The Law of Proximity is a principle within Gestalt psychology, a theory that proposes that humans naturally perceive objects as organized patterns and wholes, rather than as separate components. This particular law suggests that elements that are close to each other tend to be perceived as a unified group.
According to the Law of Proximity, objects or shapes that are close to one another appear to form groups. Even if the shapes, sizes, and objects are radically different, they will appear as a group if they are close together. This principle is based on the idea that our minds are inclined to group elements together that seem to be near each other, creating a sense of relationship or unity among them.
For example, if there are several dots on a page, we perceive the dots that are close to each other as belonging together in a group distinct from other groups of dots. This occurs even if the dots are not similar in other ways, such as size or color.
The Law of Proximity is important in various fields, especially in visual design, user interface (UI) design, and user experience (UX) design. It guides designers in organizing content and visual elements in a way that is intuitive and helps users process information more efficiently. By grouping related items together, designers can create interfaces that are more easily navigable and understandable for users.
See also Gestalt laws of grouping.