Design Theory Introduction 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A client complains that a flyer feels chaotic because every element uses a different font and color. Which principle is most clearly missing?
- Unity (Correct answer)
- Emphasis
- Movement
- Contrast
Correct answer: Unity
Unity ties all elements of a design together so it reads as one cohesive whole.
Question 2: In the figure-ground relationship, the 'ground' refers to what?
- The background against which the subject is perceived (Correct answer)
- The dominant focal element
- The baseline of the typography
- The bottom margin of the page
Correct answer: The background against which the subject is perceived
In figure-ground perception, the figure is the subject and the ground is the background it stands against.
Question 3: Which value describes how light or dark a color is?
- Value (Correct answer)
- Hue
- Saturation
- Temperature
Correct answer: Value
Value measures a color's lightness or darkness, independent of its hue or saturation.
Question 4: A designer uses diagonal lines and staggered elements to make a static poster feel dynamic. Which principle is being applied?
- Movement (Correct answer)
- Symmetry
- Proximity
- Alignment
Correct answer: Movement
Movement uses lines, shapes, and placement to suggest motion and lead the eye through a composition.
Question 5: Why do accessibility guidelines matter when choosing text and background colors?
- Insufficient contrast makes text hard to read for users with low vision (Correct answer)
- Certain hues are illegal to print in the US
- Screens cannot display low-contrast colors
- Search engines penalize colorful pages
Correct answer: Insufficient contrast makes text hard to read for users with low vision
Adequate color contrast, as defined by WCAG standards, ensures text remains legible for people with visual impairments.
Question 6: A mood board is used at which stage of the design process?
- Early ideation, to establish visual direction (Correct answer)
- Final production, to prepare print files
- Post-launch, to measure conversions
- Legal review, to clear trademarks
Correct answer: Early ideation, to establish visual direction
Mood boards collect reference imagery, colors, and typography early on to align stakeholders on a visual direction.
Question 7: Which situation is an example of asymmetrical balance?
- A large image on the left offset by a cluster of small text blocks on the right (Correct answer)
- Identical columns mirrored on both sides of a page
- Elements radiating evenly from a center point
- A pattern repeating uniformly across the whole page
Correct answer: A large image on the left offset by a cluster of small text blocks on the right
Asymmetrical balance equalizes visual weight using different elements on each side rather than mirroring.
Design Theory Introduction 5
A client complains that a flyer feels chaotic because every element uses a different font and color.
Which principle is most clearly missing?