65 Design Terms You Should Know | FREE COURSE

Summary

This course, '65 Graphic Design Terms You Should Know,' provides a comprehensive overview of essential design terminology. It covers fundamental principles such as composition, balance, and alignment, and explores critical color definitions like CMYK and RGB. Additionally, the course explains technical terms like resolution, PPI, DPI, and various typography concepts. Logo design styles, image file formats, and the importance of understanding these terms for effective communication with clients are also discussed. By mastering these terms, designers can enhance their ability to convey ideas and establish themselves as experts in the field.

Takeaways

• 😀 Design has its own language, and knowing the right terms helps communicate visual ideas clearly.
• 😀 Composition (or layout) is the visual arrangement of design elements to create a complete image.
• 😀 Balance in design refers to the visual weight of elements, affected by form, size, color, and texture.
• 😀 Alignment is about the position of elements on a layout, ensuring they line up properly.
• 😀 Repetition creates consistency in design by repeating elements multiple times, such as page numbers.
• 😀 Contrast helps create visual hierarchies by differentiating design elements like size, form, color, and texture.
• 😀 Negative space emphasizes specific elements in a layout by providing blank space around them.
• 😀 PPI (Pixels Per Inch) and DPI (Dots Per Inch) measure resolution, with PPI for screens and DPI for printing.
• 😀 Grayscale refers to an image made up of different shades of gray, and opacity controls transparency levels in elements.
• 😀 Typography terms like kerning, leading, and weight help refine text presentation, making it more legible and appealing.

Q & A

What is the importance of composition in graphic design?

Composition, or layout, is the visual arrangement of design elements that creates a complete image. It helps in delivering a functional layout and ensures that the message is effectively conveyed to the audience.

How does balance affect a design?

Balance refers to the visual weight of elements in a design, which can be influenced by form, size, color, and texture. Proper balance ensures the layout feels stable and visually appealing.

What is the difference between PPI and DPI?

PPI (Pixels Per Inch) is a measurement used for screen resolution, while DPI (Dots Per Inch) is used for printing. PPI determines the resolution of digital images, and DPI relates to the quality of printed images.

What role does negative space play in design?

Negative space refers to the empty area around a design element. It emphasizes specific parts of a design and allows for better focus on key elements, enhancing the visual appeal and clarity.

Why is contrast important in graphic design?

Contrast is used to differentiate elements in a design, helping to establish visual hierarchies. It can vary in form, color, texture, and size, making the design more dynamic and easier to interpret.

What is the significance of color palettes in design?

A color palette is a selection of colors that work together in a design project, often reflecting a brand’s identity. The right palette helps create harmony and ensures consistency across designs.

How do serif and sans serif fonts differ?

Serif fonts have small strokes at the ends of characters, making them easier to read in printed text. Sans serif fonts lack these strokes and are often used for screen displays, offering a cleaner, more modern appearance.

What is a vector graphic, and how does it differ from a raster image?

A vector graphic is created using mathematical equations to define shapes, allowing it to be resized without losing quality. In contrast, a raster image is made of pixels and can become pixelated when resized.

What does the term 'leading' mean in typography?

Leading refers to the vertical space between lines of text. Adjusting the leading ensures readability by preventing lines from touching each other and making text blocks comfortable to read.

What is a favicon and when is it used?

A favicon is a small icon derived from a primary logo, used to represent a website in browsers, tabs, or social media profiles. It serves as a quick visual identifier for the site.