Rounding Corners
We sweat the small stuff to design and make the best products we can. In this series, Details Matter, we’ll dive into a specific detail of one of our products. First stop—rounding corners with our desk accessories.
What’s a Spline?
There are two different ways to soften the corners of a square: the first and easiest is to just radius the corners. Take a square block of wood, round off the corners, done. This is the most common route. The second is to use a spline to create a gentle curve that flows from side to side. This is what we do for our products.
Originally, a spline was a physical tool (a thin piece of wood or other pliable material) used to help draw a gentle bending curve between fixed points. Now, we use computer software to model spline curves as we design our products, and then produce the shape out of solid hardwood. This method allows us to create a continuous curve around the edge of the square, rather than an abrupt change from flat to rounded.
Originally, a spline was a physical tool (a thin piece of wood or other pliable material) used to help draw a gentle bending curve between fixed points. Now, we use computer software to model spline curves as we design our products, and then produce the shape out of solid hardwood. This method allows us to create a continuous curve around the edge of the square, rather than an abrupt change from flat to rounded.
![](https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fgmp0107-planter-design-A1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=200&s=902ea5eccd36a5edc6fd2639427440fd 200w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fgmp0107-planter-design-A1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=300&s=98529d3b7fbdd62b28b061ac03d7cf60 300w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fgmp0107-planter-design-A1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=500&s=de67fe334c3b3c8a95bc8090cb2e162c 500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fgmp0107-planter-design-A1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=700&s=24ca8ba0812449319bb813fd380a0886 700w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fgmp0107-planter-design-A1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=900&s=6019ca63a152b3105ac4a48787e6c61b 900w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fgmp0107-planter-design-A1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1100&s=7ed1d1903039c28ce9952f7b8d5201a4 1100w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fgmp0107-planter-design-A1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1300&s=08747c29316e664e52c1a4c2be472da3 1300w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fgmp0107-planter-design-A1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1500&s=dc9730eb29c7620806fa8c1b3a9fb71b 1500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fgmp0107-planter-design-A1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1800&s=9a8aec5eb0211a69356998d61544e658 1800w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fgmp0107-planter-design-A1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=2250&s=79a3793834cadc011542347d1b4f98dd 2250w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fgmp0107-planter-design-A1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=2500&s=522d3e11cf9051dee1360d551b0e388c 2500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fgmp0107-planter-design-A1.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=3000&s=6c3ee0ea70ad8db4dcff2c6e2b96dd59 3000w)
Subtle/Not Subtle
Seeing is believing—check out the animation below to see the difference between the two profiles:
(A) shows the profile of a square with rounded corners, the more common approach. (B) shows the shape created with a spline, the shape we use in our products. With (B), the turn is gently extended around the entire shape, avoiding the optical illusion created in (A) where the sides appear to pinch inward. It’s a gentler transition from side to side.
![](https://siteleaf.grovemade.com/uploads/gmp0107-planter-shape-A4.gif 200w,https://siteleaf.grovemade.com/uploads/gmp0107-planter-shape-A4.gif 300w,https://siteleaf.grovemade.com/uploads/gmp0107-planter-shape-A4.gif 500w,https://siteleaf.grovemade.com/uploads/gmp0107-planter-shape-A4.gif 700w,https://siteleaf.grovemade.com/uploads/gmp0107-planter-shape-A4.gif 900w,https://siteleaf.grovemade.com/uploads/gmp0107-planter-shape-A4.gif 1100w,https://siteleaf.grovemade.com/uploads/gmp0107-planter-shape-A4.gif 1300w,https://siteleaf.grovemade.com/uploads/gmp0107-planter-shape-A4.gif 1500w,https://siteleaf.grovemade.com/uploads/gmp0107-planter-shape-A4.gif 1800w,https://siteleaf.grovemade.com/uploads/gmp0107-planter-shape-A4.gif 2250w,https://siteleaf.grovemade.com/uploads/gmp0107-planter-shape-A4.gif 2500w,https://siteleaf.grovemade.com/uploads/gmp0107-planter-shape-A4.gif 3000w)
Although the difference between the profiles is subtle, it’s a much more complex (and difficult) shape to model and create. Woodworking techniques are designed around right angles and flat surfaces—using the spline shape makes the manufacturing harder throughout the process, from cross cutting to sanding. We need to use special jigs to find the center of each piece—it’s hard to measure from the edges when each side is entirely curved.
![](https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fsean-A2.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=200&s=39e7aebb92f3cfd2a534da1e6beaa1a9 200w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fsean-A2.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=300&s=477ecbeaf2d21e5d3d4b5e07240ad7dd 300w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fsean-A2.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=500&s=a968a466bb944793aa8b7a2e779be57c 500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fsean-A2.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=700&s=b8a91b1ced5a505348963b2416a498ad 700w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fsean-A2.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=900&s=8c3deb511eeb08a7b895e4059f6c3185 900w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fsean-A2.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1100&s=bbf93f44f78be1911b5371bac2728287 1100w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fsean-A2.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1300&s=27e47cbcc71867f668094dd9d326ad94 1300w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fsean-A2.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1500&s=86da8ee049a9d32f6b7baacac71f9627 1500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fsean-A2.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1800&s=c34184559327f13b8bf647bfc0e28bbb 1800w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fsean-A2.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=2250&s=ea3603773151a023ecd66be02d151115 2250w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fsean-A2.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=2500&s=83699d435401b43ca7ff7fb0d97bfc2d 2500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fsean-A2.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=3000&s=2a65bca8d31babed82e3e4d79d309ca1 3000w)
“The spline softens the edges of the square, giving it a warmer, more organic feel.”
SEAN KELLY
Lead Product Designer
The result, however, is a shape that is way more sculptural. It’s why our planters, pen cups, and other accessories have been classics in our workspace collection. Once we saw the shape created by using a spline, we couldn’t go back to a rounded square! It’s a detail worth working hard to create.
Spline in Action
We designed a range of desk accessories using this shape—from a dish for your knick knacks to a desk lamp.
Workspace, Accessorized
Pair these accessories with our desk shelf, monitor stand or laptop stand for ultimate workspace inspiration.