Regularity

Example

In the diagram below, A is most easily seen as a single item as it has the same sub-shapes (black squares) and is arranged in regular rows and columns. B still has black squares, but the rows and columns are less organized. Even though C has black squares and may be seen as connected, they are now rotated and dispersed, breaking up the pattern even further.

Discussion

We tend to use similarity as a rule for connecting things together. Those which are ordered are following similar shape, color and organizational rules and hence may be perceived as being related.

When the order breaks up, item similarity may still lead to them being associated (as in the example above), but the connection is now not as strong as when they are ordered in the same way.

Subjectively, order and disorder can have different aesthetic effects. Whilst order is comforting, it may also be boring. And whilst disorder can be confusing, the search for order can be interesting and the discovery of order pleasurable. A 'nice' picture or diagram hence has some disorder. The best balance of order and disorder may depend on the audience: sophisticated viewers can often handle and so prefer greater disorder, whilst less knowledgeable people are easily confused and frustrated by anything more than a small amount of disorder.

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Regularity

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