Gestalt principles in UI design

How to become a master manipulator of Visual Communication.

Have you ever looked at the sky noticing an unusually shaped cloud, resembling a familiar animal or an object? Have you ever wondered, why or how you make this association just by looking at a fluffy, blob of gas? It’s all because of how your brain works!

Your brain is always trying to make sense of the world by comparing previous experiences or visual patterns and connecting the dots. It has its own “weird” way of perceiving shape and form, grouping information, fill in the gaps to draw the big picture.

Having an understanding how your brain works will help you become a wiser designer; master manipulator of Visual Communication. It can help you determine which visual elements are most effective in any given situation, so you can use them to influence perception, direct attention and cause behavioural change. Something particularly useful when it comes to goal-oriented, problem-solving, intuitive design; User Interface design.

“Great designers understand the powerful role that psychology plays in visual perception. What happens when someone’s eye meets your design creations? How does their mind react to the message your piece is sharing?”
— Laura Busche, Brand Content Strategist at Autodesk

It’s clear by now, visual design and psychology are linked and can influence one another. Gestalt principles can help us understand and control these links.