What is repetition in design and how to use it in your creative project?

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.

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.