Gestalt Theory and Constraints in Relation to Creativity

In a nutshell, Gestalt theory looks at the description of the components of a system and their part in the totality of the full situation. The method can be explained as respecting simplicity—and as a result, Gestalt principles have been recognized as aiding perception, understanding, identification, memorization, and recognition. Similar to high-quality instruction, good design and visual art rely on the reduction of elements that could overstimulate the senses and their effective use, favoring smarter, simpler, and more abstract solutions to presenting information. Educators can learn from graphic designers and artists who deliberately play with Gestalt principles to obtain varying results: Lisa Frank and Ed Hardy exemplify an overstimulation of the senses while Piet Mondrian and Mark Roth showcase a limited color palette and textures. This chapter discusses how Gestalt principles such as similarity, proximity, continuity, closure, figure, and ground, coupled with the simplicity and familiarity effect, can provide better options for educators in regard to the content, themes, symbolism, storylines, and styles employed in their visual presentations.