Designers' Dictionary

scan path

Eye Path

Guide the reading order on purpose instead of making every block compete equally.

grouping

Proximity

Things placed close together read as related; distance signals a boundary.

visual contrast

Contrast

Difference creates emphasis. Similar things blend together and lose priority.

visual alignment

Alignment

Shared edges make layouts feel deliberate and connected.

consistency

Repetition

Repeat the important patterns so users can learn the system instead of relearning each section.

negative space

Whitespace

Whitespace is not wasted room; it is the space that lets content breathe and separate.

visual hierarchy

Hierarchy

Hierarchy tells the user what matters most, what matters next, and what can wait.

interaction cue

Affordance

Affordance is the set of cues that tell people what is interactive and what will happen next.