In graphic design, everything is created with the Golden Ratio at its core. It’s a mathematical approach that helps designers achieve perfection–or something along those lines. While most people might argue “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”, using the Golden Ratio to create any design will likely result in a well-balanced and aesthetically pleasing opus favorable to most eyes. Also known as the Divine Proportion, the Golden Ratio is based on the Fibonacci sequence. It’s a sequence of numbers that naturally occurs in anything and everything, not just in art. In a Fibonacci Sequence, each number is just the sum of the numbers preceding it–typically starting from 0 and 1 all the way to infinity.
One important graphic design term to know is hierarchy. Hierarchy is a way to organize information so that it is visually organized and easy to understand. Hierarchy is used to create a visual hierarchy to draw attention to the information that is most important, and then to downplay the less important information. Hierarchy is essential for creating effective graphic design because it allows the designer to prioritize the elements in the design and direct the viewers’ attention to the most important parts. This means that the designer can emphasize the elements that need to stand out, while still leaving room for the other elements. Hierarchy can be achieved through a variety of methods, such as size, colour, placement, contrast, and texture. Hierarchy is an important part of the design process and is an essential tool for creating visually engaging designs that can communicate a message quickly and effectively.
Aspect ratio is an important term to understand in graphic design. It's a mathematical ratio that describes the proportional relationship between the width and height of an image or screen. Aspect ratios are typically represented by two numbers separated by a colon, such as 16:9 or 4:3, where the first number refers to the image's width and the second number refers to its height. Aspect ratios determine how an image will display on a given screen, so graphic design professionals must be aware of them. Understanding aspect ratio is key for accurately creating great visuals no matter what device they're viewed on.
A mood board is an important graphic design term to know because it helps establish the project's overall aesthetic by setting the tone and style of a design project. They are a visual representation, created using a collection of images, text, color samples, patterns, and design elements, that showcase the desired style and mood. By creating a mood board, graphic designers can effectively communicate their vision to clients and team members and ensure everyone is on the same page. Having a mood board as a shared visual language helps to simplify collaboration and ensures that all efforts are aligned toward the same goal.
Whitespace is at the heart of contemporary graphic design, and you can't fraternize with designers if you don't understand it. Commonly referred to as negative space, white space is the space that borders your elements or content. With minimalism becoming increasingly important in design, whitespace is core to avoid overwhelming users with excessive features in one view. Doing such will inevitably force users to lose critical details of such unstructured or cluttered design. With a robust understanding of whitespace, you can better control the interaction (even the emotional component) of a user's interaction with your designs. You can selectively emphasize the viewer's focus and evoke a stronger sentimental response in selected areas of your design.
As a former graphic designer I think one term everyone should know in this field is that of typography. This refers to the art and technique of arranging type to make written language legible, readable, and appealing when displayed. This might include the selection of typefaces, point sizes, line lengths, line-spacing, and letter-spacing. I think typography is super important when it comes to design in 2023!
One of the most significant terms in graphic design is a hierarchy. It is used to arrange and organize information from the most essential to the least important elements. Designing hierarchy into a project, allows the audience to scan pages quickly and understand the message intended by the graphic designer. Implementing hierarchy in a design also helps direct viewers' attention to certain elements on the page or across multiple pages. Regardless of the project size, hierarchy should always be taken into consideration when designing graphics to ensure optimal communication between a graphic designer and the audience.
Visual hierarchy is the process of creating a visual order that allows users to easily understand the information being presented in a design. It involves organizing content into levels of importance and using elements such as size, color, shape and placement to draw attention to certain pieces of information. By using visual hierarchy, designers can help guide users through a design, helping them to quickly process and understand the information being presented. Visual hierarchy is key to effective graphic design, as it helps create an organized and aesthetically pleasing experience for users.