically decide the appearance.

In the film industry, “Form Follows Function” means a film’s visual style, set design, editing, and even narrative structure (its “form”) should be dictated by its purpose (its “function”)— telling the story effectively, conveying emotion, or achieving specific goals, rather than prioritizing pure aesthetics or historical styles. This principle guides creative choices, ensuring that every design element serves the narrative. Instead of making something beautiful just to be beautiful, “Form Follows Function” pushes filmmakers to ask: “What does this need to do for the story?” and then design it accordingly, making beauty arise naturally from its necessary role.

To work by this principle when developing a script and design for the film set, can save the production company a lot of money in decoration costs. The film can still come up with a convincing film set for the role it will have to play - it just takes a bit more creativity and planning.