Adrian Hanft, writing for Medium:

A design education begins with a zen-like challenge: place two black squares on a white background.

The professor explains that some arrangements will be dull and lifeless. Those assignments will fail. Other submissions will be dynamic and interesting. Those assignments will pass.

As you set yourself to the seemingly simple task you realize the complexity of the challenge. There are an infinite amount of ways to arrange the squares and you have no crutches because all the other elements of design have been forbidden.

No gradients.

No variation of line weight.

You can’t use the manipulative properties of color.

No shades of gray.

No room for your unique style and personality.

Having never gone to design school, not sure if this challenge is typical, but I definitely found it interesting. Take a look at some of the examples. Some of them clearly “click” more than others. Why?

Design remains an enigmatic mystery to me.