Technical Communication Quarterly Sep 1993

Using Gestalt theory to teach document design and graphics

Patrick Moore University of Arkansas at Little Rock ; Chad Fitz

Abstract

Gestalt psychology principles of figure‐ground segregation, symmetry, closure, proximity, good continuation, and similarity provide a simple yet powerful analytic vocabulary for discussing page layout and graphics. The six principles apply readily to typography, white space, data tables and maps, the relation between graphics and text, and other facets of textual design. The principles explain many difficulties that readers have in processing texts and graphics, and they explain why well‐designed pages and graphics are effective.

Journal
Technical Communication Quarterly
Published
1993-09-01
DOI
10.1080/10572259309364549
Open Access
Closed
Topics
multimodality

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (10)

  1. Madson (2024)
    Cannabis Risk Communication: A Scoping Review with a Research Agenda
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  2. Tham (2023)
    Instructional Design Pedagogy in Technical and Professional Communication
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  3. Watkins et al. (2020)
    Sequential Mapping: Using Sequential Rhetoric and Comics Production to Understa…
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  4. Gallagher et al. (2019)
    Empty Templates: The Ethical Habits of Empty State Pages
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  5. Zhang (2016)
    Illustrating Beauty and Utility
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Show all 10 →
  1. Donnell (2005)
    Illustration and Language in Technical Communication
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  2. Henson (2005)
    Using the Internet as a Tool for Public Service: Creating a Community History W…
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  3. Kramer et al. (1996)
    Teaching Text Design
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  4. Kostelnick (1996)
    Supra-Textual Design: The Visual Rhetoric of Whole Documents
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  5. THOMPSON (1996)
    Competence and Critique in Technical Communication
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication

Cites in this index (0)

No references match articles in this index.

Also cites 2 works outside this index ↓
  1. 10.2307/357383
     ↗
  2. 10.1037/11496-001
     ↗
CrossRef global citation count: 33 View in citation network →

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