Some of the questions below deal with artistry, and that’s on purpose.
Artistic fundamentals are where design gets its power, often by exploiting
human psychology and typical perceptions. So for our purposes here, know
that what’s important for art is important for Web design.
Good luck and have fun!
- 1. The primary reason for color being used to indicate information
hierarchy is because of its utilization of which fundamentally communicative
clue?
- a. beauty
- b. contrast
- c. texture
- d. decoration
- Answer 1
The answer is “b: contrast”
- 2. The most efficient way to clearly communicate a page’s
visual structure is by using:
- a. a strong grid
- b. content boxes
- c. physical delineation
- d. written instructions
- e. divs instead of tables
- Answer 2
The answer is “a: a strong grid”
- 3. Which of the following is the most relevant bit of understanding
we must possess in order to design an effective website solution for
our client?
- a. understanding of the client’s personality
- b. understanding of the client’s business aims
- c. understanding of the client’s design preferences
- d. understanding of the client’s budget
- Answer 3
The answer is “b: understanding of the client's business aims”
- 4. Generally speaking, which is the most effective position for a
large image on a text-filled page?
- a. upper left
- b. upper right
- c. lower left
- d. lower right
- e. in a pop-up window
- Answer 4
The answer is “d: lower right”
- 5. The most important and communicative number (relating to structure
and composition) in art and design is:
- a. 2
- b. 3
- c. 4
- d. 5
- e. 777
- Answer 5
The answer is “b: 3”
- 6. Curves and rounded edges are fundamentally indicative of:
- a. harshness
- b. modern design
- c. softness
- d. melancholy
- e. Web 2.0
- Answer 6
The answer is “c: softness”
- 7. Designers and artists generally plan a specific route along which
viewers’ eyes should travel when looking at the work/design. The most
natural and effective direction for leading a viewer’s eye through a
web page design or a landscape painting is:
- a. along an angle
- b. along a horizontal line
- c. along a vertical line
- d. to Derek Powazek’s site
- Answer 7
The answer is “a: along an angle”
- 8. The factor most relevant to our being able to create effective
design from project to project is:
- a. an understanding of the client’s individual taste
- b. the size of the project budget
- c. the number of members on the design team
- d. an understanding of the relevant context
- e. having Cameron Moll on our team
- Answer 8
The answer is “d: an understanding of the relevant context”
- 9. When considering first-time visitors to a website; those who have
never seen the layout or used the interface, the most important non-brand
related issue the designer must take into account for an effective design
is:
- a. a high degree of affordance
- b. a strong welcome message
- c. an inviting look and feel
- d. whatever the client says to make most conspicuous
- e. are the visitors using protection?
- Answer 9
The answer is “a: a high degree of affordance”
- 10. Concerning fundamentals of line, angular and/or erratic lines
generally indicate:
- a. feminine grace
- b. heat or temperature
- c. speed or activity
- d. comfort or calm
- e. a palsy of some sort
- Answer 10
The answer is “c: speed or activity”
- 11. Concerning fundamentals of line, gently curving lines generally
communicate:
- a. cold or temperature
- b. comfort or calm
- c. speed or activity
- d. struggle or harshness
- e. another beta launch site
- Answer 11
The answer is “b: comfort of calm”
- 12. In a still life or landscape painting, the artist generally places
the main point of interest at:
- a. the upper right
- b. the area of greatest contrast
- c. the center of the canvas
- d. the lower left quadrant
- e. the price tag
- Answer 12
The answer is “b: the area of greatest contrast”
- 13. Successful musical compositions and successful website designs
generally utilize which of the following elements to help make them
compelling:
- a. monotonous beat
- b. a happy theme
- c. high notes and low notes
- d. contrast and repetition
- e. cymbals and splash pages
- Answer 13
The answer is “d: contrast and repetition”
- 14. The most powerful and communicative shape in art and design is
the:
- a. triangle
- b. circle
- c. square
- d. rectangle
- e. chunky wallet shape
- Answer 14
The answer is “a: triangle”
- 15. The shape most contextual to advisable layout for the web environment
is the:
- a. triangle
- b. circle
- c. square
- d. rectangle
- e. Firefox logo
- Answer 15
The answer is “d: rectangle (the monitor's shape)”
- 16. If you have everything you need to create a website design for
a client, but you don’t have [b l a n k] , you will most likely not
succeed.
- a. Fireworks MX
- b. at least 2 weeks
- c. the client’s confidence
- d. Andrei Herasimchuck’s skill
- Answer 16
The answer is “c: the client's confidence”
- 17. According to countless studies, aesthetically pleasing designs
are widely perceived as being [b l a n k] than less-aesthetic designs.
- a. cooler
- b. more decorative
- c. more Web 2.0
- d. easier to use
- Answer 17
The answer is “d: easier to use”
Yes, for experienced designers this was simple fare. But many who consider
themselves to be Web designers may find these questions to be rather difficult
to answer correctly. The key to knowing the right answers lies in a solid
grasp of artistic and design fundamentals.
So here you've got the answers, but not the explanations
for why these are the correct answers. For those insights you’ll have
to commit yourself to a design education; whether that means you enroll
in design or art school, or you commit to spending part of each day doing
what’s necessary to acquire the relevant understanding. Either way, your
education will give you far more than a couple of explanations here ever
could.
I sincerely hope you enjoyed this little quiz.
