BYU-Idaho Online Knowledgebase

Quiz

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You've done great at learning the basic principles of design! Let's just test your knowledge so far.

Respond to each question either in your head or on a sheet of paper. When you think you know the answer, click on the blue dropdown buttons to see if you were correct. If you get any wrong, check out the additional resources at the bottom of this article to learn more.

Which of these is NOT a basic principle of design?

a. White space

b. Emphasis

c. Alignment

d. Layout

Answer

d. Layout

Though layouts are important in design, every good layout includes specific principles like white space, emphasis, and alignment.

How many styles of alignment are there?

a. 4

b. 1

c. 6

d. 3

Answer

c. 6

Design elements can be aligned in six different ways, as shown below. Choose alignment styles carefully because it directs the viewer's eye to specific parts of the deliverable.

True or False: White space doesn't have to be white.

a. True

b. False

Answer

a. True

White space simply refers to any area that isn't used by a design element. It's often called negative space because nothing is in that area. In the picture below, the word "sale" is surrounded by white space, even though it's on a black flyer. The words "black Friday," on the other hand, aren't.

How does symmetry affect designs?

a. Creates contrast

b. Puts the viewer's eyes at ease

c. Gives the designer more room to add content

d. All of the above

Answer

b. Puts the viewer's eyes at ease

Symmetrical balance makes the audience comfortable, and asymmetrical balance adds contrast. Use a mix of both for best results.

True or False: It's best to scatter design elements across the page so everything is spaced evenly.

a. True

b. False

Answer

b. False

Apply the principle of proximity by grouping related objects together. It will make your deliverable easier to scan, visually appealing, and full of more white space.

Which of the following does contrast NOT do?

a. Grabs attention

b. Improves organization

c. Creates unity

d. Creates a focal point

Answer

c. Creates unity

Contrast does a lot of great things for design, but creating unity isn't one of them. That's why it should be used purposefully. Good designers know to use other principles like repetition and balance to make a unified design, then add in a little bit of contrast to spark the reader's interest.

Which design principle should designers use to make pages in a large document feel cohesive?

a. White space

b. Contrast

c. Hierarchy of elements

d. Repetition

Answer

d. Repetition

When design elements are repeated throughout a multipage document, readers get a better feel of the brand and message.

Additional Sources

Great job! Now that you've successfully learned the basic graphic design principles, head click on the next lesson to put your newfound skills to work!

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