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The Science Behind User Experience Design
Lori Werhane, UX/UI Designer, BlueTread
May 1, 2024
The typography, buttons, icons, and colors users interact with everyday on mobile apps and websites are more than just visual designs. User experience best practices are in fact rooted in scientific methods that include many Gestalt Principles.
What are Gestalt Principles? Gestalt Principles are principles/laws of human perception that describe how humans group similar elements, recognize patterns and simplify complex images when we perceive objects. Designers use the principles to organize content on websites and other interfaces so it is aesthetically pleasing and easy to understand.
Some of Gestalt Principles include proximity, similarity, and continuity. By applying these principles, user experiences can be more than just visually pleasing, they can be intuitive, seamless and smart.
But first, let’s learn a bit about how Gestalt Principles apply to our best practices in user experience design.
- The Proximity Principle
The Gestalt principle of proximity states elements that are close to each other are perceived as belonging together. Think peas in a peapod. In user experience design, this principle is leveraged to group related elements and establish visual hierarchy. By placing related buttons, options, or information near each other, designers make it easier for users to understand their relationships and make intuitive decisions. Proximity helps to organize content, improve scanning efficiency, and create cohesive user interfaces that enhance the overall user experience. - The Similarity Principle
Elements that share similar visual attributes, such as shape, color, or size, are perceived as related or belonging to the same group. Think of a workforce in the same uniform. In user experience design, this principle is utilized to create visual patterns, highlight important information, or establish consistent visual cues. By using similar visual elements for related content or interactive elements, designers help users by recognizing patterns, making connections, and quickly understanding the hierarchy and structure of the interface. The principle of similarity enhances user experience by promoting visual harmony, reducing cognitive load, and increasing the overall usability of a product. - The Continuity Principle
The Gestalt principle of continuity states that people naturally perceive and follow continuous, smooth lines or patterns. Think of following a road from point A to B. In user experience design, continuity is utilized to guide users' focus, flow, and navigation throughout interfaces. By aligning elements, creating consistent pathways, and maintaining a smooth visual flow, designers ensure that users can easily follow the information hierarchy and navigate through the interface effortlessly. Continuity in design helps reduce cognitive load, enhances user comprehension, and provides a seamless and intuitive user experience.
At BlueTread, when we approach a project, the goal is to always make the final product an intuitive, user-focused experience. We find using tools rooted in science are always the best approach to creating amazing software for our clients and their end-users.
We have only covered a few principals here, but plan to cover more in future posts. Want to learn more? Reach out to [email protected] so we can chat.
