Design Dialogues

Research + Development

Exploration in design dialogues …

Repetition is generally described as an action or production that is repeated, perhaps seen as an echo. It can also be described as a reproduction of an original, for example a copy or a replica; something that can only be constructed from an original substance.

Repetition in design can be interpreted as something which has been constructed through a single element and has simply been duplicated or perhaps manipulated in the form of radiation or gradation. The result of this expression creates rhythm, pattern, balance, consistency and sometimes chaos which ultimately make a design unique. In context of principles of design, “repeating visual elements such as line, colour, shape, texture, value or image tends to unify the total effect of a work of art as well as create rhythm”. In design, repetition creates visual consistency.

Design being constructed through the art of repetition can be become quite dull and simple due the idea of a single element simply being repeated over and over… however to add more character and interest the same shape, to take on the concept of repetition, can be used in tessellation or even randomly to create a sense of chaos or perhaps a puzzle. For example, the design of different animals being drawn using a pattern of tessellated triangles. The shame shape can be used to construct a completely diverse visual of repetition, such as piling the triangle on top of each to make a tower. Through experimentation of this design concept, a rather dramatic, chaotic and predictable shape and shadow is made. Other methods, such as the use of different materials including wire, metal mesh and drawing pins in quite a random nature can achieve an impression of repetition within a design sculpture.