Gestalt Principles in UI Design - Part 3
The human brain processes about 4 billion bits of information per second (most of it unconsciously) and transmits information at 200 miles per hour. All this neural activity would consume an enormous amount of energy if we were to be conscious of it all, so in order to save energy while operating at maximum efficiency, the brain uses inductive reasoning and conditional probability to make sense of the world. In other words, when processing visual information hitting our eyes at 1,000 frames per second, our brain becomes "lazy." By observing, researching, and identifying examples of our perceptual abilities, designers can design products according to these unifying qualities. Over the last two decades, the work of Gestalt psychologists has been adopted by designers involved in the development of products for people.
Elements arranged in a line or a soft curve are perceived to be more related than those arranged randomly or in a harsh line. Elements following a continuous line are perceived as grouped. The smoother the line segments, the more we see them as a unified shape. Our mind prefers the path of least resistance. Continuity helps us interpret direction and movement. It takes place when aligning elements and it can help our eyes move smoothly through the page, assisting with legibility. The Continuity principle strengthens the perception of grouped information, creating order and guiding users through different content segments. Disruption of continuity means that the end of a section has been reached and draws the user attention to a new content.
Elements moving towards the same direction are perceived as more related than those moving in different directions, or not moving at all. No matter how far apart the elements are or how dissimilar they may seem, if they are moving or changing together, they are perceived as related. This effect happens even when movement is implied, by other visual elements. The Common Fate principle is more powerful when elements move in the same direction and at the same time and speed. It can help with grouping relevant information and link actions with results. The disruption of a synchronized movement can grab users' attention and direct them to a specific element or feature. It can also, establish relationships between different groups or states.
There are Principles that determine how people perceive visual elements. If we understand the Gestalt Principles, we can create a better UX. We can design more user-friendly apps. By using Gestalt Principles we will be able to direct the users' attention to the right place and the important information.