UI Design

Psychology of Shapes in UI Design

Shapes are a core element of UI design, and their psychological impact goes beyond aesthetics. Each shape conveys specific emotions, ideas, and user behaviors. Understanding the psychology of shapes allows designers to make intentional choices that influence user experience. Let’s explore how different shapes function in UI design.

Abstract composition of colorful geometric shapes, including spheres, triangles, and curves, illustrating the psychology and influence of shapes in design aesthetics.

Circles

Circles are associated with grace, comfort, and fluidity. They convey a sense of friendliness, completeness, and movement. Since they’re less common in design, circles naturally attract attention and provide emphasis.

How to use circles effectively:

Use circular avatars to create warmth and approachability.
Leverage circular progress indicators to suggest fluidity and movement.

For example, circular profile pictures or progress indicators enhance the sense of friendliness and completeness, showcasing the psychology of shapes in creating approachable and engaging designs.

Mobile app interface displaying a progress indicator in circular form and user avatars, emphasizing the use of circular shapes to convey continuity and inclusiveness.

Circles in UI design

Squares and Rectangles

As the most common geometric shapes, squares and rectangles represent familiarity, stability, and order. Their straight edges imply structure and precision, making them ideal for forms, cards, and buttons.

How to use them effectively:

Use sharp edges for a sense of strictness, art, fashion.
Experiment with tilted squares or rectangles to increase visual interest.

These shapes work well in minimalist designs or layouts requiring clear organization, emphasizing the psychology of shapes for creating balance and consistency.

User interface showcasing rectangular shapes in cards, input fields, and a button, illustrating the structured and organized feel these shapes bring to the design.

Squares and rectangles in UI design

Triangles

Triangles are dynamic shapes, symbolizing action, progression, and energy. Depending on their orientation, they can either feel stable (when sitting on its base) or unstable (when not sitting on its base).

Because of their dynamic nature, triangles are well suited for a fast-paced high-tech company, while not suited for a financial institution.

Their directional nature makes triangles a great choice for guiding movement within a design, further illustrating the psychology of shapes in influencing user interactions.

A website design featuring an upright triangle in the background, symbolizing stability and balance, paired with bold text and a call-to-action button for emphasis.

Triangles in UI design

Shapes in Design

Shapes aren’t just static elements; they play dynamic roles in conveying meaning and purpose in design. The psychology of shapes reveals that different shapes or even variations in the style of the same shape can communicate distinct emotions and ideas.

A collage showcasing a triangular play button on Spotify, trend indicators with upward and downward arrows for positive and negative movements, and navigation keyboard shortcuts with arrow keys, emphasizing intuitive and shape-based design elements.

Shapes in UI design

Types of Shapes

1. Geometric Shapes:

Easily recognisable
Often symmetric
Implies organization and efficiency

2. Organic Shapes:

Pleasing and comforting
Irregular, asymmetrical, curvy, uneven
Adds interest, reinforces themes

3. Abstract Shapes:

Recognizable, but not real form
Represent ideas and concepts
Stylized/simplified version of organic shape

Incorporating the right type of shape can reinforce a product’s tone and messaging.

An abstract illustration showing different shapes.

Geometric, Organic and Abstract shapes

Positive vs. Negative Shapes

Humans usually pay attention to the figures first, but the shape of a negative space can also be a powerful visual clue!

Positive shapes are the shapes of actual objects
Negative shapes are the areas between these objects

An abstract panda illustration using black and white negative space, accompanied by text asking, "You see this as the whole picture, right?" highlighting the Gestalt principle of visual perception.

Positive vs. negative shapes

Shape Size and Position

The size and position of shapes relative to each other convey depth. From the perceived depth, the viewer assesses the relative size of objects.

Three sets of circles illustrating visual perception principles: larger shapes appearing closer and smaller shapes appearing further, lower shapes appearing closer and upper shapes appearing further, and overlapping shapes where one shape appears in front of another.

The size and position of shapes

Shapes are more than just visual elements; they evoke emotions, guide user actions, and communicate a brand’s personality. By understanding the psychology of shapes, designers can create intentional, meaningful designs that resonate with users. Start leveraging shape psychology in your UI designs today!

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Happy designing! 🤗