General Information

Question 1

Pica

Answer 1

A typographic unit of measurement corresponding to approximately 1/6 of an inch, or from 1/68 to 1/73 of a foot. One pica is further divided into 12 points.

Question 2

Decoration

Answer 2

A combination of forms (color, line, pattern, letter, picture) that does not convey a literal message, but serves to stimulate the senses.

Question 3

Isotype

Answer 3

The International System of Picture Education (Isotype) was introduced in 1930 by the Viennese political economist and museum director Otto Neurath and his wife, Marie Reidmeister.

Isotype was originally designed as an alternative to text, a starkly graphic means of communicating information about locales, events and objects on the one hand, and complex relationships in space and time on the other.

Question 4

Types of Design

Answer 4

Industrial -the making of 3D things

Environmental- the making of living spaces

Graphic design - the making of messages

Question 5

Art vs Design

Answer 5

Art concerns personal expression and personal development

Design concern visual organization of information “in order to communicate” -PUBLIC-

Question 6

Palimpsest (pal-imp-sest)

Answer 6

Something that has a new layer, aspect, or appearance that builds on its past and allows us to see or perceive parts of this past. Relates to layering and overprinting.

Question 7

Golden Ratio

Answer 7

The ratio within the elements of a form such as height to width. The golden ratio (phi) equals approximately 1.618. divide a line into two parts so that: the long part divided by the short part is also equal to the whole length divided by the long part.

a / b = a+b / a

It appears many times in geometry, art, architecture, humans, and other areas. There is a preference for things based on this dimension so a rectangle.

Question 8

Fibonacci Sequence

Answer 8

A sequence of numbers in which each number is the sum of the preceding two.
0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, …

When we make squares with those widths, we get a nice spiral.

Found in nature, poetry, art, music, etc. Intrinsically aesthetic and worth of Design use. Used often in concert with golden ratio. One of the most influential patterns in mathematics and design.

Question 9

Design elements

Answer 9

Design elements are the basic units of any visual design which form its structure and convey visual messages.

Painter and design theorist Maitland E. Graves (1902-1978), The Art of Color and Design (1941), defined the elements of design as line, direction, shape, size, texture, value, and color.

“these elements are the materials from which all designs are built.”

Question 10

Color

Answer 10

Color is the result of light reflecting back from an object to our eyes. Color theory and the color wheel are often referred to when studying color combinations in visual design.

Color is often deemed to be an important element of design as it is a universal language which presents the countless possibilities of visual communication.

Design Element

Question 11

Line

Answer 11

Line is an element of art defined by a point moving in space. Lines can be vertical, horizontal, diagonal or curved. They can be any width or texture. And can be continuous, implied, or broken.

Different lines create different moods, it all depends on what mood you are using a line to create.

Design Element

Question 12

Point

Answer 12

A POINT is basically the beginning of “something” in “nothing”. It forces the mind to think upon its position and gives something to build upon in both imagination and space.

Some abstract points in a group can provoke human imagination to link it with familiar shapes or forms.

Design Element

Question 13

Shape

Answer 13

A shape is defined as a two dimensional area that stands out from the space next to or around it due to a defined or implied boundary, or because of differences of value, color, or texture.

Shapes are recognizable objects and forms and are usually composed of other elements of design.

Design Element

Question 14

Texture

Answer 14

Texture refers to the physical and visual qualities of a surface.[citation needed]

Texture can be used to attract or repel interest to an element.

Design Element

Question 15

Space

Answer 15

space is concerned with the area deep within the moment of designated design. For a two-dimensional design, space concerns creating the illusion of a third dimension on a flat surface.

Design Element

Question 16

Form

Answer 16

form is described as the way an artist arranges elements in the entirety of a composition. It may also be described as any three-dimensional object.

Form can be measured, from top to bottom (height), side to side (width), and from back to front (depth). Form is also defined by light and dark. It can be defined by the presence of shadows on surfaces or faces of an object.

There are two types of form, geometric (artificial) and natural (organic form). Form may be created by the combining of two or more shapes. It may be enhanced by tone, texture or color. It can be illustrated or constructed.

Design Element

Question 17

Typeface

Answer 17

Text and letters

Design Element

Question 18

Unity / Harmony

Answer 18

To achieve visual unity is a main goal of graphic design. When all elements are in agreement, a design is considered unified. No individual part is viewed as more important than the whole design.

A good balance between unity and variety must be established to avoid a chaotic or a lifeless design.

Design Principle

Question 19

Balance / Alignment

Answer 19

Balance is a state of equalized tension and equilibrium, which may not always be calm.

Includes symmetry and asymmetry

Design Principle

Question 20

Hierarchy/Dominance/Emphasis

Answer 20

A good design contains elements that lead the reader through each element in order of its significance.

Dominance is created by contrasting size, positioning, color, style, or shape.The focal point should dominate the design with scale and contrast without sacrificing the unity of the whole.

Design Principle

Question 21

Scale / Proportion

Answer 21

Using the relative size of elements against each other can attract attention to a focal point. When elements are designed larger than life, the scale is being used to show drama.

Design Principle

Question 22

Similarities / Contrast

Answer 22

Planning a consistent and similar design is an important aspect of a designer’s work to make their focal point visible. Too much similarity is boring but without similarity important elements will not exist and an image without contrast is uneventful so the key is to find the balance between similarity and contrast.

Design Principle

Question 23

Proximity / Distance

Answer 23

Design Principle

Question 24

Repetition

Answer 24

Repetition is a great way to reinforce an idea. It’s also a great way to unify a design that brings together a lot of different elements. Repetition can be done in a number of ways: via repeating the same colors, typefaces, shapes, or other elements of a design.

Design Principle

Question 25

Rhythm

Answer 25

The spaces between repeating elements can cause a sense of rhythm to form, similar to the way the space between notes in a musical composition create a rhythm. There are five basic types of visual rhythm that designers can create: random, regular, alternating, flowing, and progressive.

Design Principle

Question 26

Pattern

Answer 26

Patterns are nothing more than a repetition of multiple design elements working together. Wallpaper patterns are the most ubiquitous example of patterns that virtually everyone is familiar with.

Design Principle

Question 27

White Space / Negative Space

Answer 27

White space—also referred to as “negative space”— is the areas of a design that do not include any design elements. The space is, effectively, empty.

Design Principle

Question 28

Movement / Direction / Flow

Answer 28

Movement refers to the way the eye travels over a design. The most important element should lead to the next most important and so on. This is done through positioning (the eye naturally falls on certain areas of a design first), emphasis, and other design elements already mentioned.

Design Principle

Question 29

Readability

Answer 29

Design Principle

Question 30

Design Principles

Answer 30

Principles applied to the elements of design that bring them together into one design. How one applies these principles determines how successful a design may be.