A Master in the Making

How We Perceive & Decide

Humans do not make decisions purely based on logic. Every choice is influenced by how we perceive the world, how our senses interpret information, and the context surrounding the decision. Our brains constantly filter and organize sensory input to make sense of what is happening around us, often before we are even aware of it.

Designers can use this understanding to shape experiences that feel effortless and intuitive. For example, when interacting with a website or app, users subconsciously analyze visual layouts, textures, and spacing to navigate or make choices. This is the foundation of sensation in design, which shows how our senses influence perception and behavior before conscious thought occurs.

Seeing Patterns Naturally

People instinctively look for patterns, organization, and symmetry in what they see. Specific designs feel immediately “right” because our brains naturally recognize relationships between elements. Gestalt principles such as figure-ground, proximity, continuity, and symmetry explain this tendency. Figure-ground relationships help us distinguish important content from background information. Proximity groups related items together, making connections easy to see. Continuity guides the eye along natural paths, and symmetry conveys balance and stability.

Using these principles, designers can structure interfaces so users quickly understand relationships without feeling overwhelmed. Laura Bushe’s article on Gestalt theory explains how these principles inform clear, intuitive design, and Carolann Bonner emphasizes how they guide natural interactions, allowing users to feel oriented and confident without explicit instructions.

Depth and Intuition

Depth perception shapes how users interpret visual information and can completely change how an interface is experienced. Designers use visual techniques like size, perspective, layering, and shading to create a hierarchy, making it clear which elements are most important and which are secondary. For example, a large, bold button naturally draws attention, while overlapping or shadowed elements suggest order and priority, helping users understand relationships at a glance. These visual cues make interfaces feel more “real” and easier to navigate by mimicking how we perceive depth in the physical world.

Northern Michigan University’s depth cues guide explains how our brains interpret visual information to perceive depth, even on flat screens. It highlights cues such as relative size, overlap, shading, and perspective. Larger elements appear closer and more important, overlapping objects indicate which items are in front or behind, and perspective can guide the eye along a visual path. Shading and shadows also give clues about spatial relationships. By understanding these cues, designers can create a clear hierarchy that helps users immediately see what matters most and navigate interfaces more intuitively.

The Interaction Design Foundation focuses on affordances, which are signals in design that indicate how an object can be used. Buttons that look raised invite clicking, sliders that appear movable encourage dragging, and toggles that resemble physical switches clearly communicate on/off functionality. Affordances help users understand what actions are possible without instructions, making interactions feel natural. When depth cues and affordances are combined, they guide users effortlessly, making interfaces both visually clear and functionally intuitive.

Guiding Behavior Through Design

Behavioral economics reveals that design can influence user decisions in subtle ways without being manipulative. People often rely on mental shortcuts, such as following what others do (social proof) or sticking with preselected choices (default bias), rather than carefully weighing every option. Designers can use these tendencies to guide users toward desired actions by making certain paths more straightforward, more prominent, or easier to follow. For example, highlighting a recommended subscription plan or showing how many people have already chosen a product gives users confidence in their decision. Reducing friction, such as removing extra clicks or unnecessary steps, also makes interactions feel effortless and keeps users engaged.

The Bridgeable article on behavioral economics principles breaks down five strategies designers can use to shape behavior. It explains that anchoring, the first piece of information users see, affects how they evaluate choices. Default options take advantage of people’s tendency to stick with preselected selections. Friction reduction removes barriers that make actions harder, and social proof demonstrates that others are taking an action, which encourages similar behavior.

The article also discusses the ostrich effect, where people avoid information that feels threatening, and how design can help users engage without feeling overwhelmed. These strategies show how thoughtful design can guide decisions naturally and supportively, making experiences intuitive and satisfying.

Engaging Multiple Senses

Design is not limited to sight. Engaging multiple senses creates richer, more memorable experiences and can strengthen emotional connections. Sounds, haptic feedback, and evocative imagery can reinforce actions and provide satisfying confirmation of user behavior. For example, subtle audio feedback when completing a task can make the interaction feel more rewarding, while textured surfaces or responsive touch cues give a sense of tangibility.

Akna Marquez’s introduction to multisensory design explains how incorporating multiple senses improves comprehension and connection, making interactions more natural and enjoyable.

Similarly, Astriata shows that multisensory design in digital interfaces can increase engagement, improve memory retention, and make experiences feel immersive. By appealing to more than just vision, designers can create experiences that are functional, intuitive, and emotionally resonant.

Designing With People in Mind

The most effective design respects how humans naturally perceive, sense, and interact. By combining insights from behavioral economics, Gestalt principles, depth perception, affordances, and multisensory design, designers can create experiences that feel intuitive, effortless, and meaningful.

Thoughtful design aligns with human behavior rather than working against it, ensuring interfaces are not just functional, but enjoyable and engaging. Great design anticipates the user’s perspective, meets their needs, and works in harmony with how people think, sense, and make decisions.