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Design Blog (2016)

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Gestalt Law of COMMON FATE vs. CONTINUITY

10/16/2016

4 Comments

 
"The Gestalt LAW OF COMMON FATE states that humans perceive visual elements that move in the same speed and/or direction as parts of a single stimulus. A common example of this is a flock of birds. When several birds fly in the same direction, we normally assume that they belong to a single group. Birds that fly in a different direction do not appear to be included in the said group. A marching band is another example that usually exhibits the gestalt law of common fate. Below is yet another example showing this principle [as the bubbles are grouped together in their movement off the page]."  
​-- https://explorable.com/gestalt-laws-form-continuation-common-fate
Picture
http://www.adorama.com/alc_images/article13706_3.jpg
​Common Fate is often confused with Gestalt's Principle of Continuity. Common Fate is more about suggested movement while Continuity is about resting objects that are not continuing dynamic movement. 
​
"The principle of good continuity holds that humans tend to perceive each of two or more objects as different, singular, and uninterrupted object even when they intersect. In other words, individuals tend to group together as well as organize curves, lines and other forms that are found in similar directions. However, those that establish changes in direction may be perceived as different objects. The alignment of the objects or forms plays a major role for this principle to take effect. This principle is well used by educators in teaching young kids on how to write the letters of the alphabet as well as draw images. Below is an example showing the Gestalt law of good continuity [as you follow and connect the lines in the pattern though they don't actually connect."
​-- https://explorable.com/gestalt-laws-form-continuation-common-fate
Picture
http://www.barbaradelong.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/08162.jpg
​Below is the iconic album cover for The Beatles Abbey Road. This shows both Common Fate and Continuity. The 4 band members walking the same direction shows Common Fate. (Consider what would happen if one were walking the other way. This would be using the Law of Common Fate via violation of it.) The law of Continuity is used on the smaller broken white lines in the middle of the street (not the crosswalk). We continue those as one line. It is easy to confuse the Law of Common Fate and Continuity. But in this case, the 4 band members are only Law of Common Fate while the lines in the street could be argued to show both.
Picture
http://cookusart.com/images/1/beatles-abbey-road/beatles-abbey-road-05.jpg

​STUDENTS:
​ONE SAMPLE OF GESTALT COMMON FATE

​Find a sample that demonstrates Common Fate. Use a photograph, painting, logo, or layout. Do not use one of the simple black diagrams that usually come up for Gestalt - push yourself further than this.  Also be careful that your sample does not show Continuity instead of Common Fate; however, you can explain if it shows both Common Fate AND Continuity.
4 Comments
Nichole Johns link
10/28/2016 08:57:30 am

This is a great example of common fate. Common fate is said to be where "humans perceive visual elements that move in the same speed and/or direction as parts of a single stimulus." In this picture the olives are all going in the same direction. How are we supposed to see this? Someone used the chees to make it look like pacman and most people know pacman eats what is in front of him. Waka, waka, waka.lol

Reply
Darian Stewart link
11/11/2016 01:56:17 pm

This is an example of common fate. Common fate is show humans perceive elements as they flow in the same speed or direction. For the image I choose the fish are all swimming swiftly through the water in the same direction. Hopefully not being chased but swimming peacefully. haha

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Brittney Clayton link
11/26/2016 09:21:09 pm

This is an example of common fate. The image I chose shows five birds, all in a line, but all moving in the same direction. It shows movement, and we instantly categorize them in the same group because of this motion.

Reply
xiyang hua link
12/1/2016 10:48:06 pm

This is a common fate example. In this image, we could see an arrangement flight jets in 5 lines. They all flight toward in one direction. Five lines become one group to work together.

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