ACA JJO common mistakes
ACA JJO · Understand the traps and how to avoid them.
Building the artwork first and only then reading the exam project brief for the stated target medium, dimensions, and deliverable format.
Candidates treat the brief as background text and jump straight into the software, so design decisions are made without the constraints the scenario actually specifies.
What to do instead
Before opening any document, write the brief's explicit requirements (medium, size, color mode, output format, audience) into a short checklist and confirm each one against the finished file.
Choosing RGB versus CMYK and document resolution by habit rather than by the stated output medium.
Candidates learn one default setup and reuse it, missing that the scenario specifies print or screen and implies different color modes and raster effects settings.
What to do instead
Make color mode and raster effects settings an explicit decision step tied to the brief's medium, and state the reasoning in the project notes.
Placing elements by eye with no alignment, spacing, or hierarchy system, producing a layout with no clear focal point.
Candidates focus on making objects look 'finished' individually and never evaluate the composition as a whole against principles like contrast, balance, and proximity.
What to do instead
Establish one focal point and a grid or alignment reference before detailing, then review the layout at reduced zoom to check hierarchy and grouping.
Leaving the default stroke and fill on new shapes, so line weights and fills conflict with the intended visual style.
The appearance panel inherits whatever was last used, and candidates do not reset or verify it, causing inconsistent weights across objects.
What to do instead
Set a deliberate default fill/stroke before drawing, and audit line weights across the document for consistency at the end.
Editing paths with too few anchor points or converting smooth points to corners unintentionally, producing lumpy or distorted curves.
Candidates add points to fix shape problems instead of adjusting handles, and drag handles without watching the paired handle move.
What to do instead
Use as few anchor points as possible, adjust direction handles rather than adding points, and use the convert-anchor-point tool deliberately when a corner is needed.
Building a color palette from arbitrary swatches without regard to contrast or the specified brand/medium constraints.
Candidates pick colors that look appealing on their own monitor and never test legibility or check whether the brief specifies particular colors.
What to do instead
Define a limited palette with assigned roles, verify text/background contrast, and confirm any brief-specified colors are used exactly.
Using decorative or mismatched typefaces and inconsistent type sizes and spacing across similar elements.
Candidates choose fonts by personal preference and set each text object independently instead of defining reusable type styles.
What to do instead
Limit to a small number of typefaces with clear roles, define paragraph and character styles, and apply them consistently rather than formatting ad hoc.
Leaving unnamed layers, ungrouped objects, and stray hidden or off-artboard items in the file.
Candidates work fast in a single layer and never clean up, so the document becomes hard to navigate and contains artifacts that affect output.
What to do instead
Name layers and groups as you create them, keep a consistent layer structure, and run a final pass to delete unused and hidden items.
Linking to assets that are moved or renamed, so placed images break or update unexpectedly.
Candidates place files from temporary locations and do not track link status, then discover missing or modified links at output time.
What to do instead
Keep all placed assets in a project folder, check the links panel before finalizing, and embed or package assets as the deliverable requires.
Exporting with the wrong format, resolution, or color profile for the target medium, or ignoring bleed and safe margins for print.
Candidates use a single export preset for every job and do not verify the output settings against the brief's stated destination.
What to do instead
Match export preset to medium (appropriate raster resolution and color space for screen, correct profile, bleed, and marks for print), then reopen the exported file to verify it.