Gestalt in Design
Gestalt occurs when something is perceived as more than the sum of its individual parts. Regarding visual design, Sykes, Malik, and West say, “Gestalt is how all the relevant pieces of the content come together to equal or create something much more than the simple sum of the parts… your intended message” (Sykes et al, 2012). Crafting an effective overall message requires visual and tonal consistency. Every element of the design should be necessary and follow a coding system that solidifies the message.
Hampton-Smith (2018) summarizes six principles of Gestalt in design:
- Similarity: Similar objects appear to be part of a group or pattern.
- Continuation: The eye is drawn along paths even if the path is broken up.
- Closure: The human eye tends to fill in missing information.
- Proximity (aka Grouping): Similar objects tend to be perceived as a single whole even if they are separate.
- Figure / Ground: The eye tends to separate objects from their surrounding background.
- Symmetry and Order: Compositions that are balance and ordered let the viewer focus on the message rather than trying to figure it out.
Used thoughtfully, these principles can make designs more coherent and communicative.
Color in Layouts
The human eye is attracted to color, which stimulates visual interest and is aesthetically pleasing (Kolenda, 2016). Color can also add structure to a layout design. “Color defines space as well as helps to organize elements within a space” (Tondreau, 2019). Color was used in the four thesis page layouts to organize the example images and categorize each of the four DLOs. The four colors (green, orange, blue, and purple) were determined by the home page graphics, associating each color with a DLO. The color background for the page title and header image establishes a visual connection between the color and topic, while the sidebar ties the supporting images and provides a visual reminder of the topic.
Inclusive Language in Writing
As society evolves to be more accepting of diverse groups of people, the way we speak and write must also evolve. Inclusive language is free from words, phrases or tones that reflect prejudiced, stereotyped or discriminatory views of particular people or groups” (Graduate Writing Center, n.d.). This is reflected in the seventh edition of the APA style manual. As noted by Streefkerk (2020), language has become more inclusive and bias-free since the sixth edition was published in 2009. Guidelines provided by APA help authors reduce bias and avoid labeling individuals. For example:
The singular “they” or “their” is endorsed as a gender-neutral pronoun.
Example: “An artist depends on their tools.” NOT “An artist depends on his tools.”
Descriptive phrases are used instead of adjectives as nouns to label people.
Example: “People who are homeless need help.” NOT “The homeless need help.”
References:
Graduate Writing Center. (n.d.). Inclusive Language. Seattle University. https://www.seattleu.edu/education/graduate-writing-center/style–language/inclusive-language/
Hampton-Smith, S. (2018, December 11). The designer’s guide to Gestalt Theory. Creative Bloq. https://www.creativebloq.com/graphic-design/gestalt-theory-10134960
Kolenda, N. (2016). The psychology of color. Nick Kolenda Psychology & Marketing. https://www.nickkolenda.com/color-psychology/
Sykes, M., Malik, N., & West, M. D. (2012). Stories that Move Mountains: Storytelling and Visual Design for Persuasive Presentations. John Wiley & Sons.
Streefkerk, R. (2020, May 8). APA Manual 7th edition: The most notable changes. Scribbr. https://www.scribbr.com/apa-style/apa-seventh-edition-changes/
Tondreau, B. (2019). Layout Essentials Revised and Updated. Rockport Publishers.
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