Gestalt Principles of Design as a Philosophy for Life
The Power Of The Whole
Maybe the rope that’s being sent down to your den is not to choke you, or a noose for you to give up on, maybe it’s for you to hold on to and climb out of your despair. Tikvah, the Hebrew word for hope, is also the word for “rope.” Life is but a matter of perspective.
As I grow older - I’m beginning to see this pattern when it comes to value and how it connects to being well-rounded. An example being, the excellence of a product lies not just in its stellar USP - but how, the cohesiveness and completeness of the product - from putting it in your cart to after-sales service -makes it exceptional. It’s not this single feature (the USP) that distinguishes the product and separates it from its competitors, but rather ‘the whole’ that creates this experience. To stay on track with this design metaphor - this postulate is known as the Gestalt Principle.
Gestalt principles or laws are rules that describe how the human eye perceives visual elements. These principles aim to show how complex scenes can be reduced to more simple shapes….that describes how humans group similar elements, recognize patterns and simplify complex images.
~ The Interaction Design Foundation
Now the key to approaching the Gestalt principle is that this phenomenon lies in the mind and not in the eyes. This is why in order to truly understand and know yourself, it must come from within. When applied to the self, the Gestalt principle underscores the idea that our personality and potential are not reducible to mere collections of skills and traits. Instead, they emerge from the intricate interplay and unity of our various facets. This is a rather optimistic idea as it suggests that it is via viewing our life through this lens that we come to recognize that our true potential is an emergent property, greater than the sum of our individual talents.
But in order for this Gestalt principle to truly work in setting down our path of meaning, or simply planning and delivering the value we believe we bring as individuals - it must bring unity. Unity, not just among our talents and skills but also our various roles, aspirations, and abilities, while simultaneously being tied to our own personal values and principles.
If you were to ask me which of these elements make the painting ‘a whole’ and complete, there is just one idea I have been thinking of:
The Logos.
Without the Logos, nothing falls into place.
But what is the Logos? Imagine the symphony of existence.
Imagine reality as a grand symphony. Each individual instrument represents a unique aspect of existence, whether it's a person, an event, or an idea. The whole symphony, when played together, creates a sublime, harmonious experience that transcends the individual sounds. In this metaphor, the symphony represents the holistic nature of reality, where the totality is greater than the isolated components. But none of this is possible, or brought about in unity and harmony, without the conductor. He is the master at play.
Such is the role of the Logos in our life.
As long as we have meaning and purpose (which inextricably comes from the Source) then we shall have our eyes set on this above and better. It brings about order and a standard — values and virtues. To be led by God, to see all things with the compassion as he does, makes you a good designer, and a good person.
Our potential is not just the sum of our skills, but the symphony of our being, in tune with the Logos.
This is also where Viktor Frankl's concept of the 'will to meaning' finds resonance. It is not the isolated fragments that drive us but the profound meaning and purpose we derive from the unity of our existence.
For those of you who are not designers of products, services, or experiences, you are still a designer of your fate. And in order to be the captain of your boat, you need to believe in much more than the individual components and members aboard. There is this magic that exists in this world that goes unsaid more often than we realize. It exists between our bones and in the gaps between our skills that we fail to see magnify who we are.