Unity in Design

As mentioned in the reading, an important aspect of visual unity is that the viewer see the entire pattern before its parts. This illusion can be created through proximity of the separate items in the design, repetition and/or continuation. The grid is often used as an aid in creating unity in a design.

I have a calendar with photographs of New York City. The two photos below display the use of a grid, although I wouldn’t have noticed it as such before this reading.

One of the reasons I’m drawn to these photos is because they depict what I love about NYC, the crowds, the architecture, the chaos, yet it’s all contained in the photographs in a way that is easy to look at. There is a sense of order beneath the photos, a template of horizontal and vertical lines that restrain what might have become too busy.

In the “Hudson River” photo, the vertical lines predominate. Continuity is obtained through the color tones, which are similar. The dark horizontal line at the bottom of the photo unifies the buildings.

I love the photo of the stairs. The horizontal and vertical lines dominate, and the photo would be monotonous without the interruption of diagonal lines. It’s a perfect example of the importance of variety when seeking unity through repetition and continuity.