visual

Law of Closure

People tend to perceive incomplete shapes or forms as complete by filling in the gaps with their mind.

gestaltvisual-designperception

When to Use

Use partial elements strategically

Leverage users' tendency to complete shapes to create engaging, minimalist designs.

Create visual interest

Use incomplete forms to create visual interest while still maintaining clarity through closure.

Reduce visual complexity

Show partial elements when the complete form would be too complex or cluttered.

When to Avoid

Don't rely on closure for critical information

Ensure that important information is clearly visible and doesn't rely solely on users' ability to complete forms mentally.

Origin

The Law of Closure is a Gestalt principle that states that people tend to perceive incomplete shapes as complete by mentally filling in the gaps. This principle explains why people can recognize objects even when parts are missing, and it's often used in logo design and interface design to create simpler, more elegant visual forms.

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