The Principle of Smallness

According to this principle, smaller enclosed areas within a display tend to be perceived as the figure, seen against a comparatively larger surrounding area that becomes the background. For instance, when a circle is divided into six alternating black and white pie-shaped wedges, arranged like a pinwheel, viewers are more likely to perceive a black cross or pinwheel shape standing out against a white background, rather than the reverse, because of this general …