Welcome to unit 4: DESIGN & PERCEPTION
Gestalt principles of
perception
What is Perception?
Perception is the process of acquiring, interpreting, selecting, and organizing information received through our senses or sensory organs such as the eyes, ears and skin. Perception comes from a Latin word– percepio” which carries the meaning of receiving, collecting, and taking actions in taking possession, apprehend with the mind or senses.
Gestalt Principles of Perception
The word ‘Gestalt’ is a psychology term which means “unified whole“. It refers to theories of visual perception and it attempts to describe how people tend to organize visual elements into groups or unified wholes when certain principles are applied.
Perception is the process of acquiring, interpreting, selecting, and organizing information received through our senses or sensory organs such as the eyes, ears and skin. Perception comes from a Latin word– percepio” which carries the meaning of receiving, collecting, and taking actions in taking possession, apprehend with the mind or senses.
Gestalt Principles of Perception
The word ‘Gestalt’ is a psychology term which means “unified whole“. It refers to theories of visual perception and it attempts to describe how people tend to organize visual elements into groups or unified wholes when certain principles are applied.
1. Law of Pragnanz (Law of Simplicity)
Based on this law, the reality is organized or reduced to the simplest form possible. This can be done by minimizing the number of elements present in a design to its simplest form.
It uses symmetrical compositions or arrangement of elements rather than asymmetrical compositions.
Example: A coin bag
Source: Own
Explanations:
The design pattern on this bag is symmetrical and simple.
2. Law of Similarity
Similar items tend to be grouped together. Their similarities are judged in terms of their visual characteristics such as shape, size, colour.
Example: Arrangement of dishes
Source: Taken from house
Explanation: The dishes are all arranged accordingly and separately according to their types, shapes and colours.
Similar items tend to be grouped together. Their similarities are judged in terms of their visual characteristics such as shape, size, colour.
Example: Arrangement of dishes
Source: Taken from house
Explanation: The dishes are all arranged accordingly and separately according to their types, shapes and colours.
3. Law of Good Continuation
Lines either straight or curvy which are in a particular close arrangement are seen to bring meaning and form. In other words, elements which are in alignment are seen to be more related compared to the unaligned elements.
Example: Symbol on portable Wifi
Source: Own
Explanations:
The design of the lines of the Wifi symbol provides a good continuation principles in design. The slightly curved lines which are arranged close together shows relatedness and it forms a particular form which are seen as a whole or group.
Lines either straight or curvy which are in a particular close arrangement are seen to bring meaning and form. In other words, elements which are in alignment are seen to be more related compared to the unaligned elements.
Example: Symbol on portable Wifi
Source: Own
Explanations:
The design of the lines of the Wifi symbol provides a good continuation principles in design. The slightly curved lines which are arranged close together shows relatedness and it forms a particular form which are seen as a whole or group.
4. Law of Proximity
Objects near each other tend to be grouped together and seen as a whole.
Example: The dots presence on a shoe box
Source: Own
Explanations:
According to the law of proximity, objects that are near to each other are grouped together. In this case, the object refers to the dot on the box. The dots are arranged in a manner so that they form the world map.
Objects near each other tend to be grouped together and seen as a whole.
Example: The dots presence on a shoe box
Source: Own
Explanations:
According to the law of proximity, objects that are near to each other are grouped together. In this case, the object refers to the dot on the box. The dots are arranged in a manner so that they form the world map.
5. Law of Closure
Objects grouped together are seen as a whole.
Example 1: The dots on the shoe box
Source: Own
Explanations:
The dots on the shoe box are grouped closely together to be seen as a whole. As an overall view, the dots can be seen to form the map of the world.
Objects grouped together are seen as a whole.
Example 1: The dots on the shoe box
Source: Own
Explanations:
The dots on the shoe box are grouped closely together to be seen as a whole. As an overall view, the dots can be seen to form the map of the world.
6. Law of Figure / Ground
Stimulus will be perceived as separate from it’s ground. Similar elements/figure are contrasted with dissimilar elements(ground) to give the impression of a whole. The eye differentiates an object form its surrounding area perceived as figure (object) while the surrounding area is perceived as ground (background).
Example: The rhinoceros of the wall painting
Source: This picture was taken in Bintulu, Sarawak
Stimulus will be perceived as separate from it’s ground. Similar elements/figure are contrasted with dissimilar elements(ground) to give the impression of a whole. The eye differentiates an object form its surrounding area perceived as figure (object) while the surrounding area is perceived as ground (background).
Example: The rhinoceros of the wall painting
Source: This picture was taken in Bintulu, Sarawak