Each of these observations became a Gestalt principle. He also revealed his theory that perception could shape vision and other human senses. Graphic designers, therapists, and educators use these principles to influence how people view their experiences, perceive the world, learn new things, or interact with marketing. Wertheimer noted instances where humans perceive something differently than it truly is.
įirst explored in a 1923 paper called “Laws of Organization in Perceptual Forms” by Max Wertheimer, the Gestalt principles have evolved over time and adapted to different industries.
In modern German, the term “Gestalt” loosely translates into “the way that something is put together”. The Gestalt principles are a set of psychological theories that describe human perception, both in the things we see around us and in the experiences of our lives.