Universal Principles of Design, Updated and Expanded Third Edition

152 Proximity

The brain automatically assumes elements that are close together are related.

Proximity, one of the Gestalt principles of perception, asserts that elements that are displayed close together are perceived as a single group or chunk and are interpreted as being more related than elements that are farther apart. For example, a simple matrix of dots can be interpreted as consisting of multiple rows, multiple columns, or as a uniform matrix, depending on the relative horizontal and vertical proximities of the dots.1

The grouping resulting from proximity reduces the complexity of designs and reinforces the relatedness of the elements. Conversely, a lack of proximity results in the perception of multiple, disparate chunks and reinforces ...