100 Graphic Design Terms That Every Designer Should Know

Here are 100 graphic design terms that every designer should know:

1. A/B Testing: A method of comparing two versions of a design to determine which one performs better.
2. Alignment: The arrangement of design elements so that they are visually connected and balanced.
3. Analogous Colors: Colors that are next to each other on the color wheel and share a common hue.
4. Animation: The process of creating motion graphics or moving images.
5. Aspect Ratio: The relationship between the width and height of an image or design.
6. Baseline: The imaginary line on which all characters in a text block rest.
7. Bleed: The extension of an image or design beyond the edge of the printed page to ensure that there are no white borders after trimming.
8. Body Copy: The main text of a design or document.
9. Brand Identity: The visual and design elements that represent a company or brand.
10. Call-to-Action: A design element that encourages the viewer to take a specific action, such as clicking a button or making a purchase.
11. CMYK: The color model used for printing, consisting of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks.
12. Collage: A design technique that involves combining multiple images or objects into a single composition.
13. Color Balance: The distribution of color in a design to achieve a harmonious and visually pleasing result.
14. Color Contrast: The difference in hue, saturation, and brightness between design elements.
15. Color Depth: The number of colors that can be displayed or printed by a device or software.
16. Color Gamut: The range of colors that can be displayed or printed by a device or software.
17. Color Harmony: The combination of colors in a design that creates a visually pleasing and balanced result.
18. Color Mode: The color space used in a design, such as RGB or CMYK.
19. Color Palette: The set of colors used in a design.
20. Color Saturation: The intensity or purity of a color.
21. Color Scheme: The selection and arrangement of colors in a design.
22. Composition: The arrangement and placement of design elements in a design.
23. Contrast: The difference in brightness, color, or texture between design elements.
24. Crop: The process of removing or trimming part of an image or design.
25. Design Brief: A document that outlines the goals, requirements, and specifications for a design project.
26. Design Elements: The individual visual components that make up a design, such as lines, shapes, colors, and textures.
27. Design Principles: The guidelines and concepts that govern the creation and composition of designs.
28. Design Process: The series of steps involved in creating a design, from research and ideation to final execution.
29. Design System: The set of design elements, guidelines, and standards used to create consistent and cohesive designs.
30. DPI: Dots per inch, a measure of the resolution of an image or design.
31. Emphasis: The use of design elements to draw attention to a specific part of a design.
32. Focal Point: The main area of visual interest in a design.
33. Font: The typeface or design of text in a design.
34. Form: The shape and structure of design elements.
35. Frame: A design element that surrounds or encloses other design elements.
36. Gestalt Principles: The theory of how humans perceive and organize visual information, including concepts such as proximity, similarity, and closure.
37. Golden Ratio: A mathematical ratio that is considered aesthetically pleasing and is often used in design composition.
38. Gradient: A gradual transition from one color to another, often used to create depth and dimension in a design.
39. Graphic Design: The art and practice of creating visual designs for communication and expression.
40. Grid: A framework of intersecting lines used to align and organize design elements.
41. Hierarchy: The arrangement of design elements in order of importance, to guide the viewer’s attention.
42. Icon: A simplified symbol or graphic that represents an object, concept, or action.
43. Illustration: A visual representation of an object, scene, or idea, often created by hand or using digital tools.
44. Image Compression: The process of reducing the file size of an image without significantly reducing its quality.
45. Infographic: A visual representation of data or information, often using icons, charts, and graphs.
46. Kerning: The adjustment of the space between individual letters in a text block.
47. Layout: The arrangement and composition of design elements on a page or screen.
48. Leading: The vertical spacing between lines of text.
49. Letterform: The individual design of each letter in a typeface.
50. Logo: A unique symbol or wordmark that represents a brand or organization.
51. Masking: The process of hiding or revealing parts of an image or design using a mask.
52. Mockup: A visual representation of a design, often used for presentation or testing purposes.
53. Monochromatic: A color scheme that uses variations of a single color.
54. Negative Space: The empty or unoccupied areas in a design, often used to create balance and contrast.
55. Offset Printing: A printing method that uses plates to transfer ink onto paper, creating a sharp and high-quality print.
56. Opacity: The level of transparency or visibility of a design element.
57. Overprinting: The process of printing one color on top of another to create a new color.
58. PMS: Pantone Matching System, a standardized system for color matching used in printing.
59. Perspective: The technique of creating the illusion of depth and three-dimensional space in a design.
60. Pixel: The smallest unit of a digital image or display.
61. Point: A unit of measurement used in typography and graphic design, equal to 1/72 of an inch.
62. Pop Art: An art movement that emerged in the 1950s, characterized by bold colors and imagery inspired by popular culture.
63. Poster: A visual design intended for display in public spaces to promote an event or idea.
64. Proportion: The relationship between the size of design elements in a composition.
65. Raster Image: An image composed of pixels, often used for photographs and digital art.
66. Repetition: The use of repeating design elements to create unity and consistency in a design.
67. Resolution: The level of detail and clarity of an image or design, often measured in pixels or DPI.
68. RGB: The color model used for digital displays, consisting of red, green, and blue light.
69. Sans Serif: A typeface without serifs, often used for headlines and modern designs.
70. Saturation: The intensity or purity of a color.
71. Scale: The relative size of design elements in a composition.
72. Serif: The small decorative lines at the ends of letters in a typeface.
73. Shape: The visual form and outline of a design element.
74. Slogan: A short and memorable phrase used to represent a brand or idea.
75. Space: The area around and between design elements.
76. Splash Screen: A visual design that appears when a digital application is opened.
77. Storyboard: A visual representation of the sequence of events in a design, often used in animation and video production.
78. Style Guide: A document that outlines the design standards and guidelines for a brand or organization.
79. Subtractive Color: A color model used in printing that involves subtracting colors from white light to create a desired color.
80. Symmetry: The balance and harmony achieved by arranging design elements equally on both sides of a composition.
81. Texture: The visual and tactile quality of a surface, often created through patterns and shading.
82. Thumbnail: A small and rough sketch used to plan and brainstorm design ideas.
83. Tone: The lightness or darkness of a color.
84. Typeface: The design and style of a set of characters, including letters, numbers, and symbols.
85. Typography: The art and practice of designing and arranging type for effective communication and legibility.
86. UI Design: User Interface Design, the design of digital interfaces for optimal user experience.
87. UX Design: User Experience Design, the design of digital products and services to meet the needs and expectations of users.
88. Vector Graphic: An image created using mathematical equations and geometric shapes, allowing for infinite scalability without loss of quality.
89. Visual Identity: The overall look and feel of a brand or organization, including logos, colors, and design elements.
90. Visual Hierarchy: The arrangement and prioritization of design elements to guide the viewer’s attention.
91. Visual Language: The design elements, colors, and typography used to communicate the brand or organization’s message and values.
92. Visual Thinking: The use of images and visual elements to aid in problem-solving and decision-making.
93. Watermark: A translucent design element placed over an image to indicate ownership or authenticity.
94. White Space: The empty or unoccupied areas in a design, often used to create balance and contrast.
95. Wireframe: A visual representation of the structure and layout of a digital interface, used for planning and testing purposes.
96. Wordmark: A logo that uses typography as the primary design element.
97. X-Height: The height of a lowercase letter in a typeface, measured from the baseline to the top of the letter.
98. Yellow: A primary color in the RGB and CMYK color models, often associated with optimism and warmth.
99. Zine: A self-published, small-circulation magazine often created by independent artists and writers.
100. Storyboard: A sequence of drawings or illustrations used to visualize and plan a video, animation, or other visual narrative.