Gestalt Principles

Gestalt Principles are principles/laws of human perception that describe how humans group similar elements, recognize patterns and simplify complex images when we perceive objects. Designers use the principles to organize content on websites and other interfaces so it is aesthetically pleasing and easy to understand

Why it matters

They describe what perception does before thought gets a vote: grouping, closing gaps, seeing figures against grounds. You cannot opt out — a layout obeys these laws whether or not its designer knows them, so knowing them is the difference between using physics and being used by it.

See it

Proximity

Similarity

Closure

No group, row, or square is actually drawn — your perception built all three before you finished reading this.

The numbers

• Proximity, similarity, closure, continuity, common region, figure-ground — the working set

Related terms

• Elements
• Proximity
• Similarity
• ARIA
• Hick’s Law

Go deeper in Learn UX

• The 4Cs principles of design Equity & Accessibility
• Visual design principles Prototyping & Visual Design
• Understand Human Factors UX Process

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