Presentation on Gestalt Theory for Visual Design- M-101 Lab Mr Shelor

GESTALT is a psychology term which means "unified whole" GESTALT is a psychology term which means "unified whole". It refers to theories of visual perception developed by German psychologists in the 1920s. These theories describe how our brains tend to organize visual elements into groups or unified wholes when certain principles are applied.

What are the 5 Gestalt Principles? Figure Ground Closure Similarity Proximity Continuation

Figure-Ground The eye differentiates an object form its surrounding area. A form, silhouette, or shape is naturally perceived as figure (object), while the surrounding area is perceived as ground (background).

Figure-Ground Figure The word above is clearly perceived as figure with the surrounding white space ground. In this image, the figure and ground relationships change as the eye perceives the the form of a shade or the silhouette of a face.

Figure-Ground This image uses complex figure/ground relationships which change upon perceiving leaves, water and tree trunk.

Proximity Proximity is the grouping of elements that are close to each other to form an overall figure or pattern. Also known as ‘nearness’.

Proximity The nine squares above are placed without proximity or nearness. They are seen as separate shapes.

Proximity When the squares are given close proximity, unity occurs. While they continue to be separate shapes, they are now perceived as one group.

Similarity Similarity occurs when objects look similar to one another. People often perceive them as a group or pattern.

Similarity The example above (containing 11 distinct objects) appears as a single unit because all of the shapes have similarity.

Similarity When similarity occurs, an object can be emphasized if it is dissimilar to the others. This is called anomally. The figure on the far right becomes a focal point because it is dissimilar to the other shapes.

Closure What do we see? Closure occurs when an object is incomplete or a space is not completely enclosed. If enough of the shape is indicated, our brains “perceive the whole” by filling in the missing information and closing the shape.

Closure Although the panda above is not complete, enough is present for the eye to complete the shape. When the viewer's perception completes a shape, closure occurs.

Continuation Continuation occurs when the eye is compelled to move through one object and continue to another object. Continuation occurs in the example above, because the viewer's eye will naturally follow a line or curve. The smooth flowing crossbar of the "H" leads the eye directly to the maple leaf.

What do you see? Which Gestalt principle is being shown?

Fido?

Physiological factors affecting Visual Perception Alcohol… Slows us down, changes coordination, reduces attention, concentration and ability to make judgements. Old Age…cataracts, long-sightedness, age-related macular degeneration, retinal detachment, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma. Our eyes age as we do and become more susceptible to disease and damage.

OPTICAL ILLUSIONS OR HOW EASY IT IS TO TRICK HUMAN BEINGS….

How do Optical Illusions work? A visual stimulus misleads our perception (or meaning-making) of that stimulus. This happens because we APPLY perceptual constancies to what we are seeing – they are our RULES. We make a false judgement because we misjudge length, position, speed, direction or curvature.

MULLER LYER Illusion There are 2 theories to explain this illusion! The Muller Lyer illusion consists of 2 lines that are equal in length to each other. One has ‘arrow-heads’ attached. One has fish-tails’ attached.

Theory of Perceptual Compromise 1. The length of the solid horizontal lines of each figure are actually equal in length. BUT the length of each WHOLE figure is not the same. 3. The lengths between the added tips (heads or tails) is very different. We use closure to estimate the length and compromise somewhere between the actual length and the perceived length.

Diagram of Perceptual Compromise

Is this picture REALLY moving?