The Gestalt Theory - It's relevance in jewellery design

The Gestalt Theory is a theory of visual literacy. It hopes to describe the way in which we read (and interpret) visual information. Awareness of the way in which we interpret the visual language of design is not only useful in interpreting design decisions but in making them. We can begin to make more conscious choices when we design about how the piece impacts upon the intended viewers (or readers). The audience (including potential buyers) could be lulled and comforted by elements of symmetry and similarity, or may be disturbed and thrown into uncertain territory by asymmetry and dissimilarity, for example. Either way, we hope that some response has been stirred in the person of the viewer. The outcome has become manipulated by the creator of the piece if their uses of the Gestalt theory have been effective. An awareness of how things are read helps to influence the way in which things are written. How things are seen impacts on how things are made, as well as the other way around.