The Law of Closure states that our cognitive perception tends to perceive incomplete or fragmented forms as complete. If parts of a pattern or contour are missing, the brain automatically "fills in" the gaps in order to recognize a "figure" that is as complete as possible.

Origin

This effect was studied by Gestalt psychologists in the early 20th century; Max Wertheimer described it in 1923 and Kurt Koffka in 1935 in their seminal works, in which they explained how the brain automatically fills in gaps to obtain a coherent overall picture.

  • Wertheimer, M. (1923). Untersuchungen zur Lehre von der Gestalt. Psychological Review, 4, 301–350.
  • Koffka, K. (1935). "Principles of Gestalt Psychology. New York: Harcourt.

Application in UX and UI design

In UX and UI design, the Law of Closure can be used to visually group content. When designers arrange elements in such a way that they form an imaginary shape, users perceive these elements as coherent.

In addition, this principle is widely applied in the design of pictograms and logos: the targeted use of design principles, such as the law of closure, significantly aids the interpretation of visible signs for the viewer.

Impact on the User Experience

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Further information