The Law of Common Region: How We Perceive Groups in Design

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by a cluttered room or a messy desk? And you have difficulty focusing on what's crucial when many things are competing for your attention. Luckily, there's a design principle that can help make things more organized and easier to understand: the Law of Common Region.

What is the Law of Common Region?

The Law of Common Region states that elements tend to be perceived as a group if they are sharing an area with a clearly defined boundary. In other words, if a group of objects is located within the same boundary. Our brain sees them as a single unit rather than individual objects.

Real-life examples of the Law of Common Region

You can see the Law of Common Region in many areas of your life. For example, when looking at a map, you might see different regions colored differently. These colors create a boundary that helps your brain group them.

Another example is a grocery store. Have you ever noticed how certain products are grouped on the shelves? Because the store helps you find what you need using the Law of Common Region. When you group products within a defined area, it's easier for your brain to perceive them as a single unit.

A teacher can use the Law of Common Region to create presentations. By grouping related information within a defined boundary, your students can more easily understand and remember the material.

How can the Law of Common Region help you in real life?

Understanding the Law of the Common Region can help you create a more organized and efficient space. Here are a few ways you can apply this principle in your everyday life:

Organize your desk:

If you have a messy desk. Try grouping related items within a defined boundary. For example, you might group all your pens and pencils in a cup and all your papers in a tray. It will help your brain see your desk as a more organized space and make it easier to focus on the task.

Plan your meals:

If you want to eat healthier, try grouping your meals by color. For example, you might have a "green day," where you eat lots of leafy greens, a "red day," where you eat lots of red fruits and vegetables, and so on. It will help you see your meals as a cohesive unit and help you stick to your healthy eating plan.

Create a vision board:

If you're working towards a specific goal, try creating a vision board with pictures and quotes representing your goal. By grouping these images within a defined boundary, you'll be able to see it more clearly and stay motivated to achieve it.

In conclusion, the Law of Common Region is an essential design principle that helps our brains make sense of the world around us. We can create more effective designs, study notes, and presentations. So next time you're at the store or looking at a map, remember the Law of Common Region and how it helps our brain understand and organize information.