KIIRUA TECHNICAL TRAINING INSTITUTE

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ICT LEV 6 SEPT 2023.

UNIT OF COMPETENCE: GRAPHICS DESIGN.

WRITTEN ASSESSMENT (end term exam).

TIME: 2 HOURS.

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDINDATES.
1. This assessment requires you to demonstrate competence against unit of competency:
Graphics design.
2. You have TWO HOURS to answer all the questions.
3. Marks for each question are indicated in the brackets.
4. This paper consists of TWO sections: A and B.
5. You are provided with a separate answer booklet.

This paper has 3 printed pages.

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SECTION A (40 MARKS)
(Answer all the questions it this section)

1. Definitions of Key Terms in Graphic Design:

a. Typography:
Typography refers to the style, arrangement, and appearance of text. It encompasses the
selection of fonts, the spacing between characters, and how text is visually represented in a
design to ensure readability, harmony, and a desired aesthetic effect.

b. Typeface:
A typeface is a specific design of a set of characters, which includes letters, numbers,
punctuation marks, and symbols. A typeface may have various styles, such as regular, bold,
italic, etc., and can be used across different projects. For example, "Helvetica" and "Times
New Roman" are typefaces.

c. Tracking:
Tracking refers to the adjustment of the overall spacing between characters in a block of text.
Unlike kerning (which adjusts space between individual letter pairs), tracking affects the
spacing for entire words or paragraphs to improve legibility and visual appearance.

2. Principles of Graphic Design:

Graphic design principles are fundamental guidelines that help designers create cohesive and
effective visual communication. The key principles include:

 Balance: Ensuring that elements are evenly distributed to create a feeling of stability
in the design. It can be symmetrical, asymmetrical, or radial.
 Contrast: Using opposing elements (light vs. dark, large vs. small) to highlight
important components and add visual interest.
 Alignment: Ensuring that elements are properly aligned to create a sense of order and
organization.
 Repetition: Repeating elements like colors, shapes, or patterns to create consistency
and unity in the design.
 Proximity: Grouping related elements together to create organization and reduce
visual clutter.
 Hierarchy: Organizing elements in a way that guides the viewer's eye, establishing
the importance of various components.
 White Space (Negative Space): Leaving areas without design elements to allow the
viewer’s eye to rest and to give the design a clean, open feel.

3. Types of Printing Designs Used in Graphic Design:

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  Offset Printing: Widely used for large-volume printing, such as magazines, books,
and newspapers. It produces high-quality prints.
 Screen Printing: Ideal for printing on a variety of surfaces (e.g., T-shirts, posters),
using stencils to apply layers of ink.
 Digital Printing: Suitable for smaller runs and personalized designs, with quick
turnaround and no need for printing plates.
 Letterpress Printing: A traditional method where the design is pressed onto paper,
leaving an embossed effect.
 Gravure Printing: Used for high-quality image reproduction in magazines,
packaging, and wallpaper.
 Flexography: Used for printing on flexible materials like plastic and foil, commonly
in packaging.
 Sublimation Printing: Involves turning dye into gas to penetrate fabric or materials,
typically used for clothing and custom merchandise.

4. Graphic Design Software:

Common graphic design software includes:

 Adobe Photoshop: Used for photo editing, digital painting, and raster-based design.
 Adobe Illustrator: A vector-based design tool ideal for creating logos, illustrations,
and scalable graphics.
 CorelDRAW: Another vector-based program used for illustrations, logos, and print
designs.
 Adobe InDesign: Primarily used for layout design, including publications like
magazines, brochures, and books.
 Affinity Designer: A vector and raster graphic design software, a popular alternative
to Adobe Illustrator.
 Sketch: A design tool primarily used for web and interface design.
 Canva: A more user-friendly option, suitable for creating social media graphics,
presentations, and posters.

5. Importance of a Scanner in a Graphic Design Workshop:

A scanner is essential for a graphic designer's workshop because it allows the designer to
digitize physical artwork, sketches, or photos. This digital version can then be manipulated
using graphic design software, enabling a smooth transition from physical to digital design,
and providing more flexibility in editing, coloring, and refining the design.

6. Roles of Anatomy in Graphic Design:

The anatomy of typography refers to the specific parts of a letterform, such as ascenders,
descenders, serifs, bowls, and counters. Understanding typography anatomy allows designers
to:

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  Select appropriate typefaces based on their structure and appearance.
 Improve legibility and visual appeal of text.
 Adjust text in a way that enhances its readability and impact.
 Create consistent and harmonious text treatments that align with the overall design.

7. Typographic Tools Used to Create Dynamic Layouts:

 Kerning: Adjusting the spacing between specific characters to ensure balanced and
consistent spacing.
 Leading: The vertical space between lines of text, which helps readability.
 Tracking: Adjusting the space across a block of text.
 Font Weight & Style: Using bold, italics, and other variations to emphasize
important parts of the text.
 Line Length: Managing the length of text lines to prevent eye strain and ensure
readability.
 Alignment Tools: Ensuring text is aligned in a visually pleasing way, whether left,
center, or justified.

8. Attributes Used to Describe Color:

Color can be described using the following attributes:

 Hue: The actual color (e.g., red, blue, yellow).

 Saturation: The intensity or purity of the color, from dull to vibrant.
 Brightness (Value): How light or dark a color appears.
 Temperature: Whether the color feels warm (reds, oranges) or cool (blues, greens).
 Tint: A color lightened by adding white.
 Shade: A color darkened by adding black.
 Tone: A color modified by adding gray.

9. Definitions of Key Terms:

i. Graphics Design:
Graphics design is the art and practice of creating visual content to communicate messages.
Designers use elements like typography, images, and color to design everything from
advertisements to logos and websites.

ii. Typography:
Typography is the art and technique of arranging type to make written language legible,
readable, and visually appealing in design.

iii. Anatomy:
Anatomy refers to the individual parts of letterforms in typography, such as ascenders,

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descenders, serifs, stems, and counters, which are crucial for understanding how typefaces are
structured and used.

10. a) Common Mistakes with Typographic Tools:

 Inconsistent Spacing: Poor kerning or tracking can make text feel disjointed and
difficult to read.
 Too Many Fonts: Using too many different fonts or styles can create visual chaos
and reduce the overall impact of the design.
 Overcrowded Text: Cramped or dense text layouts can make it hard for the viewer to
read or digest the information.
 Improper Hierarchy: Not emphasizing the most important text elements (headlines,
subheadlines, body text) can confuse the viewer about what to read first.
 Unclear Alignment: Misaligned text can create an unorganized look, distracting from
the overall design.

b) Variables to Consider When Choosing Graphic Design Software:

 Project Type: Whether the design involves raster or vector graphics, layout, or photo
manipulation will influence the choice of software.
 Ease of Use: The designer’s experience with the software and the learning curve.
 Compatibility: Whether the software works with other tools or file formats needed
for the project.
 Features and Tools: What features are necessary for the project, such as typography
tools, image manipulation capabilities, or 3D rendering.
 Budget: Cost considerations for the software, including subscription fees or one-time
payments.

11. a) Principles for Designing a T-shirt:

When designing a T-shirt, Joseph should consider:

 Balance: Ensuring the design is visually balanced so it looks good from various
angles.
 Simplicity: Avoid overly complex designs that might be hard to print or read.
 Color Harmony: Choosing colors that complement each other and are appropriate for
T-shirt printing.
 Legibility: Ensuring that any text or graphic elements are easy to read and view.
 Target Audience: Designing with the preferences and style of the target demographic
in mind.

b) Types of Typography Techniques:

 Serif vs. Sans-serif: Serif fonts (with small "feet") and sans-serif fonts (without feet)
are used depending on the style and context.

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  Script Typography: Fonts that mimic handwriting or calligraphy, often used for
decorative or expressive purposes.
 Display Typography: Large, bold fonts used for titles and headlines, meant to catch
attention.
 Custom Typography: Creating unique letterforms specifically tailored for a brand or
project.

12. a) Professional Skills for a Graphic Designer:

 Creativity: Ability to generate unique and original design concepts.

 Attention to Detail: Precision in typography, layout, and overall design quality.
 Communication Skills: Ability to clearly articulate design ideas and collaborate with
clients or teams.
 Technical Proficiency: Familiarity with graphic design software and tools.
 Problem-Solving: Ability to approach design challenges with innovative solutions.

b) Elements for Shirt Design:

 Typography: Selection of typefaces that align with the style of the shirt.
 Color: Appropriate colors that complement the shirt fabric and communicate the
design's message.
 Imagery: Use of illustrations, graphics, or photos that reinforce the theme or
message.
 Composition: How elements are arranged to create a cohesive and visually appealing
design.

c) Types of Rhythms in Graphic Design:

 Regular Rhythm: A repetitive pattern or sequence that feels predictable.

 Random Rhythm: An unpredictable sequence of elements that creates a dynamic or
surprising effect.
 Flowing Rhythm: Elements that seem to move in a continuous pattern, guiding the
viewer's eye across the design.

13. a) Importance of Kerning:

Kerning involves adjusting the space between individual letter pairs to ensure that the letters
appear balanced and evenly spaced. Proper kerning improves readability and visual harmony,
making the text more appealing and easier to read. Too much or too little space can cause
words to appear awkward or difficult to understand.

b) Key Features of GIMP:

 Open-Source: GIMP is free to use and has a large community of developers.

 Layer Support: Offers advanced support for working with layers, similar to
Photoshop.

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 Image Editing: Provides tools for color correction, retouching, and digital painting.
 Customizability: Users can add plugins and scripts to enhance functionality.
 Support for Various File Formats: GIMP supports numerous image file formats,
making it versatile for different projects.

AGE.