Gestalt

Question 1

Law of Common Region

Answer 1

Elements tend to be perceived into groups if they are sharing an area with a clearly defined boundary.

Takeaways
1. Common region creates a clear structure and helps users quickly and effectively understand the relationship between elements and sections.
2. Adding a border around an element or group of elements is an easy way to create the common region.
3. Common region can also be created by defining a background behind an element or group of elements.

Origins
The principles of grouping (or Gestalt laws of grouping) are a set of principles in psychology, first proposed by Gestalt psychologists to account for the observation that humans naturally perceive objects as organized patterns and objects, a principle known as Prägnanz. Gestalt psychologists argued that these principles exist because the mind has an innate disposition to perceive patterns in the stimulus based on certain rules. These principles are organized into five categories: Proximity, Similarity, Continuity, Closure, and Connectedness.

Question 2

Law of Proximity

Answer 2

Objects that are near, or proximate to each other, tend to be grouped together.

Takeaways
1. Proximity helps to establish a relationship with nearby objects.
2. Elements in close proximity are perceived to share similar functionality or traits.
3. Proximity helps users understand and organize information faster and more efficiently.

Origins
The principles of grouping (or Gestalt laws of grouping) are a set of principles in psychology, first proposed by Gestalt psychologists to account for the observation that humans naturally perceive objects as organized patterns and objects, a principle known as Prägnanz. Gestalt psychologists argued that these principles exist because the mind has an innate disposition to perceive patterns in the stimulus based on certain rules. These principles are organized into five categories: Proximity, Similarity, Continuity, Closure, and Connectedness.

Question 3

Law of Prägnanz

Answer 3

People will perceive and interpret ambiguous or complex images as the simplest form possible, because it is the interpretation that requires the least cognitive effort of us.

Takeaways
1. The human eye likes to find simplicity and order in complex shapes because it prevents us from becoming overwhelmed with information.
2. Research confirms that people are better able to visually process and remember simple figures than complex figures.
3. The human eye simplifies complex shapes by transforming them into a single, unified shape.

Origins
In 1910, psychologist Max Wertheimer had an insight when he observed a series of lights flashing on and off at a railroad crossing. It was similar to how the lights encircling a movie theater marquee flash on and off. To the observer, it appears as if a single light moves around the marquee, traveling from bulb to bulb, when in reality it’s a series of bulbs turning on and off and the lights don’t move it all. This observation led to a set of descriptive principles about how we visually perceive objects. These principles sit at the heart of nearly everything we do graphically as designers.

Question 4

Law of Similarity

Answer 4

The human eye tends to perceive similar elements in a design as a complete picture, shape, or group, even if those elements are separated.

Takeaways
1. Elements that are visually similar will be perceived as related.
2. Color, shape, and size, orientation and movement can signal that elements belong to the same group and likely share a common meaning or functionality.
3. Ensure that links and navigation systems are visually differentiated from normal text elements.

Origins
The principles of grouping (or Gestalt laws of grouping) are a set of principles in psychology, first proposed by Gestalt psychologists to account for the observation that humans naturally perceive objects as organized patterns and objects, a principle known as Prägnanz. Gestalt psychologists argued that these principles exist because the mind has an innate disposition to perceive patterns in the stimulus based on certain rules. These principles are organized into five categories: Proximity, Similarity, Continuity, Closure, and Connectedness.

Question 5

Law of Uniform Connectedness

Answer 5

Elements that are visually connected are perceived as more related than elements with no connection.

Takeaways
1. Group functions of a similar nature so they are visually connected via colors, lines, frames, or other shapes.
2. Alternately, you can use a tangible connecting reference (line, arrow, etc) from one element to the next to also create a visual connection.
3. Use uniform connectedness to show context or to emphasize the relationship between similar items.