Graphic Design Termiology

usually concerns the design and use of various typefaces in a way that helps to better visually communicate

• Typography

• Body Copy

• Hierarchy

• Display Type

The main part of text in your design or publication

• Typography

• Body Copy

• Hierarchy

• Display Type

The visual arrangement of design elements in a way that signifies importance

• Typography

• Body Copy

• Hierarchy

• Display Type

common design term and usually aims to achieve a more proportional and pleasing balance of space between each character.

• Kerning

• Leading

• Tracking

• X-Height

can cause tension and overlap, making the content unreadable, and too-loose leading can equally make the type appear disjointed

• Kerning

• Leading

• Tracking

• X-Height

art of a lowercase letter that extends above the x-height

• Descender

• Ascender

• Orphans

• Serif

found at the end of horizontal and vertical lines. ___________ typefaces tend to look professional, authoritative, and traditional in appearance.

• Serif

• Sans Serif

• Slab Serif

• Script

typeface with thicker, blockier serifs, very commonly used in headlines and titles, but rarely in body copy. They tend to look sturdier, stronger, and bolder.

• Serif

• Sans Serif

• Slab Serif

• Script

center, left, right, and justified, each with their own time and place for application.

• Leading

• Alignment

• Legibility

• Typography

A short excerpt pulled from the main text and used as a visual element to help highlight important ideas and draw interest to the piece.

• Palette

• Pull Quote

• Analogous

• Slab Serif