4. Perception: Shape

As the short test earlier showed, people associate shapes with circumstance.

sharp shapes call for attentionStarry shape tends to indicate 'Alert, look at this!' For instance you will often see 'bargain prices' in shops using sharp shapes.

 

Cloudy smooth shapes tend to indicate friendly information. For instance Speech bubbles.

So use these in an appropriate way - sharp shapes for alerts, smooth shapes for information.

Some symbols have an almost universal meaning, such as

tick and cross meaning

An interface that uses these symbols the other way around would be truly confusing!

 

 

challenge see if you can find out one extra fact on this topic that we haven't already told you

Click on this link: Shape and movement in HCI