Gestalt Theory

Gestalt theory is one of many theories in visual communication, it is a Psychology term which means”Unified whole”. This theory was founded and developed in  the 1920’s by a German Psychologist named Max Wertheimer followed by other theorist in the following year. Gestalt theory is a study about how people tend to organized visual elements into group or unified it as a whole. In my understanding, its not entirely about the eyes its more about the brain, because perception lives in the brain and the eyes is only a tool in our body to see things. But all the grouping and unification only occurs when certain principles applied to the image, this principles are called “Principles of Perceptual Organization”. There are 5 principles in this theory (Proximity, Similarity, Continuation, Closure and Common fate). In this post i will only elaborate on 3 laws of the Gestalt theory.

Similarity

Our brain is the most laziest organ in our body, when we see an object or visual image, the brain will choose the simplest and most stable perception to concentrate on. We tend to group things that are similar to each other although it came into different size and colors. What we focus on is the visual characteristic of the object such as shape and texture. Here’s an example of it.

The size and color are different from one another but it is still simillar in some respect

Closure

This will happen when an object is incomplete based on the structure or the space within the image is not completely enclosed. When this happen, people tend to interpret it as a complete form by filling the missing information. This information is fill based on their schemata, only people who have a background knowledge can complete the missing information on the image they see. when this happen, the principal of closure occurs.

incomplete but can you interepret the image?

Proximity

This occur when two or more objects or elements are closely been put together. People tend to see things in group when looking into objects that are been place closely together. When this happen, we will perceive the object as in one group.

Which center circle is bigger?

how many groups in this picture?

Reference

Collection of optical illusion: Gestalt law. (nd) retrieved on 20th September 2011 http://www.sapdesignguild.org/resources/optical_illusions/gestalt_laws.html

The Gestalt Principle. (nd) retrieved on 20th September 2011. http://graphicdesign.spokanefalls.edu/tutorials/process/gestaltprinciples/gestaltprin c.htm

The Gestalt Principle: Similarity, Proximity & Continuity.Bonie Skaalid. retrieved on 20th September 2011. http://www.usask.ca/education/coursework/skaalid/theory/gestalt/similar.htm

Lester, P.M .(1995) The sensual and perceptual theories of visual communication. Visual communication images with messages (52-58). California: Wadsworth Publishing.

 

Image taken from:

Google image.