Test your basic knowledge |

Principles Of Design

Subject : design
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. Alignment based on the area of elements versus the edges of elements. pg 30 ex: sihlouettes in a line.






2. A tendency to find forms that appear humanoid or exhibit humanlike characteristics appealing. pg 26 ex: cocacola bottle






3. As the flexibility of a system increases - the usability of the system decreases. pg 102 ex: remote controls; #of buttons vs ease of use.






4. The placement of elements such that edges line up along common rows or columns - or their bodies along a common center. pg 24 ex: ballot






5. A tendency to find forms that appear humanoid or exhibit humanlike characteristics appealing. pg 26 ex: cocacola bottle






6. A property in which the physical characteristics of an object influence it's function. pg 22






7. An instructional technique that helps people understand new information in terms of what they already know. There are two kinds - expository - and comparative. pg 18






8. Elements that are close together are perceived to be more related than the elements further apart. pg 196 ex: window controls






9. A high percentage of effects in any large system are caused by a low percentage of variables. pg 14






10. Ratio of relevant to irrelevant information in a display. pg 224 ex: infographics






11. Memory for recognizing things is better than memory for recalling things. pg 200 ex: multiple choice tests






12. A tendency to see a set of individual elements as a single rcognizable pattern - rather than multiple individual elements. pg 44 ex: wwf panda






13. Elements that move in the same direction are percieved to be more related than elements that move in different ones or are stationary. pg 50 ex: radar tracking displays






14. Pictures are remembered better than words. pg 184 ex: ads with pictures are easier to look at.






15. A technique of combining many units of information into a limited number of units or 'chunks' so that the info is easier to process and remember. pg 40 ex: section headers






16. A relationship between controls and their movements or effects. Good mapping between controls and their effects results in greater ease of use. pg 152 ex: segway controls






17. The use of pictoral images to improve the recognition and recall of signs and controls. pg 132 ex: street signs






18. A diagram that describes the general pattern followed by the eyes when looking at evenly distributed - homogeneous information. It splits a display medium into a primary optical area (top left) - terminal (bottom right) - strong fallow area (top righ






19. Alignment based on the area of elements versus the edges of elements. pg 30 ex: sihlouettes in a line.






20. Elements that are close together are perceived to be more related than the elements further apart. pg 196 ex: window controls






21. The placement of elements such that edges line up along common rows or columns - or their bodies along a common center. pg 24 ex: ballot






22. A phenomenon of memory in which items presented at the beginning and end of a list are more likely to be recalled than the items in the middle of a list. pg 220






23. A tendency to seek consistency among attitudes - thoughts - and beliefs. pg 46 ex: AOL






24. The visual clarity of text - generally based on the size - typeface - contrast - text block - and spacing of the characters used. pg 148






25. A method of creating imagery - emotions - and understanding of events through an interaction between a storyteller and an audience. pg 230






26. The failure to cognatively process a stimulus that is presented in clear view - leaving the observer without any awareness or memory of the stimulus. pg 136 ex: basketball passing and the gorilla.






27. The visual clarity of text - generally based on the size - typeface - contrast - text block - and spacing of the characters used. pg 148






28. A technique used to modify behavior by reinforcing desired behaviors - and ignoring or punishing undesired behaviors. pg 174 ex: video games






29. Elements that move in the same direction are percieved to be more related than elements that move in different ones or are stationary. pg 50 ex: radar tracking displays






30. A tendency to interpret ambiguous images as simple and complete - versus complex and incomplete. pg 144 ex: emoticons






31. The failure to cognatively process a stimulus that is presented in clear view - leaving the observer without any awareness or memory of the stimulus. pg 136 ex: basketball passing and the gorilla.






32. Ratio of relevant to irrelevant information in a display. pg 224 ex: infographics






33. A relationship between controls and their movements or effects. Good mapping between controls and their effects results in greater ease of use. pg 152 ex: segway controls






34. A high percentage of effects in any large system are caused by a low percentage of variables. pg 14






35. A tendency to interpret ambiguous images as simple and complete - versus complex and incomplete. pg 144 ex: emoticons






36. Designs should help people avoid errors and minimize the negative consequences of errors when they do occur. pg 104 ex: photoshop's history palette. NOTE: Good affordances - reversibility of actions - confermation of intent - warnings - and help are






37. A tendency to seek consistency among attitudes - thoughts - and beliefs. pg 46 ex: AOL






38. A phenomenon of memory in which items presented at the beginning and end of a list are more likely to be recalled than the items in the middle of a list. pg 220






39. A method of illustrating relationships and patterns in system behaviors by representing two or more system variables in a controlled way. pg 52 ex infographics with more than one element.






40. A phenomenon of memory in which noticeably different things are more likely to be recalled than common things.






41. Memory for recognizing things is better than memory for recalling things. pg 200 ex: multiple choice tests






42. As the flexibility of a system increases - the usability of the system decreases. pg 102 ex: remote controls; #of buttons vs ease of use.






43. The use of a weak element that will fail in order to protect other elements from damage. pg 262 ex crumple zones on a car






44. A diagram that describes the general pattern followed by the eyes when looking at evenly distributed - homogeneous information. It splits a display medium into a primary optical area (top left) - terminal (bottom right) - strong fallow area (top righ






45. The use of a weak element that will fail in order to protect other elements from damage. pg 262 ex crumple zones on a car






46. The use of pictoral images to improve the recognition and recall of signs and controls. pg 132 ex: street signs






47. Pictures are remembered better than words. pg 184 ex: ads with pictures are easier to look at.






48. Elements are percieved as either figures (objects of focus) or ground (the rest of the perceptual field). Characteristics of figure include defined shape - seeming closer with a clear location - below the horizon line - and lower regional placement.






49. The usability of a system is improved when it's status and methods of use are clearly visible. pg 250 ex: three mile island






50. A property in which the physical characteristics of an object influence it's function. pg 22