Visual Perception & Observation
Rule of Thirds Grid — Divide any composition into a 3×3 grid; place key elements along lines or intersections for balanced, aesthetically pleasing designs. Works for sketching, photography, and layout questions.
Gestalt Proximity Trick — Objects close together are perceived as a group. In pattern-recognition questions, circle clustered elements first—they're likely one unit.
Figure-Ground Reversal — Practice spotting negative space by squinting at images. The "vase or faces" principle helps solve ambiguous figure questions and hidden-shape problems.
Color Temperature Memory — "ROYGBIV advances, BIV recedes." Red, orange, yellow appear closer; blue, indigo, violet recede. Use for depth and spatial arrangement questions.
Visualization & Spatial Ability
Mental Rotation CLOCK Method — Imagine a clock face on the object. Rotate by "moving" the 12 to where asked (3 o'clock = 90° right). Prevents disorientation in 3D rotation problems.
Dice Opposite Faces (7-Rule) — On standard dice, opposite faces sum to 7 (1-6, 2-5, 3-4). Instantly eliminates wrong options in dice-folding questions.
Paper Folding TRACK — Mark the fold line mentally as a mirror axis. Holes punched appear symmetrically when unfolded. Trace backward from final to initial state.
Isometric Counting Blocks — Count visible faces: front layer + side additions + top layer. Subtract hidden/internal blocks = [(L×W×H) - overlaps]. Speeds up block-counting puzzles.
Drawing & Sketching
Proportion Quick Check (8-Heads Rule) — Average adult human = 8 head-heights tall. Use for figure drawing accuracy checks: 1 head = head, 2 = chest, 3 = navel, etc.
Ellipse Major-Minor Axis — Always draw the long axis first, then short axis perpendicular through center. Prevents lopsided circles in perspective drawings.
One-Point Perspective VP — All horizontal parallel lines converge at ONE vanishing point on horizon line. Railway tracks, roads, hallways—draw horizon first, then rays to VP.
Design Thinking & Problem Solving
SCAMPER Checklist — Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to another use, Eliminate, Reverse. Seven innovation triggers for product redesign and creative solution questions.
Affordance Recognition — "Shape suggests function." Flat = push, handle = pull, knob = turn. In usability questions, match form to intuitive action first.
General Awareness & Current Design
Bauhaus 3-Color Base — Primary colors (red, yellow, blue) + basic shapes (circle, triangle, square) define Bauhaus. Quick recall for design movement questions.
Dieter Rams 10 Principles Acronym: "HULU EATS UI" — Honest, Useful, Long-lasting, Unobtrusive, Environmentally-friendly, Aesthetic, Thorough, Simple, Unobtrusive, Innovative. Core good-design principles for theory questions.