Which principle emphasizes harmony and unity in design?

• A. Movement
• B. Harmony
• C. Gradation
• D. Variety

Answer: (B)

The idea being tested is harmony and unity in design: making a composition feel complete by ensuring all parts belong together. Harmony arises when elements share visual traits—such as a common color palette, repeated shapes, textures, or lines—so nothing feels out of place and the whole reads as one idea. Unity is the effect of that harmony across the entire design, giving the piece a cohesive, intentional feel.

Other principles serve different roles: movement guides how the viewer’s eye travels through the work; gradation creates a smooth progression in value, color, or size; variety introduces differences to add interest. But harmony specifically emphasizes the sense that all parts fit together to form a unified whole.