visual

Law of Prägnanz

People will perceive and interpret ambiguous or complex images as the simplest form possible, because it is the interpretation that requires the least cognitive effort.

Simplicity and order

The human eye likes to find simplicity and order in complex shapes because it prevents us from becoming overwhelmed with information.

Visual processing

Research confirms that people are better able to visually process and remember simple figures than complex figures.

Unified shape

The human eye simplifies complex shapes by transforming them into a single, unified shape.

gestaltvisual-designsimplicity

Origin

Gestalt psychologists Max Wertheimer, Kurt Koffka and Wolfgang Kohler developed a set of principles in the early 20th century aimed at describing how people naturally perceive objects as organized patterns and objects. These principles, commonly referred to as Gestalt laws principles, are organized into five categories: proximity, similarity, continuity, closure, and connectedness.

Related Laws

Quick Stats

Research Insights0
Related Laws4
Categoryvisual