According to the Law of Common Region, elements within a visually defined area are perceived as belonging together. This allows designers to structure user interfaces and facilitate user guidance so that relationships and structures can be intuitively recognized.
Elements within a visually defined area are perceived as a single unit.
Origin
The law of the common region originates from Gestalt psychology, which was developed at the beginning of the 20th century by psychologists such as Max Wertheimer and Wolfgang Köhler. Gestalt psychology describes how the human brain perceives and interprets visual information.
- Wertheimer, M. (1923). Principles of Gestalt Psychology
Application in UX and UI design
In UX and UI design, the Law of Common Region can be used to make user interfaces intuitive and user-friendly. By grouping related elements in the same visual region, designers can increase clarity and thus improve usability. For example, all input fields that serve a specific task should be placed in a common container to make their relationship clear.
Observing this rule is particularly useful for creating visual hierarchies and for directing the user's attention in a targeted manner. However, care should be taken to ensure that the regions do not appear too cluttered, as this can impair comprehensibility.
One practical area of application, for example, is the design of dashboard interfaces, where various blocks of information such as diagrams, tables and control elements are arranged in clearly defined areas. This allows users to interact with the interface efficiently without being overwhelmed by a confusing layout.
Impact on the User Experience
strongFurther information
- The Principle of Common Region: Containers Create Groupings - Nielsen Norman Group
