Gestalt theory proposes that people perceive objects and visual stimuli as unified wholes, rather than merely as a collection of individual parts. The psychologist Max Wertheimer developed Gestalt theory in 1910, noticing that visual meaning can change depending on cognitive interpretation. There are four principles of Gestalt systems: emergence (seeing a meaningful whole from separate pieces), reification (constructing meaning where there is none), multistability (interpreting visual information in multiple stable ways), and invariance (recognizing connections between shapes despite distortions). Together these principles help explain how people derive meaning from visual stimuli.

1. UNDERSTANDING
DESIGN
PRINCIPLES
GESTALT

2. A QUICK DEFINITION
The word "gestalt” is German for "shape or form”.
Psychologist Max Wertheimer developed this theory of the mind and
cognition in 1910. He noticed how visual meaning can be fluid, with the
same image open to various cognitive interpretations.This made him, and
others, wonder how exactly it is that people construct meaning when
confronted with visual stimuli.
The purpose of gestalt theory is to describe how people gather meaning
from the things they perceive in the chaotic world around them.The
central argument this theory advances is that you do not perceive an
object only as the sum of its parts, but rather as something unto itself.
Max Wertiheimer | 1880 - 1943

3. 4 Principles that have been
observed in gestalt systems:
• Emergence
• Reification
• Multistability
• Invariance.
Visual Design
Together these four principles help to
explain how people derive meaning from
the visual stimuli we encounter.
Conceptual

4. EMERGENCE
Emergence
occurs when
the eye views a
group of
seemingly
meaningless
pieces and
comprehends
them as a
whole.

5. EMERGENCE

6. REIFICATION
The principle of
reification is
constructive or
generative, since
it implies that
meaning is
created where
there isn't
necessarily
meaning to be
found.

7. REIFICATION

8. MULTISTABILITY
As the name
implies,
multistability is
when your brain
swings from one
stable
understanding to
another when
trying to interpret
visual
information.

9. MULTISTABILITY
RUBENS FACE NECKERS CUBE
DANCING GIRL

10. INVARIANCE
Invariance is the
ability to see
connections
between
geometric shapes
and figures
despite the
images being
distorted or
changed, even
significantly.

11. INVARIANCE

12. VISUAL DESIGN
A LOOK AT

17. THANKYOU!