“Form follows function” is more than the design slogan that's been repeated for the last 100 years. Form follows function is larger than life, its an existential claim that is present in all levels of life. The phrase itself has been misconstrued to “less is more”, while the true origins of the phrase meant so much more. Louis Sullivan, considered the “father of skyscrapers” wrote the line in 1896, before thinking about the artist or designer, he was looking at nature. Sullivan was talking about the eagle in flight the apple blossom, and the branching oak, hhe saw that in living things shape is the visible expression of what the organsim does. The most basic expression of form follows function.

Over time, we see that this rule as not necessarily a design choice but something inevitable in nature. Dolphins sharks and ichthyosaurs come from entirely separate lineages, and they arrived at nearly the same body shape because water demands it. Wings evolved independently in insects, birds, and bats. When the function is a hard physical problem, the solutions converge. This also begs the question of what comes first, for example these animals evolved to follow their function, yet in proteins that we digest the shape determines their biological function. The relationship between form and function runs in both directions, for if we think of it as a mathematical equation, when one variable is changed the other does too. 

I believe that as artists and designers its important to recognize this relationship, the gravity of it and its prevalence in all design. Unlike many have argued, i dont believe the concept form follows function is meant to add meaning to minimalism and stripping things down, but understanding to all forms. Sullivan’s buildings were adorned with ornamental architecture, which most would argue are functionless, but to me the decorative architecture evoked humanity within the form, a form of decadence and class. Function does not only have to be a physical function but can have conceptual functions too. Just like in nature, there is form that belongs to function, and function that belongs to form, I believe as artists its important we are always asking ourselves this question. As we work and toggle between ideas and practice, we should ask ourselves if our form stands the test of time? Does it lead to proper use of function physically, and understanding conceptually?