Canon glossary

Failing to notice unexpected objects when attention is focused

Users follow cues that suggest they're heading toward their goal

Users prefer your site to work like sites they already know

Predicting task completion time from basic operations

Mind completes incomplete shapes - can suggest without showing everything

Elements moving in same direction perceived as group

Eyes follow smooth paths rather than abrupt changes

Prior experience influences perception - leverage familiar patterns

Ambiguous images are interpreted in the simplest way possible - use clear visuals

Close elements are perceived as related - group related content spatially

Symmetrical elements perceived as unified whole

Ensure visual representation accurately reflects data magnitude

Audio and visual together more effective than either alone

Goal, Intention, Action, Execution, Perception, Interpretation, Evaluation

Pictures remembered 6x better than words - prioritize visuals over text

Error-proofing design that prevents mistakes

Be conservative in what you send, liberal in what you accept

Visual properties processed instantly: color, size, orientation, shape

Information that's easier to process is preferred and believed

Start with basic functionality and add enhancements

It's easier to recognize than to recall - use familiar patterns and visual cues

Rhyming statements perceived as more truthful

Placing key elements at intersection of thirds for visual interest