Canary Islands PAU Design cheat sheet

Primary colours of subtractive (pigment) synthesis: cyan, magenta, yellow; additive (light) synthesis: red, green, blue. Mixing all primaries gives black in subtractive and white in additive systems.

Complementary colours sit opposite on the colour wheel; placed adjacent they raise perceived saturation (simultaneous contrast), mixed as pigment they neutralise toward grey.

Munsell system describes colour in three dimensions: hue, value (lightness 0–10) and chroma (saturation). RGB and CMYK are device-dependent; CIELAB is device-independent.

Value contrast, not hue contrast, carries most legibility: text/background luminance ratio of about 4.5:1 is the WCAG AA threshold for normal text, 3:1 for large text.

Gestalt grouping laws: proximity, similarity, continuity, closure, common fate. Elements closer together are read as one group even when shape or colour differs.

Figure–ground relationship determines what reads as object versus background; ambiguous figure–ground (Rubin vase) forces the eye to alternate between two readings.

Rule of thirds divides the frame into a 3×3 grid; placing key elements on the intersections produces more dynamic tension than centring them.

Visual hierarchy is built by size, weight, colour, position and whitespace; a page with more than three competing emphasis levels reads as unstructured.

Symmetry (bilateral, radial) gives stability and formality; asymmetry balances unequal masses through placement and visual weight rather than mirrored geometry.

Double Diamond model: Discover (diverge on research) → Define (converge on the problem) → Develop (diverge on solutions) → Deliver (converge on one solution).

Design thinking stages as taught in the d.school model: empathise, define, ideate, prototype, test - iterative, not strictly linear.

Divergent thinking generates quantity and variety of options; convergent thinking selects and refines. Alternating the two deliberately is the core of structured ideation.

Low-fidelity prototypes (paper, cardboard, wireframe) test concept and flow cheaply; high-fidelity prototypes test detail, interaction and finish.

Usability testing sample sizes: about 5 users per homogeneous group typically surface the majority of serious interface problems; more users per group yield diminishing returns.

Formative evaluation happens during development to improve the design; summative evaluation happens at the end to judge whether it met its criteria.

A design brief states objectives, target user, constraints, deliverables and success criteria; it is not a specification of the final solution.

Mood boards, competitor audits and user interviews belong to the discovery phase; they inform the problem statement, not the final form.

Iteration cost rises steeply with project stage: a change made in sketching costs far less than the same change after tooling or production is committed.

Type anatomy: baseline, x-height, ascender, descender, cap height, counter, stem, bowl, terminal, serif. X-height strongly affects perceived size and legibility at small sizes.

Type classification: serif (old style, transitional, modern, slab), sans serif (grotesque, neo-grotesque, humanist, geometric), script, display, monospaced.

Kerning adjusts space between individual letter pairs; tracking adjusts uniform spacing across a range of text; leading is the vertical line spacing.

Grid systems (column, modular, baseline) create consistent alignment; the baseline grid aligns text across columns so lines sit on a shared rhythm.

Signage legibility depends on viewing distance: a common rule of thumb is roughly 2.5 cm of cap height per 10 m of reading distance for high-contrast text.

Wayfinding uses consistent sign families, pictograms, colour coding and placement at decision points; inconsistent nomenclature is a primary cause of navigation failure.

A brand identity system comprises logo (wordmark, lettermark, symbol, combination), colour palette, typeface, imagery style and usage rules in a manual.

Justified text without hyphenation creates rivers of whitespace; ragged-right setting avoids this and is preferred for narrow columns and screen text.

Contrast, consistency and redundancy (text plus pictogram) are the three practical levers for accessible signage.

Anthropometric design targets: design for the 5th–95th percentile range for reach and clearance; design to the extreme (smallest or largest) when a single dimension is critical, such as door height.

Ergonomic principles: keep joints in mid-range, avoid sustained static loading, support lumbar curve, keep working heights adjustable, respect repetitive-strain limits.

Material properties to compare: density, tensile and compressive strength, stiffness (Young's modulus), hardness, thermal conductivity, cost per unit, recyclability.

Common polymers: PE (flexible, chemical-resistant), PP (hinged living hinge), PET (bottles, recyclable), ABS (impact-resistant housings), PLA (biodegradable, low heat resistance).

Metals: aluminium is light and corrosion-resistant via anodising; steel is stiff and strong but dense; brass and copper conduct heat and resist wear.

Design for disassembly: snap fits and reversible fasteners instead of adhesive bonds, material labelling, and minimised material variety improve end-of-life recovery.

The waste hierarchy ranks prevention > reuse > recycling > energy recovery > disposal; recycling is not the top option.

Cradle-to-cradle treats materials as nutrients in closed technical or biological cycles; cradle-to-grave assesses impact from extraction to disposal (LCA).

Universal design's seven principles include equitable use, flexibility in use, simple and intuitive use, perceptible information, tolerance for error, low physical effort, and size and space for approach and use.

Arts and Crafts (William Morris, John Ruskin, late 19th century) reacted against industrial mass production, championing craft, honest materials and the unity of art and labour.

Bauhaus (Weimar 1919, Dessau 1925, closed 1933): Vorkurs foundation course, unity of art and craft, functional typography and furniture; directors Gropius, Meyer, Mies van der Rohe.

De Stijl (1917, Mondrian, van Doesburg, Rietveld) reduced form to orthogonal lines and primary colours plus black and white.

Russian Constructivism (Tatlin, Rodchenko, Lissitzky) fused geometric abstraction with political communication and photomontage.

Art Deco (1925 exposition, Paris) used streamlined geometry, stepped forms and luxury materials; Streamline Moderne applied it to industrial products in the 1930s.

Ulm School of Design (HfG Ulm, 1953–1968), linked to Dieter Rams and Braun, promoted systematic, restrained product design; Rams' ten principles include 'less, but better'.

Postmodernism and Memphis (Sottsass, 1981) rejected functionalist restraint with pattern, colour and irony; the movement questioned the idea of a single correct form.

Swiss/International Typographic Style (Müller-Brockmann, Ruder) used grid systems, sans-serif type and asymmetric layout with photography over illustration.

Design history is read through context: technological shifts (steam, electricity, plastics, digital), economic conditions and social reform movements shape what gets designed and for whom.

Orthographic projection uses separate views (front, top, side) at 90° to each other; first-angle projection places the view on the far side of the object, third-angle on the near side.

Isometric projection has three axes at 120° with equal foreshortening; dimetric and trimetric use two or three unequal scales respectively.

Scale notation 1:5 means one drawing unit equals five real units; 5:1 is an enlargement. Always state units and scale on the sheet.

Line conventions: continuous thick for visible outlines, dashed for hidden edges, chain/dash-dot for centre lines and cutting planes, thin continuous for dimension and projection lines.

Dimensioning rules: place dimensions outside the outline where possible, never duplicate a dimension, dimension to the feature not the gap, and use a single unit convention.

A section view cuts the object with a cutting plane and hatches the cut material; hatching lines are thin, evenly spaced and at a consistent angle.

Third-angle symbol: a truncated cone shown as a trapezoid with a circle on the right in the left view; first-angle reverses the arrangement.

Perspective drawing: one-point uses a single vanishing point, two-point uses two on the horizon, three-point adds a vertical vanishing point for looking up or down.

CAD layers and standards (ISO 128 for lines, ISO 5457 for sheet formats such as A4–A0) keep drawings readable and interoperable.

WCAG principles: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, Robust (POUR); conformance levels A, AA, AAA, with AA the common legal baseline.

Accessibility measures: alternative text, captions, keyboard operability, focus indicators, sufficient contrast, resizable text, no reliance on colour alone.

Sustainable design levers: reduce material and energy, extend product life, design for repair, use recycled or renewable inputs, and plan end-of-life recovery.

Planned obsolescence (functional, technological, aesthetic) shortens product life; right-to-repair legislation pushes against it by mandating spare parts and documentation.

Professional ethics: honesty in representation, avoiding deceptive dark patterns, respecting intellectual property, protecting user data, disclosing conflicts of interest.

Copyright protects the expression of a work, not the idea; trademarks protect signs identifying commercial origin; patents protect novel technical inventions.

Inclusive design starts from diverse user extremes (permanent, temporary, situational limitations) rather than retrofitting accommodation afterwards.

A professional contract typically defines scope, deliverables, revision rounds, schedule, fees, ownership/licensing of deliverables and liability.

Design impacts are assessed across the life cycle; greenwashing is a claim without verifiable evidence, and life-cycle data is the usual counter-evidence.

Accessible touch targets: minimum about 44×44 px (Apple) or 48×48 dp (Material); spacing between targets matters as much as target size.

Colour-blindness prevalence: red–green forms (protan, deutan) affect roughly 1 in 12 men and 1 in 200 women; never encode meaning by hue alone.

Energy labelling and eco-design rules require declared consumption and repairability information for many product categories in the EU.

Universal design versus accessible design: universal design builds one solution usable by everyone; accessible design adds features for specific groups.

Dark patterns (forced continuity, confirmshaming, roach motel) are ethically problematic and increasingly regulated under consumer-protection law.

Attribution and licensing: Creative Commons licences vary by commercial use, derivatives and share-alike conditions; check the specific licence, not the logo.

Usability and accessibility audits combine automated checks (contrast, alt text) with manual testing using keyboard and screen reader.

A design portfolio should document problem, research, decisions and outcome; process evidence is what distinguishes design work from decoration.

Sustainable Development Goal 12 targets responsible consumption and production; design decisions at the material and lifespan level map directly to it.

Circular economy loops: reuse, repair, remanufacture, recycle. Each loop down loses embodied energy, so repair outranks recycling.

Repairability scoring rewards availability of spare parts, documentation, disassembly without special tools and modular construction.

Inclusive design personas should include users with permanent, temporary and situational impairments to expose real constraints.

Ethical research requires informed consent, the right to withdraw, data minimisation and anonymity where participants are identifiable.

Professional bodies publish codes of conduct covering competence, confidentiality, conflicts of interest and honest marketing claims.

Pricing models in design practice: fixed fee, time-based, value-based and retainer; each shifts risk between designer and client differently.

Environmental claims should be specific and verifiable; vague terms such as 'eco-friendly' without evidence are treated as misleading under consumer law.

Accessibility regulation: the European Accessibility Act covers many products and services; WCAG 2.1 AA is the most frequently cited technical benchmark.

Public procurement often requires accessibility statements and conformance reports, so documentation is a practical deliverable.

Extended producer responsibility makes manufacturers responsible for take-back and end-of-life handling of their products.

Data protection principles (lawfulness, purpose limitation, minimisation, accuracy, storage limitation, integrity, accountability) apply to user research data.

Conflict-of-interest disclosure and transparent sourcing are core to professional ethics in design consultancy.

Sustainability reporting frameworks (GRI, ISO 14001 environmental management) give structure to claims a design team must be able to substantiate.

Ethical review of a design should ask who benefits, who bears the cost, who is excluded and what happens at end of life.

Contracts should specify who owns working files, whether the designer may show the work in a portfolio, and how scope changes are priced.

Life-cycle assessment stages: raw material extraction, production, distribution, use, end of life; the use phase often dominates for energy-using products.

Carbon footprint is expressed in CO2-equivalent (CO2e); material choice and transport distance are the two most controllable design variables.

Design for longevity: durable materials, replaceable components, standard fasteners, available spare parts and upgradable software.

Accessibility testing with real assistive technology (screen reader, switch access, magnification) reveals issues automated tools miss.

Ethical dark-pattern countermeasures: default to privacy-protective settings, make opt-out as easy as opt-in, and disclose costs before commitment.

Social design addresses excluded or underserved groups; success is measured by outcome for users, not by aesthetics alone.

Professional liability and insurance protect against claims of negligence or breach; scope creep is the most common source of disputes.

Impact evaluation should compare a design against a baseline and state assumptions, since unverified improvement claims are not evidence.

Inclusive copy and content: plain language, defined terms, consistent labels and no reliance on idiom improve comprehension for all users.

Accessible documents require heading structure, reading order, alt text, table headers and sufficient contrast in exported PDFs.

Sustainable materials checklist: recycled content, recyclability, low embodied carbon, non-toxic finishes, local sourcing, minimal packaging.

Ethical design review questions: is the default choice the user's interest, is consent meaningful, is the exit easy, is data collection minimal.

Client relationship practice: written briefs, staged sign-off, documented revision limits and clear change-order pricing prevent disputes.

Portfolio and case-study ethics: do not present team work as solo, credit collaborators and respect confidentiality agreements.

Design for repair requires published service manuals, available parts and tools that are commonly owned rather than proprietary.

Impact metrics for accessibility include task success rate, time on task, error rate and satisfaction for users with and without assistive technology.

Accessibility conformance is verified by combining automated scans, manual expert review and testing with disabled users.

Sustainability claims need a functional unit and system boundary; without them a comparison between two products is meaningless.

Ethical impact assessment asks about foreseeable misuse, vulnerable users and long-term consequences of the design.

Professional practice metrics: utilisation rate, effective hourly rate, project margin and revision-to-approval ratio.

Inclusive evaluation recruits participants across age, ability, language and device; a homogeneous sample hides exclusion.

Repair and end-of-life plans should be drafted at concept stage, when material and fastening choices are still open.

Transparent communication of limitations builds trust; overclaiming accessibility or sustainability creates legal and reputational risk.

Design governance includes version control of files, documented decisions and an audit trail for regulated products.

Accessible communication uses multiple channels: text, pictogram, audio and tactile cues, so no single sense is required.

Plain-language targets: short sentences, active voice, common words; readability formulas give an approximate grade level, not a guarantee.

Sustainability communication should state the specific metric, the baseline and the verification method rather than a general claim.

Ethical persuasion respects autonomy: it informs and helps decision-making rather than exploiting bias or urgency.

Professional communication with clients: confirm decisions in writing, state assumptions, and flag risks early with options.

Portfolio case studies should state the brief, constraints, process, outcome and evidence of impact.

Accessibility statements should list conformance level, known gaps and a contact route for feedback.

Impact reporting should separate measured results from estimates and label each clearly.

ISO 9241 addresses ergonomics of human–system interaction, including usability definitions and dialogue principles.

ISO 14001 specifies requirements for an environmental management system; ISO 14040/14044 define life-cycle assessment principles.

WCAG 2.1 AA is the most cited accessibility benchmark; EN 301 549 is the European harmonised standard for ICT accessibility.

ISO 9001 covers quality management; design controls in regulated sectors require documented verification and validation.

Creative Commons licence elements: BY (attribution), SA (share-alike), NC (non-commercial), ND (no derivatives).

Ethics codes from professional design bodies typically cover competence, integrity, confidentiality and public interest.

Sustainability standards for products include energy labelling, repairability indices and material declaration schemes.

Contract terms to check: ownership of deliverables, licence scope, warranty, indemnity and termination conditions.

Design for circularity: mono-material construction, reversible joins, recycled feedstock, take-back schemes and material passports.

Digital accessibility trends include voice interfaces, captions by default and reduced-motion settings for vestibular sensitivity.

Ethical AI in design requires disclosure when content is generated, bias review of training data and human oversight of decisions.

Sustainable practice includes measuring the energy footprint of digital products: page weight, video streaming and data transfer.

Inclusive futures require co-design with affected communities rather than designing for them.

Professional practice is shifting toward outcome-based contracts and measurable impact reporting.

Repairability and longevity are increasingly regulated, so design for disassembly becomes a compliance requirement, not only an ethic.

Design ethics now includes attention and wellbeing: avoiding compulsive use patterns and respecting user time.

Inclusive research recruits participants with disabilities, older users and low-literacy users, not only typical users.

Consent for research must be informed, voluntary and revocable; data must be minimised and stored securely.

Accessible research materials include large print, plain language, sign-language interpretation and remote participation options.

Sustainability research uses life-cycle data and functional units so comparisons are meaningful.

Ethical research reports foreseeable harms and mitigations, not only benefits.

Professional research deliverables include a research plan, consent forms, data management plan and findings report.

Impact research distinguishes outputs (what was made) from outcomes (what changed for users) and impact (wider effect).

Accessibility research with assistive technology users should be conducted with their own devices and settings where possible.

Copyright protects expression, not ideas; it arises automatically on creation in most jurisdictions.

Trademarks protect signs identifying commercial source and must be distinctive and used in trade.

Patents protect novel, inventive and industrially applicable technical solutions for a limited term.

Design rights protect the appearance of a product; registered and unregistered forms differ in term and scope.

Accessibility law increasingly requires conformance for public-sector and consumer-facing digital services.

Consumer law treats misleading environmental claims as unfair commercial practices.

Employment and freelance contracts determine ownership of work created in the course of engagement unless otherwise agreed.

Data protection law restricts processing of personal data collected in research and user testing.

Sustainable business models include product-as-a-service, leasing, repair services and modular upgrades.

Accessible products expand the addressable market; exclusion has a measurable commercial cost.

Pricing design work by value requires defining the measurable outcome the client gains.

Cost of poor design includes support load, returns, rework and reputational damage.

Circular business models shift revenue from volume of sales to length of service life.

Ethical sourcing affects brand risk and is increasingly audited by buyers.

Professional practice requires tracking time and scope to price accurately and avoid unpaid work.

Impact investment and public procurement increasingly reward verifiable accessibility and sustainability performance.

Cultural context shapes meaning: colour, symbol and gesture conventions differ across regions and must be checked per market.

Inclusive imagery represents age, gender, ethnicity, disability and body diversity without stereotyping.

Language accessibility includes translation, localisation and right-to-left layout support.

Sustainable cultural change depends on repair skills, maintenance culture and access to spare parts.

Ethics of representation: avoid tokenism and consult the communities depicted.

Professional practice respects local regulation and community norms alongside global standards.

Design heritage informs contemporary practice; movements such as Bauhaus and Ulm still shape curricula and method.

Impact narratives should credit collaborators and communities, not only the designer.

Accessible learning materials require structured headings, captions, alt text and keyboard-navigable interfaces.

Sustainability education in design covers life-cycle thinking, material literacy and circularity.

Ethics education in design uses case studies of dark patterns, exclusion and misleading claims.

Professional practice teaching covers contracts, pricing, client communication and portfolio evidence.

Inclusive pedagogy offers multiple means of representation, expression and engagement.

Impact assessment in education measures learning outcomes, not only satisfaction.

Design curricula increasingly include accessibility standards and assistive technology testing.

Portfolio assessment rewards documented process and evidence of user outcomes.

Health-related design must meet medical device regulation where applicable, with documented verification and validation.

Accessible health information uses plain language, large type and multiple formats.

Sustainability in healthcare products emphasises single-use reduction where clinically safe and recyclable packaging.

Ethics in health design prioritises patient safety, privacy and informed consent.

Professional practice in regulated sectors requires design history files and traceability.

Impact measurement includes error reduction, adherence and patient-reported outcomes.

Inclusive design for health considers cognitive load, stress and low health literacy.

Data protection is critical for health data, which is treated as a special category.

Accessible transport design includes level boarding, tactile paving, audible and visual announcements and clear wayfinding.

Sustainable mobility design favours low-emission modes, repairable vehicles and recyclable materials.

Ethics in mobility design addresses safety, surveillance and equitable access.

Professional practice in transport requires compliance with accessibility and safety standards.

Impact metrics include journey success for disabled travellers and modal shift.

Inclusive design considers temporary and situational impairments such as carrying luggage or poor lighting.

Circularity in vehicles depends on dismantling standards and material recovery.

Wayfinding consistency across modes reduces cognitive load and errors.

Accessible housing design includes step-free entry, wide doorways, turning circles and reachable controls.

Sustainable housing design addresses insulation, passive solar gain, low-carbon materials and water efficiency.

Ethics in housing design considers affordability, security of tenure and community impact.

Professional practice requires coordination with building regulations and accessibility standards.

Impact metrics include energy use, indoor comfort and accessibility conformance.

Inclusive design considers ageing in place and visitability.

Circular construction uses reversible connections and material passports.

Wayfinding and legibility in buildings reduce stress and support independence.

Accessible workplace design includes adjustable furniture, clear circulation and assistive technology support.

Sustainable workplace design addresses energy, materials and waste from fit-out and operations.

Ethics at work covers fair pay, safe conditions and inclusive culture.

Professional practice includes clear scoping, revision limits and change-order pricing.

Impact metrics include task performance, absence and satisfaction.

Inclusive design considers neurodiversity, sensory sensitivity and flexible working.

Circular fit-out uses reused and remanufactured furniture.

Wayfinding and signage in workplaces support orientation and safety.

Sustainable consumption design reduces material throughput and extends product life.

Accessible consumption includes clear pricing, legible terms and multiple payment routes.

Ethics in consumption design avoids dark patterns and manipulative urgency.

Professional practice requires honest claims and substantiated environmental statements.

Impact metrics include product lifespan and repair rate.

Inclusive design considers low-income and low-literacy consumers.

Circularity requires take-back and recycling infrastructure.

Wayfinding and labelling support informed choice.

Accessible technology design follows POUR principles and supports assistive technology interoperability.

Sustainable technology design addresses energy use, device longevity and e-waste.

Ethics in technology design covers privacy, bias and transparency.

Professional practice requires security and data protection by design.

Impact metrics include accessibility conformance and device lifespan.

Inclusive design considers digital literacy and connectivity gaps.

Circularity requires modular repair and software support periods.

Wayfinding in digital products depends on consistent navigation and labelling.

Accessibility policy sets minimum conformance levels and enforcement mechanisms.

Sustainability policy uses extended producer responsibility, eco-design rules and labelling.

Ethics in policy design addresses participation, transparency and accountability.

Professional practice requires compliance evidence and audit trails.

Impact metrics include conformance rates and measured outcomes.

Inclusive policy design consults affected communities.

Circularity policy sets recycling targets and material standards.

Wayfinding standards in public policy improve consistency across providers.

Accessibility standards vary by jurisdiction; WCAG and EN 301 549 are widely referenced benchmarks.

Sustainability frameworks include the UN SDGs and life-cycle assessment standards.

Ethics across borders requires attention to local law, culture and labour conditions.

Professional practice in global projects requires clear contractual jurisdiction and dispute resolution.

Impact metrics must be comparable across contexts using a stated functional unit.

Inclusive design considers language, script direction and connectivity.

Circularity requires global material traceability.

Wayfinding must accommodate multilingual and low-literacy users.

Local accessibility practice depends on municipal regulations and enforcement.

Local sustainability practice depends on waste infrastructure and material availability.

Ethics in local practice considers community consultation and local labour.

Professional practice requires local licensing and insurance.

Impact metrics should use locally relevant baselines.

Inclusive design considers local language and literacy.

Circularity depends on local repair and recycling capacity.

Wayfinding should reflect local naming and landmarks.

Accessibility measurement uses task success, error rate, time on task and satisfaction with assistive technology users.

Sustainability measurement uses life-cycle assessment with a stated functional unit and system boundary.

Ethics measurement uses audit against codes of conduct and documented decision trails.

Professional practice measurement uses utilisation, effective rate and margin.

Impact measurement distinguishes outputs, outcomes and impact.

Inclusive measurement recruits diverse participants.

Circularity measurement uses recycled content, recyclability and repair rate.

Wayfinding measurement uses navigation success and error frequency.

Accessibility assurance combines automated checks, manual review and user testing.

Sustainability assurance requires verifiable data and third-party certification where claimed.

Ethics assurance uses review boards and documented sign-off.

Professional practice assurance uses contracts, insurance and quality management systems.

Impact assurance separates measured results from estimates.

Inclusive assurance recruits participants across ability and context.

Circularity assurance requires material traceability and take-back records.

Wayfinding assurance tests signs at decision points with real users.