Almost everyone has tried their hand at graphic design at some point in time. While it may not be necessary to know how to handle professional programs like Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop, you can still improve your understanding of design tools and elements by knowing certain graphic design terms. 

Improving your graphic design vocabulary will also allow you to communicate design ideas better with your design team. Even if you still struggle with Microsoft Paint, knowing certain graphic design terminologies can help you create better branding for your product. 

Here are the top 30 graphic design words that you must know.

1. Alignment

Alignment refers to the positioning of images or text against an imaginary margin. For example, this text is aligned with the left margin of the page.

2. Analogous

A set of colors that are close to each other on the color wheel. As they add some diversity while remaining within the same general spectrum, they are frequently utilized to give some variety to a monochrome design. 

3. Ascender/Descender

Ascender and descender refer to elements of text glyphs. The x-height of a letter is known as the height of an ‘x’ in lowercase. Anything that rises above this point is referred to as an ascender, such as the top of the letter ‘t.’ Any element that is lower than this height is known as a descender, such as the bottom of the letter ‘p.’

4. Aspect ratio

A simple quantitative relationship between its width and its height is the aspect ratio. Common media types often define aspect ratios. A typical aspect ratio for smartphones, for instance, is 16:9, while a typical aspect ratio for film, DSLR, or mirrorless cameras is 3:2.

5. Baseline

It is an invisible line that serves as a reference point for aligning and spacing text. It's a fundamental part of typography and is used to establish vertical alignment and visual consistency. 

6. Bleed

Bleed is the amount of ink intended to cross the margin, that is, “bleeds” past it. Bleed is necessary since it assures that, if the cuts are not exact, the design will not be trimmed off and won't have an unattractive blank border.

7. Blur

Blur refers to the softening of the images or elements making them less distinct. It can be used to create a sense of motion, and depth, or to draw attention away from specific areas.

‍

8. CMYK

Cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, or CMYK, is the color space that forms the foundation of all print-related color schemes. Another phrase on this list, RGB, is a similar color scheme. Like RGB, a variety of colors can be produced by mixing these colors in various ratios.

CMYKOG or Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Orange, and Green refers to the color space used by 6-color printers, often known as Hexachrome printers. A six-color printer can print much more, especially if it is set up as CMYKOG. Presently, CMYKOG is discontinued, but 6-color printing with other colors is commercially available. A six-color printer can print the original six colors listed, as well as a wide variety of others because it has two more base colors to mix with.  

9. Calligraphy

The art of beautiful, stylized, and elegant handwriting or lettering using a specific tool (e.g., broad nib pen and brush pen) is calligraphy.

10. Color theory

Ideas concerning the optimum applications of color are part of color theory. There are numerous theories on colors that can be used to better comprehend color combinations and psychological effects.

11. Complementary

Due to their striking contrast, complementary hues are also referred to as opposing colors. Complementary colors combine to create an intermediate hue between white and black. Red and green are complementary hues, for instance.

12. Contrast

The arrangement of two opposite design elements, such as light and dark, large and small, or vibrant and muted colors is called contrast. It helps to create a visual hierarchy and makes elements stand out.

13. Cool colors

Colors like blue, green, and purple are often associated with calmness, serenity, and professionalism. In design, cool colors are used to evoke certain emotional responses or create a balanced atmosphere.

14. Crop

Cropping is the process of trimming the edges of an image or design element. It helps to focus on a specific area and removes unnecessary details.

15. Debossing or embossing

The methods of debossing and embossing are similar, yet they are opposites. To produce a 3D effect, embossing raises the artwork or text off the page. The reverse of embossing, which forces the design or text down to make it seem sunken into the page, is debossing.

16. DPI and PPI

DPI and PPI are units of image resolution on the screen or print. The terms "pixels per inch" (PPI) and "dots per inch" (DPI) refer to the number of pixels or dots that make up an inch. The better the resolution of the work, the higher the number. 

17. Flat

Flat is a design style that emphasizes simplicity and two-dimensional elements, avoiding gradients, textures, and shadows. It’s clean and modern, often used in UI/UX design.

18. Foiling

Foiling is a design technique employed on printed works. To give the paper a shiny appearance, a thin metal foil is used and pressed into the surface. You can choose from several metals and colors.

19. Font

The term font describes the various typeface variations. Times New Roman Bold and Times New Roman 10 pt., for instance, are two different fonts based on the text size. The word “typeface,” which is also listed here, is frequently confused with the term “font.” A Font Finder tool can help list the fonts used in a document. 

20. Golden ratio

The golden ratio is a mathematical ratio with a value of 1.618 that occurs naturally and has had a significant impact on design. The golden ratio can be used in art and design to produce well-balanced pieces that flow naturally. The golden ratio and its simplified variations are still utilized in graphic design today even though they are a classic concept. The Rule of Thirds — which is also defined on this list — is a condensed version of the golden ratio.

21. Gradient

A gradient is a progressive change from one color to another. Any two hues, or more than two, can be used in a gradient. Additionally, gradients can alter radially, diagonally, along the boundaries of a predetermined boundary, or on a fixed line.

22. Greyscale

Greyscale is a color mode where images are represented in shades of grey, ranging from black to white. It’s often used to create neutral and classic designs. 

23. Grid

A structural framework used to organize content in a layout. Grids help maintain balance, alignment, and consistency in design projects, particularly in web and print design.

24. Hex code

A hex code is a system of defining colors using the hexadecimal number system. There are various forms, including HTML and CSS, that use these six-digit codes. They are connected to RGB, another word on this list. In a hex code, the first two digits indicate the proportion of red in a color, the following two indicate the proportion of green, and the final two indicate the proportion of blue.

25. Hierarchy

Graphic design and other professions use the term hierarchy to describe the idea that some aspects are more significant than others. In graphic design, visual hierarchy is shown by making certain text bolder and larger than other text or by enlarging some images over other, less significant ones. It is a crucial factor to consider in a project because it has significant effects on compositions. Users may immediately take crucial pieces of information away from a successful hierarchy, which makes it essential to good UI/UX design. 

26. Hue

A hue refers to a pure color. Primary (red, yellow, and blue) and secondary colors are included in the hues (orange, green, and violet). Because tertiary colors are made by combining non-primary colors, they are not hues. 

Shade, tint, and tone are other words on this list that relate to hue. Adding something to color allows for the creation of several of these other words. Any specific color can be defined using its Hue, Saturation, and Luminance (HSL). Saturation describes how vibrant the hue is whereas luminance describes how bright or dark the hue is. 

27. Icon

A small graphic symbol that represents an action, object, or concept in a design is called an icon. Icons simplify complex information, providing users with visual cues.

28. Kerning

Kerning is a typography term that refers to the spacing between two characters. For example, due to their forms, the letters "A" and "V" typically seem too far apart. The kerning between the letters "A" and "V" was lowered in the sample on the right, but the remainder of the text was left alone. Even if the letter spacing is not exact, the goal of kerning is to make the letters look right.

29. Knolling

It is a method where objects are placed at 90-degree angles to create symmetry and order. In design, knolling is used to create aesthetically pleasing layouts, especially in photography and flat lays.

30. Leading

In typography, the vertical space between two lines of text is referred to as leading.

31. Logomark

Logomark is a logo that consists of a symbol or icon without any text. It visually represents the brand in a simple yet memorable form.

32. Logotype

A logo that uses stylized text to represent a brand. Unlike a logomark, a logotype is purely typographic, often using custom fonts or lettering.

33. Lorem Ipsum

It is a placeholder text commonly used in design to fill in areas where real text will later appear. It helps visualize how text will look in a layout without needing final content.

34. Mock-up

A mock-up is a draft of a design or piece of art that aids in its comprehension by others.

35. Monochrome

A monochrome is a color scheme that uses variations of a single color. Monochrome designs can range from subtle and sophisticated to bold and dramatic, depending on the color used. While greyscale can be monochrome, monochrome is not greyscale.

36. Monospaced

It is a font in which every character occupies the same amount of horizontal space. Monospaced fonts are often used in coding or technical design, where alignment is important.

37. Mood board

A mood board is a collage of ideas, textures, hues, or samples. Mood boards serve as a useful source for presentations that outline the characteristics of a project before it is finished.

38. Opacity

Opacity is the degree of transparency in a design element. Low opacity makes an element more transparent, while high opacity makes it more solid and opaque.

39. Orphans/ Widows

In typography, “orphan” refers to a word or a very short sentence appearing at the beginning of a paragraph, followed by the rest of the sentence at the bottom. "Windows" refers to short lines at the end of a paragraph with the rest of the sentence appearing at the top of the next page or column. Both can disrupt visual flow and readability.

40. Overprint

In overprinting, colors are printed on top of one another to provide a layered appearance. For instance, crimson is produced when magenta is printed over yellow. The result of shifting the two original prints is an effect where the red is visible in the overlap and the yellow and magenta are seen in the places where only one color is printed.

41. Palette

 The collection of colors used in a design project. A well-chosen palette helps create harmony and consistency across various design elements.

42. Pantone

A Pantone is a standardized color matching system used in design and printing. The Pantone Matching System (PMS) assigns unique codes to thousands of colors, ensuring consistent reproduction across different mediums. It is used for printing purposes, fashion design, and manufacturing.

43. Pixel

The smallest unit of a digital image or graphic that can be displayed and edited. In design, pixel dimensions are used to define the resolution and clarity of images.

44. Raster graphics

Raster graphics are images that are represented as a two-dimensional pixel grid. In raster graphics, the visual information is stored as a bitmap or a matrix of pixel values which can be displayed on screens or images. 

Common raster graphics file formats include JPEG, BMP, or PNG. The photographs you take on your phone are raster graphics. Raster graphics files often suffer from pixelation when enlarged. Microsoft Paint, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom, Krita, and GIMP are popular raster graphics editors. 

45. Readability

The ease with which text can be read and understood. Good readability in design depends on factors like font choice, size, line spacing, and color contrast.

46. Repetition

Repetition is a design principle that involves repeating elements like colors, shapes, or patterns to create visual consistency and unity within a layout or design.

47. Resolution

An image's resolution determines its quality. How many units make up a picture defines its resolution, which is typically expressed in DPI or PPI, words that are also explained in this list. Images with higher resolution are of higher quality than those with lesser resolution. The latter will seem fuzzy or pixelated.

48. RGB

RGB is a color model for displays, where colors are created using emitted light and not reflected light. The three colors can be blended to produce a wide range of hues. Each of the three colors in RGB has a code from 0 to 255. You can extract RGB values of an element from a screen using color extractor tools.

49. Rule of thirds

A compositional technique where a design or image is divided into nine equal parts by two equally spaced horizontal and vertical lines. Key elements are placed along these lines or at their intersections to create balance and visual interest.

50. Saturation

The intensity or purity of a color. High saturation means a color is vivid and bold, while low saturation makes colors appear more muted or dull.

51. Scale

The size relationship between elements in a design. Changing the scale of an object can add emphasis or create contrast, drawing attention to certain elements.

52. Serif/Sans Serif

A serif is an added ornamentation at the end of a letter that resembles a foot or cap. Serif typefaces tend to be more legible than sans serif and are frequently employed in books or other printed works. 

Text without serifs is simply referred to as sans serif. 

‍

53. Skeuomorphism

A design style that mimics real-world objects and textures to make digital elements feel familiar. For example, a digital notepad is designed to look like a physical notebook.

54. Stock photo

Pre-shot, royalty-free images that designers can use in various projects. Stock photos are convenient for filling in visual gaps, though they may lack uniqueness.

55. Style guide

A set of standards and rules that define the visual identity and branding of a company. It typically includes guidelines for logo usage, typography, color schemes, and other design elements to ensure consistency across all platforms.

56. Swash

Swash is an extended or decorative stroke on a letterform, typically found in script or calligraphic fonts. 

57. Symmetry

A balanced design where elements are arranged evenly, either side-to-side (bilateral symmetry) or around a central point (radial symmetry). Symmetry is often used to create harmony and stability in a design.

58. Texture

The perceived surface quality or feel of an element in a design, which can be physical (through print) or visual (simulating textures like fabric, metal, or paper digitally). Adjusting tracking can make text appear more open or compressed.

59. Tint

Tint is a lighter version of a color, created by adding white. Tints are used to soften colors and create a more subtle design palette.

60. Tracking

The typography term "tracking" is extremely like the term "kerning," which is also on this list. Similar to kerning, it describes the distance between letters in a word rather than just a single letter. Adjusting tracking can make text appear more open or compressed.

61. Triadic

Three hues that are uniformly spaced apart on the color wheel are referred to as triadic colors. When colors are grouped, there is frequently some hierarchy since one color is utilized more frequently while the other two are employed to create contrast. Examples of triadic hues include the combination of red, cyan, and green.

62. Typography

The art and technique of arranging type to make written language legible, readable, and visually appealing. It includes font selection, point size, line spacing, and alignment.

63. Vector graphics

Vector graphics are visuals and images that are described with shapes and their properties. Shapes, curves, polygons, or lines are drawn on the Cartesian plane every time the image is displayed. This allows the image to preserve its fidelity every time it is scaled. 

Logos are great examples of vector graphics. A popular vector graphics file format is SVG or Scalable Vector Graphics. Adobe Illustrator, Inkscape, and CorelDRAW are popular vector graphics editing programs. 

‍

64. Warm colors

Warm colors such as red, orange, and yellow, evoke warmth, energy, and excitement. In design, warm colors are often used to attract attention or create a sense of urgency.

65. White space or negative space

The space surrounding a graphic or text element is referred to as white space or negative space. Although it's frequently used to refer to a substantial blank space in a design, it also covers minor gaps between text or visual elements. Sometimes designers will employ negative space to express subtle messages or meanings, or to trick the observer into perceiving different forms, symbols, and characters.

Closing thoughts

We hope this list helps you improve your graphic design vocabulary. To see how your design would look on your product packaging and other marketing creatives, get a demo of Artwork Flow.