Shape grammars have offered a unique computational theory of design over the past forty or so years. Shape grammars are comprised of visual, shape rules that specify seeing and doing actions (see this ® do that). Shape rules apply in computations to generate, or compute, designs made of shapes. Underpinning shape grammar computations are formal definitions of shapes based on their visual properties. Recently, shape grammars have been adapted to define making grammars comprised of rules that apply to compute material, real-world objects or things, as opposed to abstract shapes. Underpinning making grammars and their computations are formal definitions of things based on their physical, sensory properties.

In this talk, I will overview (1) shape computing with shape grammars, (2) different ways that shapes in shape grammars have been augmented with material properties to describe physical things, and (3) new work with making grammars for computing physical things and their properties directly. I will highlight some merits, drawbacks, and peculiarities of computing with shapes, computing with augmented shapes, and computing with things in the realm of design.