REPETITION repetition

As we've learned in the Gestalt Theories, repetition can be one of the elements that creates unity within a design. The concept of repetition sounds simple, but knowing how to use it correctly requires further knowledge of the concept.

If each object repeated itself identically throughout the whole design, the design would be very "boring", it wouldn't be able to capture the viewers' eye

s right away. To create a successful design using repetition, objects in the design should be repeated with different angles, different colors, different sizes, etc. That way, the viewers' eyes can flow in and out of the piece thinking, "Hmmm...this object looks familiar but different at the same time." The more they think about the design the more successful that design is.

Lets take a look at Andy Warhol's famous pop art of Marilyn Monroe.

Even though the image of Marilyn Monroe doesn't change throughout the grids, the color change creates that unity that connects all the grids together. The different colors represent different moods in each grid, being able to capture the essence of the whole design.

Now lets take a look at a more complicated piece of artwork.

This is also a grid design, but notice how the object is not the same in each grid. However repetition still takes place in this design. Notice in different grids, the shapes and lines repeats throughout each grid.

Many designs in society today use this technique to create "unity", for instance, many commercial advertisements uses repetition. We see that the graphics on gift cards repeats itself. Repetition can be a great technique to designers, if known to use it correctly.