What is repetition in design and how to use it in your creative project?
Summary/Overview
You may be looking for new ways to improve your designs. You might have already explored other artistic principles that have brought clarity, precision and creativity to your work, but repetition is one technique that can be applied across all your designs. In its most basic form, repetition is the reusing and recycling of elements across your design, creating symmetry and consistency.
There are many applications for repetition in art that you can learn more about and utilise in your projects. With the free-to-use Adobe Express you can elevate your designs in minutes through the use of repetition.
Using repetition, pattern and rhythm in your design.
Repetition can come in many forms. The simple repetition of a shape, colour, texture, font or image is all it takes to start putting this design technique in to action. By layering these repeated elements, the eye takes the image as a whole, but as the audience breaks down the design further, they’ll start to notice how these separate elements have been ingeniously layered.
Perhaps you are trying to craft print and digital advertisements for your next campaign, or maybe you’re learning to create your own brand kit from scratch. Regardless of what you’re looking to achieve, repetition in design can be extremely useful for creating continuity. The repetition of specific traits like the colours, logos or shapes across your projects, will create a sense of consistency and that consistency leads to familiarity.
Take a look at these templates which can make the most of repetition.
Practical tips on how to apply repetition in your designs.
Shapes
In any visual design, shapes are crucial. It's easy to repeat a shape across a design to craft a background pattern, or perhaps to draw the audience’s eye to a specific element. The shape of a logo on a business card is a great example, which reminds the audience of your key brand identity.
Fonts
Repeating fonts across your project will create a sense of continuity. If you are crafting a resume, it looks far more professional to encourage continuity across your document. In the world of business, brands have their own font stylings that they consistently use. That repetition in design forms familiarity with the brand.
Colours
Colours are vital in how you form your narrative. What do you want your project to say? Take a poster for instance. If you’re advertising a local aquarium, the colour choices would likely be consistent with water. I.e. blues and greens. The repetition of these colours promotes that story.
Find the perfect poster template.
Free editable design templates.
Adobe Express contains a huge array of free-to-use editable design templates which you can apply the rules of repetition to. Asides from business cards, resumes and posters, you can create so much more! Create a wildlife themed flyer with repeated floral images. Use repetition in design to decide upon a consistent brand colour palette and apply it to Adobe Express’ logo templates. Regardless of what you’re making, Adobe Express has the template for you.
Discover free templates for repetition in design.
Useful things to know.
Can I use too much repetition?
There are no rules in the use of repetition, but a design can become crowded if an element is repeated too often. Learn to understand design limits.
Are there any artists who use repetition?
Plenty of famous artists use repetition in their art to great effect including Keith Haring, Sarah Morris and most notably Andy Warhol.
Do I have to use repetition?
No! You can fill your design with only single elements if you wish, which can also be a very effective choice.
Is Adobe Express free to use?
Yes! You can get started right away with the free Adobe Express templates and start applying the rules of repetition in art to your designs. Sign up to the free plan now!