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Glossary
Look up any term from this course. Each entry links back to the lesson that taught it.
| Term | Definition | Lesson |
|---|---|---|
| Alignment | Placing elements so their edges or centres line up along common invisible lines, creating order and connection. | Alignment and Proximity |
| Balance | The distribution of visual weight in a design, so that it feels stable rather than tipping to one side. | Balance and White Space |
| Bleed | Extra image area (usually 3 mm) beyond the final trimmed size, so that colours and images extend to the very edge after the paper is cut. | Planning a Poster |
| Brand guidelines | A document that sets out how an organisation's logo, colours and fonts must be used. | Brand Consistency |
| Brand identity | The consistent visual elements an organisation uses so people recognise it: logo, colours, fonts, imagery style and tone of voice. | Brand Consistency |
| Clear space | The empty area that must be kept around a logo. | Brand Consistency |
| Colour scheme (harmony) | A set of colours chosen to work together, e.g. analogous, complementary or triadic. | Colour Theory |
| Contrast | A strong difference between elements — in colour, size, weight, shape or typeface — that makes them stand out from each other. | Contrast and Repetition |
| Leading, tracking, kerning | Leading is space between lines; tracking is space across a word or line; kerning is space between two particular letters. | Typography and Readability |
| Proximity | Placing related elements close together and unrelated elements further apart, so viewers see them as groups. | Alignment and Proximity |
| Repetition | Reusing the same colours, fonts, shapes, lines or styles throughout a design to create unity and consistency. | Contrast and Repetition |
| Rule of thirds | Dividing a layout into a 3 × 3 grid and placing key elements on the lines or intersections. | Balance and White Space |
| Safe margin | An area inside the trim edge (about 10–15 mm) where all important text is kept so it is not cut off. | Planning a Poster |
| Thumbnail sketch | A quick, small drawing of a possible layout, used to compare ideas before designing in software. | Planning a Poster |
| Typography | The art of arranging type — choosing typefaces, sizes, weights, spacing and layout — to make text readable and attractive. | Typography and Readability |
| Visual hierarchy | The arrangement of design elements to show their order of importance, so the viewer's eye moves through the information in the intended order. | Visual Hierarchy |
| Warm and cool colours | Warm colours (red, orange, yellow) feel energetic and inviting; cool colours (green, blue, violet) feel calm and trustworthy. | Colour Theory |
| White space (negative space) | The empty areas around and between elements in a design. It does not have to be white — it is simply space without content. | Balance and White Space |
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