Term: Unity

Monica Stewart

A principle of design where the elements in a piece of art combine to make a balanced and harmonious whole. Unity is a measure of how well the elements fit together or convey the feeling that they belong together. You know unity has been achieved when all aspects of the design complement one another rather than compete for attention.

Unity in a composition is achieved through the effective use of the design elements and through the correct applications of design principles. A unified work of art is viewed first as a whole, rather than the sum of its individual parts. Unity is a hard-to-describe concept but, when present, the viewer is pleased to see it.