How do we see? Vision vs. Perception

Growing up, I can recall my mother telling me that I perceive things differently than most people. And when I think about it, there must be a nugget of truth in this. Over the course of my life, variations of this statement have resounded in my ears; from an irate boyfriend screaming "Your perception is all screwed up!" to "Wow, I've never looked at it in that way before". Everything that our eyes encounter takes on new dimension and meaning as our mind spins it in the gossamer of perception and interpretation.

Vision is not merely a function of our eyes, but a joint venture of our eyes and brain. Our eyes send simple signals of edge, shape and motion to our brains, where they are constructed into images. Our brains interpret these signals based on pattern recognition, and then seamlessly cause us to perceive whatever the object might be. One example of pattern recognition is the the fact that motorcycles and bicycles get hit every day by motorists who were looking right at them. Most drivers are looking for cars.

Perception, the brain's personal spin on things, is not so easily explained. It is that ethereal factor that determines beauty...that detects the "mood" of a work of art. Perception varies as much as we are individuals, reading a myriad of connotations into the images our brains have stitched together from those signals sent from our eyes.

In design, we make use of pattern and consistency to produce a positive, harmonious visual experience. We create interest by variations in pattern and movement in line and shape. We are able to direct the eye of the viewer by way of composition and contrast. Understanding the way that we see and perceive will enhance our ability to successfully incorporate the elements and principals of design into our work.