Enclosure groups elements by placing them inside the same bounded space. A box, panel, or contained area quietly tells the eye, “These belong together,” separating its contents from everything outside. section 2.2.1
Use enclosure to make relationships visible at a glance:
- Surround related data points or visual elements with a boundary so their shared membership is immediately legible. section 2.2.1
- Treat surrounding space as an active design choice: a lighter background can enclose and emphasize foreground information. section 8.4.3
From storage boxes to dashboards
Clear containers on shelves make household items appear organized and related. The same visual cue works in data visualization: a box around several elements says they are more related to one another than to elements outside the box. section 2.2.1
Figure 2.7 provides a direct visual demonstration of how enclosing elements in a box creates a perceived group. section 2.2.1
