1) Organize For Perception
Perceptual Organization
"Discriminating primitive features and grouping visual information into meaningful units"
Primitive Features: Color, motion, orientation, and size.
Texture Segregation: The discontinuation between textures, which we see as regions of similar features on a surface. Helps us identify objects and forms.
Perceptual Units: We organize sensory information about the relationship of elements to each other and to the whole.
In some circumstances, we as designers will need to make some information immediately available to our viewers. Warning signs or information graphics or information that needs our immediate attention.
Applying the Principle
Grouping items together will help the viewer quickly determine what information is needed. When we intentionally group items to engage the audiences preventative capabilities we will greatly improve our message.
"Grouping provides opportunities for emphasis, balance, and unity in a design."
Feature That Pop Out
A 'Pop Out' graphic is going to engage our Sensory memory strongest. A strong immediate reaction will influence our effectiveness on the long term memory.
Visual Prominence: color, motion, orientation, size, depth, tilt, shape, line terminators, closure, topographical properties, and line curvature.
Visual Discrimination: we determine whether a property is the same as or different from other properties. The difference between two visual properties must be great enough to cause sufficient bran cell activity. (Contrast between objects must be apparent)
Texture Segregation
Texture: The optical grain of a surface
Our sensory memory unconsciously groups area of textures in order to differentiate between objects. This is also an establishment for the principle of figure ground. Texture is an inhibitor for the Pop Out effect. It will establish depth, material, mood, distance, size, color, etc.
"Texture can become more prominent than shape and line."
Grouping
Spatial Organization: The low-level visual system has a tendency to organize elements into coherent groups depending on how they are arranged and where they are located.
Grouping: Proximity, similarity, symmetry, bounding, and connectedness
Boundary Principle: If a set of elements is enclosed with a boundary, such a s a circle, we group those elements together.
Uniform Connectedness Principle: We perceive elements as one unit when they are physically connected by a line or common edge.
Grouping Objects: Grouping in a design can influence how the audience organizes, interprets and comprehends a visual message.
"Understanding where objects are located and how they are arragned in space is essential for moving through the enviroment."
