The impact of the Law of Common Region on UX design

In the early 20th century, a group of German psychologists developed theories around how people perceive the world around them, called Gestalt principles. They illustrate the types of shortcuts our brains make, without us even realising, to make sense of the world around us. The Gestalt principles of visual perception include: The Laws of Proximity, Similarity, Closure, and Common Region and are regularly used in UX and UI design.
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Understanding the Law of Common Region
The Law of Common Region suggests that elements placed within a common region or boundary are perceived as a group. In other words, when objects are enclosed within a shared space or visual boundary, users naturally associate them as related or belonging to the same category. This principle can be observed in various aspects of daily life, and its application is particularly impactful in the realm of UX design.

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Application in UX Design
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1. Grouping and Categorisation: UX designers leverage the Law of Common Region to group related elements together, creating a sense of unity and organisation. For instance, in e-commerce websites, products within the same category are often enclosed in a common region, such as a bordered box. This helps users quickly identify and navigate through different product categories, improving the overall user experience.
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‍2. Form and Functionality: The Law of Common Region influences not only visual design but also the functional aspect of a user interface. Buttons that perform similar actions or belong to the same functional group are often grouped within a common region. This makes it easier for users to understand the relationship between these elements and facilitates seamless navigation.
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‍3. Content Layout: When designing websites or applications, the arrangement of content plays a pivotal role in user engagement. The Law of Common Region is applied to structure content, grouping related information together. For instance, on news websites, articles within the same section are often presented within a designated area, helping users quickly identify and access the content of interest.
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‍4. Form Design: In form design, the Law of Common Region is employed to group form fields logically. Related fields, such as those for personal information or payment details, are often grouped together within a common region. This not only improves the visual hierarchy of the form but also aids users in understanding the information flow.
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The Law of Common Region is a fundamental principle that significantly shapes the visual and functional aspects of UX design. By understanding how users perceive and organise information based on visual boundaries, designers can create interfaces that are intuitive, user-friendly, and conducive to a positive user experience. Leveraging this law allows designers to guide users through a seamless journey, enhancing overall usability and satisfaction in the digital landscape.