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Gestalt Theory

Explanations > Perception > Gestalt Theory

Gestalt Theory was developed by Max Wertheimer, Kurt Koffka Wolfgang Kohler and Christian von Ehrenfels around the beginning of the 20th century. Since then, it has been developed and extended by later thinkers.

Gestalt means ' configuration' or 'wholeness' and is about how we perceive in patterning way. Although gestalt theory was aimed at visual images, many of the principles may also be applied to other senses, such as hearing and smell.

• Perception Laws:
  • Figure/Ground: Foreground and background.
  • Continuation: We follow lines.
  • Closure: We fill in the gaps.
  • Proximity: Association of near things.
  • Similarity: Linking of similar things.
  • Symmetry: Recognition and balance.
  • Common Fate: Associated items travel together.
  • Prägnanz: Simple and clear.
  • Regularity: Repeating pattern.
• General Principles:
  • Emergence: Order appearing out of chaos.
  • Reification: Filling in the gaps.
  • Multistability: Seeing stable items.
  • Invariance: Recognising items distorted, moved, etc.

So what?

Understand these basics of visual perception when you are designing products, communications and other things where understanding or aesthetics are important.

See also

Chang, D., Dooley, L. and Tuovinen, J.E. (2001). Gestalt Theory in Visual Screen Design – A New Look at an Old Subject (paper presented at the Seventh World Conference on Computers in Education, Copenhagen, July 29—August 3, 2001).

Graham, L. (2008). Gestalt Theory in Interactive Media Design, Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 2, 1

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