VCD unit 1 exam

What is included in the VCD Design Process

• Discover

• Define

• Develop

• Deliver

What is Good design

Notions of good design are personal, contextual and political

What ARE ‘Human Centred Design Problems’

Design problems that prioritize the needs, experiences, and perspectives of users throughout the design process.

Dietar Rams 10 Principles of Good Design

• Good design is innovative

• Good design makes a product useful

• Good design is aesthetic.

• Good design makes a product understandable

• Good design is unobtrusive

• Good design is honest

• Good design is long-lasting

• Good design is thorough down to the last detail

• Good design is environmentally friendly

• Good design is as little design as possible

What are the four fields of design

• messages

• objects

• environments

• interactive experience

What are stakeholders?

people involved during the design process

• designer

• client

• audience

• user

• sponsors

• employees

Ethical practices

ethical obligation and responsibilities of designers and should aim to produce design solutions-

• safe

• accessible

• functional

• reliable

• intuitive and sustainable

Design Elements (the things you use)

1. Point – A single mark or dot.

2. Line – A path between two points.

3. Shape – A 2D area (circle, square, triangle).

4. Form – A 3D shape (cube, sphere).

5. Colour – Hue, value, and intensity.

6. Tone/Value – Lightness or darkness.

7. Texture – Surface quality (real or implied).

8. Space – The area around, between, and within objects.

9. Type/Typography – The design and arrangement of text.

Design principles

• figure ground

• balance

• contrast

• cropping

• hierachy

• scale

• proportion

• pattern

Gestalt principles

• proximity

• continuity

• similarity

• closure

• common fate

• figure ground

• focal point

Methods

techniques or processes used to create the design

drawing, collage, print

Media

tools or means used to communicate or create the design

• pencil

• ink

• markers

• paint

• software

• online platforms

Materials

What the designs are made on or from

• paper

• card

• textile

• metal

• plastic

• glass

• touchscreen

Audience/users

• Age (children, teens, adults, elderly)

• Gender

• Income level

• Education level

• Occupation / job type

• Location (urban, rural, country)

• Culture / ethnicity

• Language

Purpose

influence,educate,inform,identify guide, depict, promote, advertise, decorate and communicatefla

acknowledging work of other

🧠 Intellectual Property (IP)

Definition: Legal rights that protect creations of the mind (ideas, designs, inventions).
Purpose: Stops others from copying or using your work without permission.

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© Copyright

Definition: Legal protection for original creative work.
Applies to: Art, music, writing, photos, films, designs.
Key idea: Automatically applies when created (no registration needed in most cases).

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🆓 Public Domain

Definition: Creative works that are not protected by copyright anymore.
Use: Anyone can use, copy, or change freely.
Example: Old literature, expired copyrights.

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™ Trademark

Definition: A symbol, name, or logo that identifies a brand.
Purpose: Protects brand identity.
Example: Company logos, brand names.

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🛠 Patent

Definition: Legal protection for a new invention or process.
Purpose: Stops others from making or selling the invention without permission.
Time-limited: Usually lasts around 20 years.