Whenever I make swords or any other design (Car designs, any moving opject)
I'm thinking of the purpose...but whatever you make, the thing that matters is that it looks organic and aerodynamic, speed matters, and power matters so something inbetween.
If you're saying that your shading looks bad, then you should do shading studies and lightsource studies first before making an actual orbject
Interesting outlines is just a secondary fact.