Which of the following is NOT one of the six integral components used in design?

• A. Line
• B. Pattern
• C. Color
• D. Texture

Answer: (B)

In design, you differentiate between the basic building blocks used to describe a surface and the ways those blocks are organized. The six fundamental elements typically include line, shape, value, color, texture, and space (or form). Pattern, however, is not one of these core elements; it’s a recurring motif created by repeating the other elements. It’s a technique for organizing and ornamenting a surface rather than an elemental property you use to describe it. So pattern doesn’t belong among the six basic components, making it the one that doesn’t fit. For context, you might use line to define edges, color to convey mood, and texture to suggest tactile quality, while pattern would govern how a motif repeats across the design to create rhythm and unity.