A Guide to Gestalt Principles

Key takeaways

The Gestalt principles explain how people naturally perceive visual elements as patterns or a unified whole rather than as individual parts.

• A paper called “Laws of Organization in Perceptual Forms” by Max Wertheimer in 1923 first explored the Gestalt principles, which have evolved and adapted to different industries over time.

• The six Gestalt principles are similarity, continuity, closure, proximity, and figure-ground.

• You can use the Gestalt principles in careers that explore human perception, such as graphic design, counseling, therapy, and teaching. 

Learn more about each Gestalt principle, how they fit together, and how you can use these concepts in exciting careers. When you're ready, begin exploring design principles with the Adobe Graphic Designer: Design that Demands Attention Professional Certificate. In as little as four months, you can gain hands-on experience with Photoshop and Illustrator to create polished, professional designs that stand out. Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to build a portfolio showcasing your design skills, including logos, social content, marketing materials, and more.

What are the Gestalt principles?

The Gestalt principles are a set of psychological theories that describe human perception, both in the things we see around us and in the experiences of our lives. In modern German, the term “Gestalt” loosely translates into the way that something is put together.

First explored in a 1923 paper called “Laws of Organization in Perceptual Forms” by Max Wertheimer, the Gestalt principles have evolved and adapted to different industries. Graphic designers, therapists, and educators use these principles to influence how people view their experiences, perceive the world, learn new things, or interact with marketing. Wertheimer noted instances where humans perceive something differently than it truly is. He also revealed his theory that perception could shape vision and other human senses. Each of these observations became a Gestalt principle. 

Over time, and as people began to apply the Gestalt principles in practical ways, many professionals started following a more streamlined model with four, five, or six principles. Today, six commonly used Gestalt principles include similarity, continuity, closure, proximity, figure-ground, and symmetry.

Gestalt principle examples: The core 6

Similarity 

The Gestalt principle of similarity states that humans, both visually and auditorily, naturally group similar items. We perceive those items as connected to one another. If you are working on a visual design, such as for a website, you might use similarity to visually connect items on the page. Conversely, you may allow certain design elements to stand out by making them different from the surrounding areas. For example, you might place a big button with a contrasting color on your website to give users clear directions for signing up for your newsletter. 

Continuity 

According to the principle of continuity, humans perceive items on a curve or line as being connected to one another. Your eye naturally follows curves, even if something intersects to break those curves. Imagine an image of a tree with a curved line behind it to represent the horizon. Even though the tree interrupts the horizon line, you see the line as a connected, fluid object and the tree as a separate object. 

Closure

The principle of closure speaks to the phenomenon of human perception in which our brains fill in missing information to complete an image. Sometimes called reification, an example of this is a shape drawn with dashed or dotted lines. You understand these images to be what they are—a circle, diamond, or triangle, for example. In design, this principle allows you to use negative space to give viewers the illusion of an image without creating the entire image. 

Proximity

Humans tend to believe items are connected when we view objects grouped near one another. A simple example is the words on the page you’re currently reading. You understand that the grouped letters are words, and the spaces separate them from each other, so you can easily read the text. Graphic designers or educators might use proximity to group items together while designing advertising or educational materials so viewers can see their relationship, such as by featuring s’mores in an ad for chocolate bars to drive sales. 

Figure-ground

The figure-ground principle refers to humans’ tendency to see a focal point as the subject of a scene and everything else as a background. Have you ever seen a black-and-white image where the black shapes form a picture while the white shapes form a second picture? The first time you view the image, you will likely focus on one shape or the other instead of seeing both simultaneously. That’s because your brain tries to make sense of what it sees according to the figure-ground principle. 

What is figure-ground perception?

Figure-ground perception refers to how you differentiate the main figure you are looking at from its background. Clues such as blurriness, contrast, size, and separation help accomplish this task. For example, a blurry object will likely lead you to assume that the object is part of the background, whereas you may perceive the object that appears crisp and clear as the main figure.

Symmetry or good figure

The law of good figure, also called symmetry or prägnanz, means that your brain will try to make sense of shapes it doesn’t understand in the simplest way possible. For example, when you look at a web page filled with design elements, you will mentally separate those elements into content blocks. A commonly used example of good figure design is to imagine the logo for the Olympics in a black silhouette. Even though the shape itself is a line that curves around and around, your brain still recognizes it as the logo you are familiar with.

Who uses Gestalt principles?

Graphic designers, therapists, and educators are among the primary users of Gestalt principles. Let’s examine these careers more closely to understand how Gestalt principles play a role in their work. 

Graphic designers 

Median annual salary: $61,300 [1]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2024 to 2034): 2 percent [1]

Requirements: To become a graphic designer, you will most likely need a bachelor’s degree. 

Graphic designers use Gestalt principles to understand the link between design elements and human perception. Gestalt principles make graphic designs more appealing and exciting, and can also influence how we feel about products showcased in an advertisement or an experience on a website. 

Read more: UX Design vs. Graphic Design: Choosing the Right Career Path 

Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health therapists

Median annual salary: $59,190 [2]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2024 to 2034): 17 percent [2]

Requirements: You will need at least a bachelor’s degree to become a mental health therapist. Some positions require a more advanced degree, such as a master’s degree. Some positions may require certification. 

Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health therapists sometimes use Gestalt principles to help their clients focus on how experiences happening right now affect their lives. The Gestalt approach encourages therapists and their clients to understand the context of why those events are happening and how to move forward. Gestalt therapy may also help treat mental health conditions such as low self-esteem, depression, or anxiety. 

Teachers

Average annual salary for elementary school teachers: $62,310 [3]

Average annual salary for secondary school teachers: $64,580 [4]

Requirements: The requirements to become a teacher vary from state to state but typically include a bachelor’s degree and professional licensing. In some instances, you may need a more advanced degree. 

Educators, either those directly teaching students in a classroom setting or any other education professionals who create lesson plans, may use Gestalt principles to help understand how students perceive the material. For example, teachers can plan lessons based on concepts that are related to each other. Another example of Gestalt principles in action might be including a “review” section in a lesson plan to show students a larger view of how the material works together (continuity). 

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