The Gestalt Theory

Gestalt is a German word meaning shape or form, formed in the 1920s. Gestalt is taking something seen as something whole and breaking it down into individual parts. Individual parts are what allow us to perceive things as complete or meaningful. The term Gestalt is a psychology term which means "unified whole", referring to theories of visual perception.

Similarity

This is where we think that if objects have similarities then they belong together, for example this picture located on the left: although all of these shapes are square so are in fact similar, we're instantly drawn towards either the black ones or the white ones first. The same goes for a poster of all stickmen but two of them coloured red. Our brain is automatically drawn to the shapes in which are similar to one another rather than those different.

Proximity

Proximity is where the brain sees shapes near each other and automatically pictures them together. We see things near to each other to belong together, therefore making us see the full picture, which is shown in the example on the left, because although the shapes aren't all in line, we automatically picture them to be due to them being close together and therefore see them to all be in line rather than in different places.

    Closure

Closure is where the brain sees an image and puts it together. Closure is meaning that an image or a logo is incomplete, yet because we recognise this image we automatically put it together. This well known logo of "WWF" is noticeably a panda, yet it's incomplete, which therefore reinforces how our brain automatically puts it together because we recognise it. Basically, when parts of a whole picture are missing our perception fills in the visual gap.

Continuity

Continuation is where the eye is compelled to move from left to right of the image. This part of Gestalt Theory is something that draws attention. We see from left to right from a curved or straight path, and so by using this image on the left we're able to follow from the left to see the end result of the stickman jumping. In some cases this may not work, for instance those who go from right to left rather than us who go from left to right.

Symmetry

This is where we see symmetrical images to be one whole photo. It's incredibly eye pleasing, aesthetically pleasing. Not only this but it promotes the usage of a communicative tool. The principle of symmetry describes the instance where the whole of a figure is perceived rather than the individual parts which make up the figure.

These are two good examples of Shape Theory. They're both representing closure, because even though they're not fully completed, we can piece them together ourselves. The picture on the right could arguably count as symmetry as well, apart from the animal being different, the tree is quite symmetrical, but it is mainly closure as opposed to symmetry.