Oral exam Visual Design:
some tips and examples

- Arrive at least 15 minutes before your timeslot (check examen.rooster.be).
Some of you may have been assigned the same time slot; this is intentional to account for possible absences and to ensure the oral exams run smoothly.

​- Bring your student card an a pen.
 
- You will receive four questions;
fate will decide.

- You will receive some scrap paper.

​- You have 15 minutes of preparation time.

ORAL EXAM - 60% OF TOTAL SCORE

Four questions.

1. Trends & styles - Analyze two examples from class presentations (what - how - why)

2. Trends & styles - Discuss the artist of your choice (to be prepared at home and uploaded on Canvas before the exam)

3. Photography - Discuss composition and technical features (based on the pictures you took for 'Street photography')

4. Graphic Design - Discuss the layout and typography of a graphic design example. 

Here are some examples
  of possible questions! 

QUESTION 1
Analyze both examples according to the standard step-by-step method of visual analysis.

• WHAT
  Elegant woman in Coca Cola ad; fan & flowers; glass of cola on pedestal.

• HOW
  Figurative style;luxury, static pose & ornaments. 
  

• WHY
  > 1905 - mass production: need for advertising (I.R.).
  > Celebrity: opera singer Lillian Nordica.
  > Product: hardly noticeable.
  > Concept: product for the 'rich & famous'
  > Inspiration:
  gothic (=medieval) style;
  Victorian style.
  

Analysis
Coca Cola ad

WHAT
A urinal.

HOW
A readymade sculpture, signed by 'R. Mutt, 1917'.  

WHY
1917, 'Fountain', by French artist Marcel Duchamp.
> Concept: making fun of art and life; absurdity.
> Inspiration:
Dada movement, World War 1

Analysis 'Fountain'

QUESTION 2

Artist of your choice (Assignment 7):
Answer several questions that the teacher will ask about the artist you selected. As preparation, you may already note down some keywords.

On the next slide, you see the artist your teacher Lieve Roegiers would select :-).
​

“S. with Child,” 1995.
© Gerhard Richter 2019

QUESTION 3

- Analyze two photos from your Street Photography assignment, selected by the teacher, using the correct compositional and technical terms.

- Explain the connection between these characteristics and the concept you chose.

On the next slides, you see street photography examples by Martin Parr, one of your teacher's favourite photographers. Unfortunately, he died on 6 December 2025; consider this mentioning as a tribute to him and his visual legacy. 

New Brighton, Great Britain, 1985 © Martin Parr/Magnum Photo

Weymouth, Great Britain, 2008
© Martin Parr/Magnum Photos

QUESTION 4

- Discuss the layout and typography of a graphic design example.

- How are layout and typography connected to the visual concept of this example?  

LAYOUT AND TYPOGRAPHY

​Structure: Text placed on horizontal lines, organized into different blocks or compartments. The sections are separated by lines, and some blocks contain visuals.
Contrast: Contrast between bold and regular text; between different fonts (sans-serif, serif, and gothic); and between black and orange.
Repetition: Repetition of certain fonts and of the color black.
Alignment: Text is mostly justified; the central block is centered.

All these elements are linked to
the visual concept.
See the visual analysis on the next slide.

• WHAT
  Tour poster with typography design.

• HOW
  Contrast black-orange; elaborate typography 
  

• WHY
  2022, 'The Big Steppers Tour', by Chris Burnett.
  > Concept:
  bold, chaotic and 'loud', 'get out of the box'.
  > Inspiration:
  Gothic (old) + contemporary fonts

Analysis 'The Big Steppers Tour'