5 Graphic Design Words You Need to Know

Understanding the terms designers use not only helps you appreciate their craft but also lets you communicate ideas more clearly. Here are five essential words every beginner should know.

1. Kerning

Kerning is the spacing between individual letters in a word. Imagine writing the word *WOW*—if the letters are too close, it looks cramped; too far apart, and it feels disconnected. Good kerning makes text readable, professional, and visually balanced.

2. Hierarchy

Hierarchy is how designers show what’s most important in a layout. Bigger, bolder headlines grab attention first, while smaller text supports the story. Without hierarchy, a design feels flat and confusing. Think of it like a movie trailer—some moments are louder and more dramatic to pull you in. This can also be used with fonts pictures and color.

3. Negative Space

Also known as “white space,” this is the empty space around design elements. It’s not wasted—it actually helps focus attention on what matters. For example, Apple’s clean ads rely heavily on negative space to make products stand out. (For emaple: look at the arrow in the FedEx logo in between the E and the x. See it now?

4. Vector

A vector is a type of digital graphic made from mathematical paths instead of pixels. The magic? You can scale a vector logo from a business card to a billboard without losing quality. That’s why professional logos are always created in vector format.A good vector-

based software is Adobe Illustrator.

5.Palette

A palette is simply the collection of colors a designer chooses for a project. The right palette creates mood, emotion, and brand identity. For example, bold red and yellow feel energetic (think fast food brands), while muted greens and blues feel calm and natural.

Final Thoughts

Learning these five words—kerning, hierarchy, negative space, vector, and palette—gives you a solid foundation in graphic design language. The more you understand these terms, the more confident you’ll feel when creating, collaborating, or even just appreciating good design.

---