Like beauty, everyone knows cuteness when they see it. But can cuteness be broken down to its basic properties? I compiled a list of what I found to be the fundamental characteristics of cuteness, what can be seen in anything from kittens to Volkswagen Beetles.
Symmetry- Symmetry and balance is one of the basic principles of any successful design. It is fundamental to human’s perception of the world. Faces that are symmetrical are considered more attractive than faces that are asymmetrical. Symmetry makes a design look stable and harmonic, simpler and easier to understand. Various electronics that employ buttons use symmetry to help make the layout easier to comprehend.
Simple Silhouette- Simple outlines are easier to read and understand than complicated outlines. They can also be easily remembered. Think of the shape of a Coke bottle or the silhouette of the Empire State Building.
Bright but Unthreatening Colors- Color is very important to design. Symbolically, it can indicate the function of something, like a warning or a “go” signal. Color can also bring life to an otherwise stall product. Bright colors are seen as fun and playful, but they should not go too far. A bight orange can be invigorating, but too bright and it resembles the color of prison jumpsuits.
Roundness- Round, fat shapes and bodies imply harmlessness, the opposite of threatening sharp angles and claws. Roundness is one of the fundamental properties of cuteness. Simply rounding the corners of an object immediately makes it look cuter and more approachable. Even something like the Hummer, in its transformation from military vehicle to consumer car, was “plumped up” a little. It still looks big and threatening, but “softer” for general consumers.
Simple Shapes- Like with the silhouette, simple shapes are easier to understand and recall. Simple shapes also imply simplicity in use, and an overall harmonious design.
Smallness- Small things are easier to control, so they seem less threatening. Like infants, small things inspire feelings of protectiveness by someone in a position of authority and power.
Facial Features Close Together- Babies have squashed faces, their eyes, nose and mouth close together, so this characteristic is considered “cute”. It is also seen in baby animals. However, the facial features must also be concentrated in the lower portion of the face. Facial features close together, but in the center of the face or top of the face just looks weird and threatening.
Large Forehead Area- Along with large eyes, a large, round forehead is the other main characteristic of a “baby face”. As a face matures, the facial features become less squashed together, so the forehead becomes smaller. Infant humans and animals also have heads that are proportionally larger to their bodies, so this characteristic is seen as infantile.
Small Nose- The nose is an awkward-looking body part, so having it minimized or gone altogether makes it cuter. Babies and infantile characters will usually have small, round “button” noses.
Small Mouth- Like the nose, the mouth looks awkward, so making it smaller transforms it into a cuter facial feature. A small mouth, or the complete absence of a mouth, could also represent that the character is less likely to speak up for itself. It will be docile and easier to control.
Small Ears- Last in the small facial features groups is ears. Making ears small and round makes them less noticeable, and therefore cuter. All of these facial features combined form to make a face in which nothing really stands out- there are not any surprises, so it is easier to understand and empathize.
Big, Bright Eyes- Big eyes are mostly associated with children and baby animals, so they signify innocence, honesty and happiness. People with large, clear eyes are thought to be trustworthy than people with small eyes.
Stubby Limbs- Short, stocky limbs are almost always found on infants and immature animals. As an organism grows, its limbs become longer and refined. Stubby limbs signify helplessness, clumsiness- like a toddler learning to walk. Sometimes, a cute character’s limbs will end only in stumps, not fingers or toes. This adds to the “helplessness” of the character, inspiring feelings of protectiveness in a viewer. It is also non-threatening, not having any way it could harm someone.
Oversized Accessories- Like a toddler wearing its parent’s shoes, small things paired with larger things are charmingly humorous. It’s an amusing façade, something small and weak trying to pretend it’s older and stronger. The larger object also emphasizes the smallness of the accompanying object or character.
Softness/Fur- Baby mammals are soft and furry. Baby humans typically have soft hair. Teddy bears are furry. Softness and fur imply friendliness and innocence- a cute, soft thing would never harm anyone.
Want to be ironic? Just use cuteness.
