New Zealand Scholarship Design and Visual Communication Assessment flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Design brief

A stated problem with stakeholders, constraints, scope and success criteria. It frames what the design must achieve and against what evidence the outcome will be judged.

Iterative design process

A cyclical process of analysis, ideation, prototyping and evaluation that loops back when evidence reveals a flaw. Progress is shown by documented revision, not a single linear pass.

Divergent thinking

Generating many varied options before judging them. In design portfolios it appears as wide concept exploration, deliberately postponing selection until criteria are established.

Convergent thinking

Narrowing options against explicit criteria to reach a defensible choice. It requires stated criteria so the selection can be evaluated rather than accepted on preference.

Annotation

Written notes attached to sketches that record reasoning, questions and decisions. Annotation makes the design thinking visible so an assessor can follow the decision trail.

Orthographic projection

A method of representing a three-dimensional object by aligned two-dimensional views, typically plan, elevation and end view, drawn to a consistent scale and projection convention.

Isometric drawing

A parallel projection in which the three principal axes are equally foreshortened at 30 degrees to the horizontal. It shows three faces at true scale without vanishing points.

Perspective drawing

A projection using vanishing points and a horizon line to simulate how the eye sees depth. Accuracy depends on consistent station point and cone of vision.

Vanishing point

The point on the horizon where parallel lines receding from the viewer appear to converge. One-point and two-point perspectives use one or two such points.

Line weight hierarchy

Varying line thickness to distinguish cut edges, visible edges and hidden or construction lines. Consistent hierarchy makes technical drawings readable at a glance.

Section drawing

A view showing an object as if sliced by a cutting plane, revealing internal structure. Cut surfaces are hatched and the cutting plane is indicated on another view.

Scale factor

The ratio between a drawn dimension and the real dimension, such as 1:20. All views in a set must share the stated scale unless individually labelled.

Visual hierarchy

The arrangement of elements so the eye reads them in a planned order, achieved through size, position, contrast, isolation and direction of gaze.

Typography measure

The line length of set text, usually expressed in characters per line. Measure affects reading comfort alongside leading, type size and contrast.

Contrast ratio

A numeric comparison of the relative luminance of text and background. It provides an objective accessibility check for legibility in communication design.

Affordance

A property of an object that suggests how it can be used, such as a handle inviting pulling. Designers use affordances to make use intuitive without instruction.

Signifier

A perceptible cue that indicates where or how an action should occur, such as an arrow or a raised button. Signifiers communicate affordances to the user.

Universal design

Designing products and environments usable by the widest range of people without adaptation, considering age, ability, size and context of use from the outset.

Anthropometric data

Measurements of human body dimensions and reach, usually expressed in percentile ranges. Designers apply a chosen percentile justified by the specific use case.

Ergonomics

The study of how people interact physically and cognitively with products and environments, informing dimensions, forces, posture and ease of use.

Prototype fidelity

The level of detail and realism in a model, ranging from rough sketch models to functional prototypes. Fidelity should match the question being tested.

Design critique

Structured evaluation of a design against stated criteria, identifying strengths, weaknesses, trade-offs and unresolved tensions rather than offering praise alone.

Precedent analysis

Studying existing designs to extract transferable principles rather than surface style, stating explicitly what is adopted and what is rejected and why.

Design for manufacture

Designing with production processes in mind, reducing part count, simplifying joints and respecting tolerances so the outcome can be made economically and reliably.

Material properties

Characteristics such as strength, weight, durability, workability, cost and embodied energy that determine which manufacturing processes and uses are viable.

Lifecycle assessment

Evaluation of a product's environmental impact across sourcing, manufacture, use and end-of-life. It grounds sustainability claims in evidence rather than assertion.

Cradle-to-cradle

A design approach in which materials circulate in closed loops, either returning safely to the biosphere or being fully recycled into new products without loss of quality.

Planned obsolescence

Deliberately designing a product with a limited useful life to prompt replacement. It is a common ethical critique point in product design evaluation.

User testing

Observing real users interacting with a design to gather evidence of behaviour, confusion or failure. Observations are stronger evidence than assumed user behaviour.

Wayfinding

The design of environmental cues that help people navigate a space, using signage, landmarks, sight lines and consistent information hierarchy.

Te Ao Māori design principles

Māori worldview concepts such as whakapapa, kaitiakitanga and mana that can inform culturally grounded design when engaged with mana whenua rather than appropriated superficially.

Design philosophy statement

A concise articulation of the values and position guiding a designer's decisions, connecting personal intent, the brief and the resolved outcome into a coherent argument.