Josef Koudelka Portugal
1976Lecture 3:
Unity
Unity is the underlying principle that summarizes all of the principles and
elements of design. It refers to the coherence of the whole, the sense
that all of the parts are working together to achieve a common result; a harmony
of all the parts.
Unity can be achieved through the effective and consistent use of any of the
elements, but pattern-- that is, underlying structure-- is the most
fundamental element for a strong sense of unity. Consistency of form and
color are also powerful tools that can pull a composition together.
Josef Koudelka Portugal
1976
However, unity also exists in variety. It is not necessary for all of the
elements to be identical in form providing they have a common quality of meaning
or style. For example, fashions from a specific period share common features of
silhouette, materials, and color that identify the style of the day, or the look
of a particular designer.
Unity can also be a matter of concept. The elements and principles can be
selected to support the intended function of the designed object; the purpose of
the object unifies the design.