A model of switching in ferroelectric liquid crystals is developed which represents the devices using three variables. This is a useful approach because the switching process in ferroelectric liquid crystal devices takes place through the formation and evolution of domains. The three variables used then represent the background director orientation, the director orientation within evolving domains, and the net domain area which has evolved. Setting up a system in this way allows modeling of a wide range of switching conditions in devices. The modeling is compared successfully with experimental results. ©1995 American Institute of Physics.