What design principle suggests that elements arranged close to one another are perceived as related?

The principle that elements arranged close to one another are perceived as related is known as Gestalt. This concept is rooted in Gestalt psychology, which emphasizes that the human mind tends to organize visual elements into groups or unified wholes based on proximity, similarity, continuity, and other factors. In design, this means that when items are placed near each other, viewers are likely to associate them as part of the same group or concept, enhancing the overall comprehension of the design.

In contrast, visual hierarchy pertains to the arrangement of elements to signify their importance, guiding the viewer's eye through the design in a specific order. Inline doesn’t encapsulate this principle, as it typically refers to text or elements formatted in a continuous flow, not necessarily related to spatial perception. Associative is a broader term and does not specifically address the visual grouping that occurs through proximity. Thus, the Gestalt principle is the most accurate designation for the phenomenon described.