to design / shape
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to design / shape
To bring something into a specific form or give it a specific appearance. Often refers to creative or planning activities.
Die Künstlerin gestaltet eine Skulptur aus Holz.
The artist is shaping a sculpture out of wood.
to organize / shape
To organize and carry out a process, event, or situation in a particular way.
Wir wollen den Abend so gestalten, dass sich alle Gäste wohlfühlen.
We want to organize the evening in such a way that all the guests feel comfortable.
to turn out
To develop or proceed in a certain way.
Die Suche nach einer neuen Wohnung gestaltete sich überraschend einfach.
The search for a new apartment turned out to be surprisingly easy.
The verb 'gestalten' (to design/shape) is derived from the noun 'die Gestalt' (form, figure). To 'gestalten' something therefore means to give it a particular form or appearance.
Die Wolken hatten eine seltsame Gestalt.
The clouds had a strange shape.
The reflexive form 'sich gestalten' has a different meaning: 'to develop' or 'to turn out/proceed'. It is often combined with an adverb that describes the type of development, e.g. 'sich schwierig gestalten' (to prove difficult / to turn out to be difficult).
Die Zusammenarbeit gestaltete sich einfacher als erwartet.
The collaboration turned out to be easier than expected.
'Gestalten' (to design/shape) refers either to something visual/creative, e.g. a garden or a poster, or to something abstract/organizational, e.g. an evening or the future. The context makes the difference clear.
Sie gestaltet den Garten mit vielen bunten Blumen.
She designs the garden with many colorful flowers.
In the creative sense, 'gestalten' (to design/shape) is often used with objects such as 'einen Raum' (a room), 'eine Webseite' (a website), 'ein Plakat' (a poster), or 'einen Garten' (a garden).
Der Designer soll die neue Webseite des Unternehmens gestalten.
The designer is supposed to design the company’s new website.
to form / educate
Bilden and gestalten can both describe creating a form. Bilden emphasizes more that a whole emerges from a material or several parts. Gestalten places greater emphasis on the creative or planned development of the form and appearance.
Die Künstlerin gestaltet die Schale mit einem feinen Muster.
The artist decorates the bowl with a delicate pattern.
Die Künstlerin bildet aus dem weichen Ton eine Schale.
The artist forms a bowl from the soft clay.
