Parallel

Patterns of Gradation
In a gradation design, two factors are of importance in pattern construction: the range of gradation, and the direction of movement.

The range of gradation is marked by a starting situation and a terminating situation. In some cases, where the path of gradation is not straightforward but roundabout, intermediate situations should be taken into account. The number of steps between the starting and the terminating situations determines both the speed and the breadth of the range of gradation.

The direction of movement refers to the orientations of the starting and the terminating situations and their interrelationship. The unit forms of the starting situation can all be lined up in a row and proceed lengthwise, breadthwise, or both, with regular steps towards the terminating situation. Diagonal or other ways of progression are also possible.

Some typical movement patterns in gradation are:
Parallel Movement. This is the simplest. Unit forms are transformed gradually in parallel steps. In parallel movement, the climax is usually a straight line.

Concentric Movement. This means that the unit forms are transformed in concentric layers. If the starting situation is at a corner of the design, then the pattern is only partially concentric. In concentric movement, the climax may be a point, a square or a cross.

Zigzag Movement This means that the unit forms of the same step are arranged in a zigzag manner and are transformed at equal speed.

. . . . small standardized gradation patterns may be repeated and arranged to form a bigger pattern of gradation. . . . . gradation can proceed from the starting situation to the terminating situation and then back to the starting situation with the reversal of the steps . . . . repeated and repeated if necessary, with smooth transitions . . . . 123451234512345

[Wong, Wucius. Principals of Two-Dimensional Design. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, 1972.]

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2 Parallel n [1551] 1a: a parallel line, curve, or surface b: one of the imaginary circles on the surface of the earth paralleling the equator and marking the lattitude; also: the corresponding line on a globe or map -see Lattitude illustration c: a character || used in printing esp. as a reference mark 2a: something equal or similar in all essential particulars: Counterpart b: similarity, Analogue 3: a comparision to show resemblance: a tracing of similarity 4a: the state of being physically parallel:

Parallellism b: an arrangement of electrocal devices in a circuit in which the same potential difference is applied to two or more resistances with each resistance being on a different branch of the circut -compare series c: an arrangement of state that permits several operations or tasks to be performed simultaneously rather than consecutively

3 Parallel vt [1598] 1: to indicate analogy of: compare 2a: to show something equal to: Match b: to correspond to 3: to place so as to be parallel in direction with something 4: to extend, run, or move in a direction parallel to

4 Parallel adv [1787]: in a parallel manner

Parallelism n [1610] 1: the quality or state of being parallel 2: Resemblance, Correspondence 3: repeated syntactical similarities introduced for rhetorical effect 4: a theory that mind and matter accompany one another but are not causally related 5: the development of similar new characters by two or more related organisms in response to similarity of environment -called also parallel evolution