Design Diary: Exploring Spatial Perception in SketchUp.
Today, I dove into the fascinating world of spatial perception in design. Turns out, there’s a whole set of principles that explain why some spaces feel “right” and others don’t. These principles fall into two big categories: Gestalt Principles (the “why”) and Compositional Principles (the “how”). Here’s my quick take on them:
The “Why” – Gestalt Principles
These are all about how our brains naturally organize what we see into complete pictures. They make spaces feel logical and easy to understand:
- Figure and Ground: Separates objects from their background, helping highlight main elements.
- Proximity: Things that are close together feel connected, so grouping items makes sense.
- Closure: We complete incomplete shapes in our minds—open spaces can still feel defined.
- Symmetry: Balanced spaces feel harmonious.
- Continuity: Our eyes like to follow paths; this guides movement.
- Similarity: Similar items feel connected—use matching colors or textures.
- Simplicity: Less clutter equals more comfort.
The “How” – Compositional Principles
These principles help pull everything together into a cohesive design:
- Contrast: Highlights features by making them stand out.
- Scale: Proportions keep things balanced—no tiny chairs in a big room!
- Repetition: Repeating elements ties everything together.
- Rhythm: Adds flow, like a pattern or repeated shape.
- Balance: Visual weight is key; avoid lopsided designs.
- Hierarchy: Focal points give your eye somewhere to land.
Putting It into SketchUp
Using these principles in SketchUp is actually pretty intuitive. For example, you can define areas without walls (closure), create focal points (hierarchy), or just group similar items together (proximity). It’s amazing how these little rules make a big difference in how a space feels!
Learning these design basics has made SketchUp even more fun to use. Excited to keep experimenting and see where these principles take me!
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