A dictionary definition of Gestalt — A physical, biological, psychological, or symbolic configuration or pattern of elements so unified as a whole that its properties cannot be derived from a simple summation of its parts (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/gestalt).
A design-related definition of Gestalt — Gestalt psychology attempts to understand psychological phenomena by viewing them as organized and structured wholes rather than the sum of their constituent parts (http://www.interaction-design.org.)
Psychologically, Gestalt laws or principles explain how we form perceptions with the help of past experiences. Therefore, what we perceive can be different from reality and can change from person to person. In summary “The whole is greater than the sum of the parts”
Gestalt principles include: Similarity, Continuation, Closure, Proximity, and Figure and Ground. I drew up some samples of figure and ground and closure to share with you.
Cat looking at you or two unicorns having a face off?
Figure/Ground – 6 hearts and 3 baby elephants
Gestalt in "closure" looks like a ski or race car brand
