KNOWLEDGE / FROM A TO Z

Glossary

Technology, explained clearly. Find a term, choose a letter or narrow the topic. Definitions include sources and their review date.

Terms 33 / 685

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ADesign

AVIF

An image format using AV1 coding. It can reduce file size at good quality, but decoding support and variant-generation costs need consideration.

Definition and sources
BDesign

Bitmap

An image formed from a grid of pixels. Enlarging beyond its resolution can reveal pixels; file format and compression are separate properties.

Definition and sources
BDesign

Brand mark

A graphic identifying a brand, such as a symbol without its full name. Trademark protection is not automatic for every design; registration and law matter.

Definition and sources
BDesign

Brandbook

A guide to a brand's rules, usually covering logos, colours, typography and applications, sometimes tone of voice. Scope varies by project. A brandbook can be broader than a logo usage manual.

Definition and sources
BDesign

Branding

Developing a brand's identity and how people perceive it. It includes positioning, promises, communication and customer experience. A logo is one branding tool, not the whole process.

Definition and sources
CDesign

Canva

A design platform with an editor and templates. Rights to use elements, photographs and templates depend on licensing and intended use.

Definition and sources
DDesign

DTP (Desktop Publishing)

Preparing publication layouts on a computer, including text composition, graphics and production files. Examples include books, catalogues and PDFs. Printed material must also meet the printer's technical specifications.

Definition and sources
EDesign

Eye tracking

Measuring gaze direction and movement during a study. It helps analyse attention, but looking at an element does not prove understanding or purchase intent.

Definition and sources
FDesign

Font Awesome

An icon library available through formats including SVG and fonts. Sets and licences differ. Free icon counts and features depend on the release; check the licence of the specific collection used.

Definition and sources
GDesign / Programming

Grid

A system arranging design elements in rows and columns. It supports rhythm and relationships. CSS Grid is a specific browser layout mechanism; a designer's grid need not be implemented with it.

Definition and sources
IDesign

Infographic

A visual presentation of information or data explaining relationships. It needs clear sources, honest proportions and a textual alternative for nonvisual access.

Definition and sources
JDesign

JPEG

A common raster-image format, usually using lossy compression. It suits photographs; repeated compression can reduce quality.

Definition and sources
KDesign

Key visual

A campaign's or brand communication's main visual motif, combining elements such as photography, illustration and typography. It can be adapted across formats. It is not the name of one specific advertising format.

Definition and sources
LDesign

Layout

The arrangement of text, graphics, space and navigation in a design. It establishes hierarchy and relationships. A good layout helps people understand content; visual impact does not replace readability.

Definition and sources
LDesign

Logo

A visual identifier for a brand, organisation or product. It may be a symbol, wordmark or combination. It should work in its intended applications; simplicity is not the sole evaluation criterion.

Definition and sources
LDesign

Logo usage manual

A guide covering logo versions, colours, clear space, minimum sizes and incorrect uses. It supports consistent identification. It need not cover the entire brand strategy; broader rules may belong in a brandbook.

Definition and sources
MDesign

Mockup

A visual presentation of a design in context, such as an interface inside a device frame. It need not be interactive or prove a working product exists.

Definition and sources
PDesign

PNG

A raster format with lossless compression and transparency. It preserves sharp edges well but can produce larger photographic files than lossy formats.

Definition and sources
PDesign

Portfolio

Selected work showing an author's skills and approach. It should distinguish real projects, concepts and the author's personal contribution.

Definition and sources
PDesign

Print finishing

Techniques changing printed material's appearance or properties, including varnishing, laminating, foiling and embossing. Not all involve coatings. Results and durability depend on the substrate, process and prepared artwork.

Definition and sources
PDesign

Print production

Preparing and producing printed publications, including typesetting, file preparation, printing and finishing. Technology and material parameters should follow the requirements of the particular production job.

Definition and sources
RDesign

Raster image

An image represented by a pixel grid, such as a photograph. Pixel dimensions describe spatial detail; PPI relates those dimensions to print size. Enlargement usually involves interpolation and may reveal limited detail.

Definition and sources