The application of the Law of Continuity makes it easier for us to perceive elements as "belonging together". In this way, it promotes a logical and fluid absorption of information, especially when the information should be perceived in a predetermined order.

Origin

The Law of Continuity was formulated by Gestalt psychologists Max Wertheimer, Wolfgang Köhler and Kurt Koffka in the early 1920s. It is one of the fundamental principles of Gestalt psychology, which describes how the human brain organizes and interprets visual information.

  • Wertheimer, M. (1923). "Laws of Organization in Perceptual Forms
  • Koffka, K. (1935). Principles of Gestalt Psychology

Application in UX and UI design

In design, the Law of Continuity helps make user interfaces more intuitive and aesthetically pleasing by creating natural visual paths that the eye can easily follow. For example, menu items can be placed along a horizontal or vertical line to create a logical and easy-to-follow structure.

 

The pictograms are perceived as a group. The pictograms are perceived as a group because they follow different Gestalt principles, on the one hand the Law of Similarity, but also the Law of Continuity.

 

The application of this law helps to reduce cognitive load, as users have to spend less time interpreting the structure of the user interface.

Impact on the User Experience

strong

Further information