The brain defaults to the simplest interpretation available for any visual stimulus. The Law of Prägnanz, from the German for conciseness or good figure, is the overarching principle behind Gestalt psychology, articulated by Max Wertheimer and his collaborators in the 1920s. Faced with an ambiguous or overly complex image, the visual system resolves it into the simplest form consistent with what's actually there. A circle with a small gap in it still reads as a complete circle, not an arc. Overlapping shapes read as distinct, whole forms rather than as one irregular composite shape.
Law of Prägnanz
Why the brain prefers simplicity and what that means for your UI
A
Designers Academy
16 July 2025 · 3 min read
DesignPrinciples
In brief
The Law of Prägnanz is a Gestalt psychology principle stating that the brain simplifies complex visual information into the most basic, stable form, which impacts how users interpret UI elements and informs effective product design.
