GESTALT

THEORY
GESTALT THEORY
 Emphasizes that the whole of anything is greater than its
parts.
 The attributes of the whole are not deducible from analysis
of parts in isolation.
 GESTALT is used in MODERN GERMAN which means
the way a thing has been “placed” or “put together”.
 InPSYCHOLOGY the word is often interpreted as
“pattern” or “configuration”
SOME GENERAL “RULES” OF
GESTALT THEORY
Objects will be perceived in their simplest form.
Humans naturally follow lines or curves.
The mind will attempt to fill in the details that isn’t
actually there.
PRINCIPLES OF

THEORY
 PROXIMITY
 Occurs when elements are placed close to each other.
 Helps to portray a relationship between the separate parts.
SIMILARITY
 Occurs when objects look similar to one another. The
viewer will perceive them as a pattern.
 Similarities in color, shape, texture etc.
CONTINUATION
 Occurs when the eye is compelled to move through one
object and continue to another object.
CLOSURE
 Occurs when an element is incomplete or a space is not
totally enclose.
 The viewer will subconsciously fill in the missing
information.
SYMMETRY
 Elementsthat are symmetical to each other, tend to be
perceived as a unified groups.
FIGURE AND GROUND
 The eye differentiates an object from its sorrounding area.
A form, or shape is perceived as figure, while the
sorrounding area is perceived as ground.