Geon-driven shape models for holistic semantics

Cognitive theories of 3D shape decomposition have posited simple volumetric primitives (Geon Structural Description or GSD). In this work, we adapt these Geon models for 3D holistic shape design and present a methodology for evaluating holistic aspects of 3D shape, such as aesthetics, via user-interactive optimisation. The conceptual design space is defined through a set of constraints on the parameters of the decomposition. The preliminary shapes are evaluated by combining a computable measure of their function with a subjective evaluation by the user (for aesthetics etc). An important aspect in these early stages of design is the ability of the user to redefine the design specification itself; this is achieved by redefining either the parameter ranges, or the geonic-decomposition itself. Results using an example of the common household faucet are demonstrated on a 3D shape design tool OASIS implemented on top of a standard CAD package.