Gestalt

Gestalt principles describe how humans perceive and interpret visual information. Part of Laws of UX.

Law of Common Region

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

Common region creates clear structure and helps users understand relationships between elements and sections.
Adding a border around an element or group is an easy way to create common region.
Common region can also be created by defining a background behind an element or group.

Law of Proximity

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

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

Law of Prägnanz

People perceive and interpret ambiguous or complex images as the simplest form possible, because it requires the least cognitive effort.

The human eye likes to find simplicity and order in complex shapes to avoid becoming overwhelmed.
People are better able to visually process and remember simple figures than complex figures.
The human eye simplifies complex shapes by transforming them into a single, unified shape.

Law of Similarity

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

Elements that are visually similar will be perceived as related.
Color, shape, size, orientation, and movement can signal that elements belong to the same group.
Ensure links and navigation systems are visually differentiated from normal text elements.

Law of Uniform Connectedness

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

Group functions of a similar nature via colors, lines, frames, or other shapes.
Use a tangible connecting reference (line, arrow, etc.) from one element to the next.
Use uniform connectedness to show context or emphasize the relationship between similar items.