Group Similar Elements Within Interfaces

Users will group your interface into sections.

Help them perceive these groups with gestalt principles of grouping (e.g., proximity, color, shape).

How to Apply

• Push Headlines Closer to Their Sections. Headlines seem ambiguous if they appear in the middle.

• Keep Labels Close to Their Elements. Form labels should be nearby.

• Divide Long Lists Into Sections. A subtle line can make a list seem organized, even if the groups are randomly divided (Mogilner et al., 2008).

• Distinguish Powerful Functions to Minimize Slips. A delete function should look vastly different to prevent unnecessary interactions.

• Mogilner, C., Rudnick, T., & Iyengar, S. S. (2008). The mere categorization effect: How the presence of categories increases choosers' perceptions of assortment variety and outcome satisfaction. Journal of consumer Research, 35(2), 202-215.