Gestalt is both a theory and a set of principles. As a theory, it originates from psychology and explores how humans perceive visual elements as whole forms rather than isolated parts. The Gestalt Principles (such as proximity, similarity, and closure) are specific rules derived from this theory that explain how people organize visual information, often used in design to create clear, unified layouts.
These Brand Guides integrate UCD with Visual Hierarchy and Gestalt Principles to showcase well-rounded design approaches, rooted in theory while remaining practical and user-focused. While each guide contains comparable elements, you’ll easily see the varied approaches.
Explore the UX choices in this redesign by interacting with a hotspot image that showcases how information was organized, structured, and made accessible to users. See how Gestalt Principles and Plain Language Theory were applied to help users easily understand the process of filing their taxes for free.