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Dictionary entry

gestalt principles

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A set of rules about how people naturally group and read visual elements, such as seeing things that are close together or look alike as belonging together.

Synonyms

  • gestalt laws
  • principles of grouping

Related terms

In plain words

  • how the eye naturally groups things
  • why we see some elements as belonging together

Usage example

Using gestalt principles, she grouped related buttons close together so users read them as one set.

Don't confuse with…

  • proximityProximity is one specific gestalt principle; gestalt principles is the umbrella term covering proximity, similarity, closure, and others.

Categories

  • Layout & composition

Related-term graph

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Directly related

Two hops away

  • Relatedgestalt principles related of alignment
  • Relatedgestalt principles related of figure-ground
  • Relatedgestalt principles related of proximity
  • Relatedgestalt principles related of visual hierarchy
  • Relatedproximity related of alignment
  • Relatedfigure-ground related of focal point
  • Relatedvisual hierarchy related of focal point
  • Relatedfigure-ground related of gestalt principles
  • Relatedproximity related of gestalt principles
  • Relatedalignment related of grid
  • Relatedvisual hierarchy related of reading order
  • Relatedalignment related of visual hierarchy
  • Relatedproximity related of visual hierarchy
  • Relatedfigure-ground related of white space
  • Relatedproximity related of white space

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