Graphic Design and Web Design Terms And Definitions
Learning the basics of web and graphic design can make a big difference for small business owners. That’s why we’ve created a simple glossary just for you!
This guide explains key design terms in clear language, so you can feel confident when talking with your designer about your brand and website. Let’s make sure you have the tools to manage your design needs with ease.
Ready to dive in?
Graphic Design Terms and Definitions
Brand Elements: Visual pieces like your logo, colors, and fonts.
Brand Guide: A set of guidelines to keep your brand's look consistent.
Brand Identity: The visuals that represent your brand, from colors to logos.
Branding: Building a unique image for your business in people’s minds.
Color Codes: Codes like HEX or RGB that help identify colors precisely.
Color Palette: The set of colors you use across all brand materials.
Color Theory: Understanding how colors work together and impact design.
File Types: Formats for saving design work, such as JPEG, PNG, and PDF.
Logo Design: Crafting a symbol that represents your business.
Programs for Logo Design: Tools like Adobe Illustrator and Sketch.
Resolutions: Image clarity, important for both print and digital.
Typography: The look of text, including fonts and spacing.
Vector: A scalable image format, maintaining quality at any size.
Visual Identity: The overall look of your brand, from logo to website.
White Space: Empty space that keeps designs clear and readable.
Source Files: Original design files in formats like AI or PSD.
Common Programs Used in Graphic Design:
Adobe Illustrator: Great for creating logos and vector graphics.
Adobe Photoshop: Best for photo editing and detailed images.
Adobe InDesign: Ideal for layout design, like brochures and magazine
Website Design Terms and Definitions
404 Page: An error page when a link on a website is broken.
Above the Fold: The part of a webpage visible without scrolling.
Alt Text: Descriptions for images, useful for accessibility and SEO.
Analytics: Tools that help track and understand website performance.
Backend: The server side of a website, handling data and code.
Call to Action (CTA): Buttons or prompts that encourage action.
CMS (Content Management System): Software like WordPress for creating and managing content.
CMS Plugins: Add-ons that expand a CMS’s capabilities.
Compression: Optimizing images for faster loading times.
Conversion Rate: The percentage of visitors who complete a specific action.
CSS: A language for designing the look of a website.
Favicon: A small icon representing your site in the browser tab.
Frontend: The part of a site that users interact with directly.
GIF: An image format for low-detail graphics and animations.
Google Crawl: How Google indexes pages for search results.
Google Data Console: A tool for monitoring website traffic and performance.
Google My Business: A tool to manage your business’s online presence on Google.
Hero Image: A large image at the top of a webpage.
Hosting Provider: The company that stores your website on a server.
JPG/JPEG: An image format good for photos and detailed images.
Landing Page: A standalone page focused on a specific marketing goal.
Meta Description: A brief description for search engines.
Navigation: The links that help users move around a site.
PNG: An image format good for simple graphics and transparency.
Pixel: The smallest unit of a digital image or screen.
Raster: An image format made of pixels with a fixed size.
Responsive Design: Making sure a site works well on all devices.
SEO: Optimizing your site to appear in search engine results.
SEO Description: A short description for search engine optimization.
SEO Title: A web page’s title tag, optimized for SEO.
Sitemap: A list of all pages on a website.
Social Share: Buttons that allow users to share content on social media.
SSL: Encryption technology to protect your site and its visitors.
SSL Certificate: A security certificate that enables HTTPS on a site.
URL: The web address for a specific page.
Web Accessibility: Making sites usable for people with disabilities.
Web Hosting: A service that stores and serves websites online.
Wireframe: A basic layout sketch of a website or app.
Website Builders & Content Management Systems:
Wix: A beginner-friendly drag-and-drop site builder.
Squarespace: Known for sleek templates and ease of use.
Duda: Great for designers building multiple sites.
Showit: Perfect for highly customizable, creative sites.
WordPress: A popular CMS with extensive customization options
Conclusion
Knowing these design terms helps you make better design choices and work effectively with designers. By understanding and applying these principles, you can build a stronger brand, attract customers, and create a professional online presence.
