To qualify as good design, ornament must have _______.

• A. Proportion
• B. Meaning
• C. Contrast
• D. Symmetry

Answer: (B)

Ornament that is part of good design should carry meaning—reflecting the object's purpose, how it’s made, or its cultural or functional message. When decoration expresses something about the form or material, it reinforces understanding of the design rather than just looking decorative. Proportion, contrast, or symmetry are useful tools in design, but they don’t by themselves ensure that ornament has purpose or meaning. You can have ornament that fits these principles yet feels empty if it lacks a clear communicative role, and you can also have meaningful ornament that doesn’t conform to traditional notions of proportion or symmetry. So the best answer is that ornament must have meaning to be considered good design.