"Responsive Design"
Responsive Design
Designer’s Definition: A web design approach that ensures layouts adapt to different screen sizes and resolutions, from mobile devices to desktop monitors, using flexible grids, media queries, and CSS techniques.
Non-Designer Lingo: Mobile-friendly design
The Verdict:
Use "Responsive Design." While "mobile-friendly" is simpler, "responsive design" covers ‘all devices, not just mobile. It also sounds more technical and professional, which builds credibility when discussing web design.
"Wireframe"
Designer’s Definition: The basic structure of your website—a low-fidelity guide that gets everything in place before the design process starts.
*Anna's Articulation:
Think of it as the bra for your website (sorry, Mom)—providing the necessary support and shape before you slip into something more stylish.
Non-Designer Lingo: "Website outline"
The Verdict:
"Wireframe" is the proper term and is crucial in the early stages of web design. Don't leave the house without it.
"Above the Fold"
Designer’s Definition: The portion of a webpage that is visible to a user before scrolling, analogous to the top half of a newspaper, where the most important content lives.
*Anna's Articulation:
What thrives here? Simple: your most critical content. This is where your main message, your value proposition, the prime real estate for attention. Give me a reason to scroll.
Non-Designer Lingo: "Top of the page"
The Verdict:
Stick with "Above the Fold." Although it’s an old newspaper term, it’s widely used in web design and marketing. It implies that what’s visible immediately matters the most.
"Call to Action" (CTA)
Designer’s Definition: A website element designed to encourage immediate action from the user, typically in the form of a button or link, prompting tasks like "Buy Now," "Sign Up," or "Learn More."
Non-Designer Lingo: Action prompt
The Verdict:
"Call to Action" or CTA is a staple in marketing and web design. "Action Prompt" is too vague.
Now that you're warmed up. Here's two terms tossed around a lot but rarely understood.
5 & 6 User Experience (UX) / User Interface (UI):
Designer’s Definitions:
User Interface (UI): The visual elements of a product or website—the buttons, icons, spacing, typography, colors, and responsive design. It's all about the aesthetics and the tangible components that users interact with.
User Experience (UX): The overall experience a user has when interacting with your product or website. This includes how easy it is to navigate, how intuitive the flow is, and how satisfying the interaction feels. It's the journey from point A to point B and how smooth (or bumpy) that ride is.
*Anna's Articulation:
The glass ketchup bottle is the UI—classic, iconic, and it looks great on your table. But when you're wrestling to get ketchup onto your fries, that's lacking in UX. The humble plastic squeeze bottle? Less stylish, but it delivers sans murder scene on the table. The best designs find the right balance.
Non-Designer Lingo:
UI: How your website looks.
UX: How your website feels to use or "visitor satisfaction"
The Verdict:
Know your audience. Understanding the distinction between UI and UX is important in design discussions. Use these terms when appropriate, but ensure your audience is on the same page.
SEO" (Search Engine Optimization)
Designer’s Definition: The practice of optimizing a website to rank higher in search engine results.
*Anna's Articulation:
Making your website the teacher’s pet of Google.
Non-Designer Lingo: "getting found on Google"
The Verdict:
Always go with "SEO." It’s one of the most recognizable acronyms in digital marketing. If you’re in business, this is one acronym you need to know.
Final Thoughts:
Your website is either working for you or against you—there’s no in-between. If your design isn’t responsive, your SEO isn’t optimized, or your user experience is clunky, you’re missing out. Struggling with any design terms or want me to break down new ones? Let me know—no jargon should stand between you and a better site.
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