Repetition, pattern, and rhythm may sound like musical terms, but they also play an essential role in graphic design: we repeat visual elements, arrange them into patterns, and create rhythm through variation. But how does that actually work?
To better understand visual structures, we connect them with music and invite musician and songwriter Roland Satterwhite to join us. With his viola, he explains musical structures such as harmony and rhythm and talks about different methods of composition. His assignment: “Bring a song with a rhythm you like—one that means something to you. And if you’re not sure what I mean, just bring a song you love.”
Together with Roland and graphic designer (and bass player) Andreas Trogisch, we analyze the structure of our chosen songs, sketch their rhythm patterns, and translate them the next day into colorful graphic compositions.