Design Law Series: Part 1 — How Gestalt Principles Transform User Experience

And why your brain effortlessly navigates apps like a seasoned pro!

Imagine this: You open a new music streaming app for the first time. Without any instructions, you instantly know how to search for your favorite artist, create a playlist, and adjust the settings. It’s almost as if the app is reading your mind! But in reality, it’s your mind reading the app — thanks to the Gestalt Principles at play in UI/UX design. These principles make interfaces intuitive, guiding you seamlessly through features without a second thought.

What Are the Gestalt Principles?

Originating from German psychologists in the 1920s, the Gestalt Principles explain how we naturally organize visual elements into groups or unified wholes. Instead of seeing isolated buttons, icons, and text, our brains prefer to perceive a cohesive and organized interface. Think of it as your brain’s built-in UX designer, constantly arranging chaos into order.