Gestalt UI Organisation

UI should be organised so that the visual structure communicates relationships — which commands, controls, and elements belong together — without requiring users to read labels or documentation.

Core Gestalt Principles for UI Layout

1. Proximity

Elements that are close together are perceived as a group.

• Place related controls (e.g. Bold / Italic / Underline) close together with minimal gap between them
• Separate unrelated groups with larger whitespace
• Do not use lines or borders as the primary grouping mechanism — proximity alone should convey the relationship

Example: A toolbar with [Cut] [Copy] [Paste] grouped tightly, then a wider gap before [Undo] [Redo], communicates two distinct command groups without any visual divider.

2. Similarity

Elements that look alike are perceived as related.

• Use consistent colour, shape, size, and iconography within a functional group