What does proximity in design refer to?

Proximity in design refers to the principle that objects that are placed close together are perceived to be related or connected. This principle relies on the human tendency to group elements that are near one another, which helps to create a visual hierarchy and improve the organization of information. By strategically placing elements in close proximity, designers can guide users' attention and indicate relationships between content, making the interface more intuitive and easier to navigate. This is essential in facilitating effective communication and understanding in visual design and layout, as it allows users to quickly discern how different pieces of information interact with one another.

In contrast, embedded links, global navigation, and visual flow dynamics relate to other aspects of design that focus on connectivity, navigation, and the movement of the viewer's eye across the layout, respectively, rather than the spatial relationships between individual elements.