Accessibility
Design Accessibility (a11y)
Designing products usable by people with disabilities, following WCAG guidelines for perceivable and operable interfaces.
DesignAffordance
Design Affordance
A visual cue suggesting how an element should be used (e.g. a raised button affords clicking).
DesignBaseline Grid
Typographic Baseline Grid
A horizontal grid aligned to text baselines that maintains consistent vertical rhythm across a page.
DesignColor Temperature
The perceived warmth (reds, yellows) or coolness (blues, greens) of a color, influencing mood and atmosphere.
DesignContrast Ratio
WCAG Contrast Ratio
A numerical measure of luminance difference between text and background, with 4.5:1 minimum for WCAG AA compliance.
DesignFitts's Law
A predictive model stating that the time to reach a target depends on its distance and size — larger, closer targets are faster.
DesignFont Weight
The thickness of a typeface's strokes, expressed numerically (100-900) or by name (light, regular, bold).
DesignRule of Thirds
A composition guideline dividing the frame into a 3x3 grid, placing key elements along lines or intersections for visual balance.
DesignColor Wheel
Color Wheel (Color Circle)
A circular diagram organizing colors by hue to visualize relationships like complementary and analogous colors.
DesignComplementary Colors
Complementary Color Scheme
Two colors positioned directly opposite each other on the color wheel, creating high contrast when paired.
DesignTriadic Colors
Triadic Color Scheme
Three colors equally spaced (120 degrees apart) on the color wheel, offering vibrant and balanced contrast.
DesignNegative Space
Negative Space (White Space)
The empty space between and around design elements that improves readability and visual hierarchy.
DesignVisual Hierarchy
The arrangement of design elements by importance using size, color, contrast, and placement to guide the viewer's eye.
DesignGrid System
Design Grid System
A framework of columns, gutters, and margins used to create consistent, aligned layouts in design.
DesignTracking
Letter Spacing (Tracking)
The uniform adjustment of spacing between all characters in a block of text, distinct from kerning.
DesignGolden Ratio
The mathematical ratio (~1.618:1) found in nature and used in design to create aesthetically pleasing proportions.
DesignWireframe
UI Wireframe
A low-fidelity skeletal outline of a page layout showing structure and content placement without visual design.
DesignMockup
Design Mockup
A high-fidelity static representation of a design showing visual details like colors, typography, and imagery.
DesignResponsive Design
Responsive Web Design
A design approach where layouts adapt fluidly to different screen sizes using flexible grids and media queries.
DesignColor Blindness
Color Vision Deficiency
A condition affecting ~8% of men where certain color differences are difficult or impossible to perceive.
DesignHSL
Hue, Saturation, Lightness
A cylindrical color model describing colors by hue angle (0-360), saturation (%), and lightness (%).
DesignDesign Token
A named value representing a design decision (color, spacing, typography) shared across design and code systems.
DesignModular Scale
Typographic Modular Scale
A sequence of font sizes generated by multiplying a base size by a consistent ratio for harmonious typography.
DesignGestalt Principles
Gestalt Principles of Perception
Psychological laws (proximity, similarity, closure, continuity) explaining how humans perceive visual elements as groups.
DesignHick's Law
Hick-Hyman Law
A UX principle stating that decision time increases logarithmically with the number of available choices.
DesignMonochromatic Color
Monochromatic Color Scheme
A palette using variations of a single hue through different tints, shades, and tones for subtle, cohesive designs.
DesignSplit-Complementary
Split-Complementary Color Scheme
A color scheme using a base color plus the two colors adjacent to its complement, offering contrast with less tension.
DesignMaterial Design
Google Material Design
A design language by Google using grid-based layouts, responsive animations, and depth effects inspired by physical materials.
DesignDesign System
A collection of reusable components, patterns, and guidelines ensuring visual and behavioral consistency across products.
DesignInformation Architecture
Information Architecture (IA)
The structural design of shared information environments, organizing content for intuitive navigation and findability.
DesignPrototype
Interactive Prototype
A functional model of a design with clickable interactions, used to test usability before development begins.
DesignTypeface
The overall design of a set of characters (e.g. Helvetica), distinct from a font which is a specific weight and size.
DesignAnalogous Colors
Analogous Color Scheme
Three or more colors adjacent on the color wheel, producing harmonious and visually cohesive palettes.
Design