The human senses are programmed to respond, to change, such as changes in motion or changes in pattern. This means we tend to notice things which break with a pattern, as they ‘stand out’ more than their surroundings. This can be features of colour, size or grouping. Of course, they don't stand out at all — but the bias in our attention creates an illusion that they do.
Understanding this helps large retailers plan their shops and is important for all types of design. People producing crucial equipment,such as instrument displays for air traffic control, use attention theories to ensure that any danger signs are going to be noticed easily.
Print out a few copies of the "Piles of Smiles" picture below and draw smiley faces on all but one of the circles and to make that one a grumpy face. Swap your sheet (face down) with a friend.
There are more than eighty faces on the page - how long do you think it will to find the single grumpy one? On the count of three, turn the pages over and look for the grumpy face. Chances are you'll find it much faster than expected.
How could you draw the faces so as to make finding the grumpy one as easy as possible?
Print out a few copies of the "Shape Shuffle" pictures below and cut each shape out. Arrange the shapes randomly on the table and ask a friend to see what they notice first.
Then ask them to close their eyes. Arrange the shapes so that four identical objects are next to each other and ask your friend to open their eyes and tell you what they notice first. Repeat the process, each time rearranging the shapes.
Try these ideas:
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A square composed of circles and stars, or alternate rows of stars and circles — it cannot easily be seen as vertical columns of stars and circles.
Can you see a Star of David, or just 2 triangles?
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| Piles of Smiles | Shape Shuffle |
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