Variety

In design, variety refers to the use of an assortment of different elements to bring excitement and vitality to a piece. Elements can be similar, but generally are repeated with enough change in them to help enhance the others. Too much variety, however, can make a piece confusing, cluttered, and can subtract from unity. Yet, on the other hand, too little variety can be boring and monotonous.

In life you provide yourself with a "variety" of different people to associate yourself with. Coworkers, fellow students, family; all of these people may be very similar, or they may be very different from you. Regardless, they are what make you YOU. Even more, this relates to the definition of variety in that having too many people in your life can be overwhelming and hard to handle, while having too few can subtract from the potential value of your life.

This relates to my life in that I surround myself with a vast variety of people in my social network. Some have the tendency to spend time with the same "type"of people, the same clique; however, I have friends from all sorts of different social groups. I'm friends with "punks", "jocks", "preps", people in their thirties, people in their forties, married, with families.. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Texture

Texture refers to the quality of a surface, whether rough or smooth, soft or hard. Texture does not always feel the way they look, however; a glossy photo of a gravel road looks coarse, but the photo to the touch is not that way.

Everyone has a texture to their bodies, on their skin and even with their hair. Some may have acne-ridden skin that is filled with bumps and scars from previous blemishes. Some may have what looks like smooth skin, but when touched is actually more on the rough side because of build up in their pores. Some may have dry, cracked skin on their heels from wear-and-tear. Some may be gifted with silky-smooth tresses, while others may have dry, coarse curls.

For me, the skin of my face has the tendency to be oily because that's the type of skin I have; I also have issues with horribly clogged pores. How to I deal with this? Easy -- with TEXTURE! A textured cleanser (I use St. Ives Apricot Scrub) helps to rub out any impurities. A similar technique is seen in body scrubs, which work to help soften your skin and give it a more youthful look.

(This sounds like a Proactiv commercial, don't it?)

Unity

Unity deals with relating elements of the design to the general idea of the piece. It is the linking of these elements to one another that displays the unity. It could be expressed through same colors, line directions, texture, and so on.

For those who are more conscientious of fashion, the unity of different articles of clothing is especially important. You have to make sure that you “unite” complimentary colours and patterns together to make sure your outfit doesn’t clash in any form. That's what separates the fashionistas from the frumpy bag ladies; the fashionistas have a knack for blending elements of their wardrobe together pleasantly, while the bag ladies.. well, don't.

Personally, while my actual clothing choices have the tendency to go more toward the frumpy bag lady type -- comfort is my main concern -- I still make sure to match as much as I can. Colors, patterns, you name it.. I don't want to be known as that one kid whose mother never taught her how to create an outfit.

Emphasis

Emphasis is a method used to attract attention to a particular element of a piece, creating its standing as a focal point. The focal point draws your attention to that element.

In my life I have a basic routine that barely deviates, save for when I choose to be spontaneous and do something “out of the norm”. I wake up. I get dressed, get ready for class. I go to class. I come home and take a nap. Typically, I have to go to work. I come home from work and occupy myself with homework if the need is there. It all ends with me eventually crawling into bed and getting as much rest as I can.

There’s one factor that is so prevalent in this routine that it dominates the rest: the amount of driving I have to do. I drive to school. I drive home from school. I drive to work. I drive home from work. I drive to the store when I need to. I drive home from the store. So on, so forth, indefinitely. It seems like much of my life entails driving to some extent, and I can see that happening in others’ lives as well. I often see the same people passing by my vehicle in the mornings, probably going to the exact same place I am or venturing to work themselves. This video adds emphasis to the fact that driving takes up a large portion of my life.

Repetition / Rhythm

Repetition encompasses the continuous use and alternation of elements or units within design, often with same, defined intervals in between each element. There can be dominant and subordinate elements, such as an “on “ and “off” beat in sound. It typically is intentional, but sometimes it can occur unintentionally.

If you think about it, life is all about the repetition of different aspects of one’s life. Your body functions as a collection of systems within itself, each with set functions that contribute to the overall operation.  For instance, we have the pattern of your heartbeat, the movement of cells, electrodes pulsating through your nerves.. Some, like your heartbeat, are easier to detect. Footfalls are another example: no matter how varied you may make your walk, there’s always some kind of repeating pattern. It could be the intervals between each step that create the pattern, or the actual sound of your footsteps that create it. The sounds of your environment can build on it, create separate and sometimes complimentary patterns. Everything builds and connects to make functional elements.

I've found that no matter what the terrain, weather, etc, my walk varies very little, and so there is a definite set of repetition to it.