Web Design Garage

Chapter 2. Grouping Similar Functions

Grouping is a design technique in which you place similar things next to each other. Take any number of objects, like the set in Figure 2.1. If you arrange them evenly throughout the design space, they look like random objects—nothing less, nothing more. However, if you cluster them, as in Figure 2.2, your eye associates each clump as a unit, and your brain tries to figure out why these particular objects belong to that particular group. Suddenly, where at first you had a bunch of random, meaningless objects, you now have two logical groups: living objects and nonliving objects. The people who come up with I.Q. tests love this sort of thing.

Figure 2.1. Take any set of random, meaningless objects.

Figure ...