Grab Bag Research

Grab Bag Research

My grab bag gestalt principles were closure and containment.

Gestalt principles are more than just “terms” used in art and design; they describe how our psychology works. When applied to art, these principles can describe how the design functions as a whole (Dillon Power Point). 

The gestalt principle of closure is simply about the conclusions that our minds make. This can be applied to ideas and art alike.

Our minds can draw conclusions about concepts and images that aren’t complete by relying on what we have experienced in the past.  

For example, the WWF logo:

Although the image isn’t “complete”, we still perceive a panda. When looking at an incomplete image, humans tend to look for familiar patterns and shapes. The more they have seen this shape, the easier the closure becomes. (Rutledge)

Closure is something that we do all the time. For example, on sites like facebook people post something like,

“i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! if you can raed tihs forwrad it.”

When we read this, we are concluding. 

Containment as a principle is the idea that when a design or image is contained (usually by its borders), it not only unifies the image, but also helps to define positive and negative space (Dillon Power Point). When an image is contained, the viewer’s eye focuses onto what is meant to be viewed.

When we mix the two together, it can get interesting. Not only are our minds concluding, but we are also processing the containment of the image. My collage is an example of this.

Sources:

Rutledge, Andy. "Gestalt Principles of Perception - 5: Closure." Design View. N.p., 25 08 2009. Web. 30 Jan. 2012. <http://www.andyrutledge.com/closure.php>.

(Rutledge )