FX : Human Behavior and the Design Environment

Question 1

In regard to interior design, what is harmony?

Answer 1

This is a characteristic of composition in which all the elements of the interior seem to belong together to reinforce the overall design theme.

Question 2

In design, what is regionalism?

Answer 2

This is a social or cultural influence on a design that reflects a particular geographical area.

Question 3

What is territoriality?

Answer 3

Human behavior that attempts to lay claim to space and give a sense of self-identity?

Question 4

What is a design concept?

Answer 4

This is an idea or statement concerning an overall physical response to ideas developed during programming.

Question 5

What is Gestalt psychology?

Answer 5

This theory of psychology asserts that people perceive their environment as a whole and add structure to what they see.

Question 6

What theory did Abraham Maslow propose?

Answer 6

The American psychologist proposed a hierarchy of human needs, ranging from basic needs, such as for food and water, to more advanced needs, such as for self-actualization, order, and beauty.

Question 7

What is anthropometrics?

Answer 7

The practice of measuring the size, proportion, and range of motion of the human body.

Question 8

What is figure-ground?

Answer 8

The way people distinguish a form (the figure) from its surroundings (the ground). This distinction is fundamental to all perception and can occur with both two-dimensional and three-dimensional elements.

Question 9

In Gestalt psychology, what is grouping?

Answer 9

This is the tendency to perceive separate elements in a visual field as a single whole.

Question 10

What design principle is often achieved by placing an element in a prominent position or by using special lighting?

Answer 10

Emphasis and focus in a design can be achieved by these methods.

Question 11

What is binocular disparity?

Answer 11

The difference in what each eye sees, which gives people the ability to perceive distance and three dimensions. It is most prevalent at distances under about 10 ft (3 m).

Question 12

What is interposition?

Answer 12

A distant object may appear to be overlapped and partly hidden by a closer object.

Question 13

What is linear perspective?

Answer 13

Parallel lines will appear to recede toward a single point in the distance.

Question 14

What is atmosphere perspective?

Answer 14

Because there are small particles in the air, more distant objects appear to be hazy and may even change color.

Question 15

What is texture perspective?

Answer 15

The density of the texture seems to increase as the distance from the viewer increases. The texture may be a fine grain, as on a fabric, or a larger scale, such as ceiling or floor tiles.

Question 16

What are size clues?

Answer 16

When two objects are the same size, the more distant one will make a smaller image on the retina than the closer one.

Question 17

What does relative closeness of objects to the horizon line mean?

Answer 17

For objects below the horizon line (on the ground), the closer the objects are to the horizon line, the farther away they are. For objects above the horizon line (in the sky or above the observer), the same holds true, but more distant objects are lower in the visual field than close objects.

Question 18

What is cue inconsistency?

Answer 18

When there are conflicting visual cues within a space.

Question 19

What is proxemics?

Answer 19

The study of degrees of spatial separation that people maintain while interacting, and how these distances are related to social, environmental, and cultural factors.

Question 20

In proxemics, as described by Edward T. Hall, what are the names of the four distances (starting with the closest)?

Answer 20

From closest to furthest, these are - intimate - personal - social - public

Question 21

What is a design theory?

Answer 21

This is a mental construct, based on a philosophy or set of beliefs, that is used to direct a design.

Question 22

People seated along the edge of a table should be provided with a comfortable amount of space between one another. What is the acceptable range for the amount of space per person?

Answer 22

When planning for this type of furniture, from 24 in to 30 in (600 mm to 750 mm) of space should be provided for each person.

Question 23

What range of distance is considered ‘social distance for the close phase?’

Answer 23

4 ft to 7 ft (750 mm to 2100 mm)

Question 24

What range of distance is considered ‘social distance for the far phase?’

Answer 24

7 ft to 12 ft (2100 mm to 3600 mm)

Question 25

What range of distance is considered ‘public distance?’

Answer 25

12 ft (3600 mm) outward

Question 26

According to Edward T. Hall, people standing in a crowded elevator within 6 in to 8 in of one another is considered what type of distance?

Answer 26

Intimate distance.

Question 27

Define a ‘behavior setting.’

Answer 27

A particular place with definable boundaries and objects in which a standing pattern of behavior occurs at a particular time. For example, a weekly board of directors meeting in a conference room.

Question 28

Which of the table and seating configurations shown here is most appropriate for a committee meeting?

Answer 28

A circular table and seating configuration (option B) tends to foster cooperation, which makes it most appropriate for this type of activity.

Question 29

What psychological principle is illustrated by our ability to see two triangles in this diagram?

Answer 29

This is an illustration of the principle of closure (or form constancy) in Gestalt pyschology.

Question 30

In Gestalt psychology, what is perceptual constancy?

Answer 30

This is the tendency to perceive a familiar object or space as essentially the same in spite of the changes in position, viewing angle, lighting, and so on.

Question 31

What are some of the visual cues through which people perceive depth and distance?

Answer 31

People perceive these two spatial factors through: - linear perspective - atmospheric perspective - texture perspective - interposition - closeness of objects to the horizon line - relative size differences

Question 32

People seated along the edge of a table should be provided with a comfortable amount of space between one another. What is the acceptable range for the amount of space per person?

Answer 32

When planning for this type of furniture, from 24 in to 30 in (600 mm to 750 mm) of space should be provided for each person.

Question 33

What is “form”?

Answer 33

The basic shape and configuration of an object or space.

Question 34

Form or shape are generated with which 4 elements?

Answer 34

• lines
• planes
• volumes
• points

Question 35

45 What types of forms are represented by the niche and vase shown?

Answer 35

The former is a volumetric form, defined by five enclosing planes. It is a void, or negative space, because the perceived volume is not solid and is defined by other objects.

In contrast, the latter is a solid volume, or positive space.

Question 36

50 What are the two names by which this diagram is known?

Answer 36

This is the Brewster, or Prang, color system, often simply known as the color wheel.

Question 37

66 What does this diagram represent?

Answer 37

This is a graphic representation of the golden section.