Oscraps

Today we are continuing with Robin Williams’ Principles of Design: Contrast, Repetition, Alignment, and Proximity. We talked about contrast last week and how using it can make items on your page take priority, or using the opposite, low contrast, you can make elements fade or even mask journaling you don’t want others to see. Today we are going to talk about Repetition.

Repetition is the key to attractive, consistent designs. It creates visual connections and establish a strong visual style. Repetition can be reflected in the use of the same or similar colors, shapes, lines, fonts, and other elements, and it differs from its other principles because it is not always meant to be noticed.

Hidden within this principle is the “Rule of Three”, which many of you have already been introduced to and use. Things that are arranged in threes are more pleasing to the eye – they are satisfying, effective, and memorable than other numbers. Interestingly, we as human beings are really good at picking out patterns. Really, we look for them all over – consciously or not. Three is the smallest number of elements required to create a pattern. Perhaps that’s why the Rule of Three is so popular!

Let’s look at the gallery and see some layouts that use this principle. This first one by CherylnDesigns “There is a Stillness in a World of Chaos” is pretty obvious but you can see how using the three ladies creates a balance on the page and allows your eyes to go in a circle and see everything!

This next one is by me, and I wanted to use it to show you just one little element repeated 3 times can give a really good pop of color or just a point of interest to see on a page! See the butterflies? They are grouped in a visual triangle (threes) and there are three of them. Notice that many of the butterfly stamps are grouped in threes as well. I also have 3 faces on the page…

“I’ll Find the Fighter in Me” by Pachimac

The last one is “Day after Day” by Caro She uses the rule of threes, or repetition by the photo frames that she uses. If you look at her clusters, many of them are a clusters or groups of three or four flowers or elements.

I can’t believe we have a little more than a week left of 2023! I will see you one more time before the end of the year. Until then, enjoy the ramp up of the holiday season!