...[In] two-dimensional design, we use our technical, perceptual, and conceptual skills to create flat visual pattern and convincing illusions. It is the viewer's
mental response that gives the artwork meaning. By contrast, our experience in the three-dimensional world is physical and direct. As we traverse an architectural space, we alter our perception with each step we take. When we circle a sculpture, we encounter new information on each side. The materials used in the construction of a three-dimensional object determine its structural strength as well as its aesthetic appeal.
The physical connection gives three-dimensional design an inherent power. When we shift from an illusory world to a tangible world, a substantial shift in communication occurs. Confronted by the physical presence of the three dimensional object, the viewer responds viscerally as well as visually.
From
Launching the Imagination: A Comprehensive Guide to Basic Design 2001, Mary Stewart
Opening paragraph Part Three Ch. 7 Three-Dimensional Design: Aspects and Elements
