Clay Global’s article on the law of similarity completely reshaped how we apply Gestalt principles. We adopted their structured approach to similarity, focusing on three core areas: atomic consistency, functional grouping, and hierarchical variation. For atomic consistency, we standardized elements like border radius, spacing, and typography to create a unified foundation. Functional grouping ensured interactive elements—buttons, dropdowns, and transitions—followed predictable patterns, using consistent colors and icons. Finally, hierarchical variation introduced intentional contrasts, like progressive font weights and scaled element sizes, to guide user attention without breaking cohesion.
Our design team is working on a UI overhaul and wants to leverage Gestalt principles more intentionally. We understand the theory of the law of similarity, but struggle with practical execution—how do you balance visual cohesion with necessary differentiation in real projects?
