When it comes to engaging a web design agency to build a website for your business, one of the most overlooked keys to a successful outcome is effective communication. Oftentimes web designers can get carried away with technical terms that often leave clients lacking in understanding crucial aspects of their project. 

Web design is an essential aspect of any business with an online presence. To effectively communicate with web designers and developers, as a business owner being familiar with some of the common web design terminologies can go a long way in helping you communicate your requirements clearly. It also helps you understand the web design team and give feedback that they can understand and execute accurately.

In this article, we aim to provide a basic understanding of some of these terms, making collaboration with your web designer more efficient for better outcomes on your web design project..

Basic Web Terminology

The table below lists some common web terminologies you should know to communicate better with web designers and developers.

Terminology	Meaning
UX	User Experience; how a user interacts with and feels about a website or product.
UI	User Interface; these are the designs of the web pages. The visual elements and layout that users interact with on a website or application.
Domain Name	The web address used to locate a website (e.g., www.google.com).
Web Hosting	A service that stores and serves a website’s files, making the site accessible on the Internet. It is the rent you pay to have your website available on the internet.
CMS	A content management system. A service that stores and serves a website’s files, making the site accessible on the internet. It makes it easy to update content on your website without programming skills. Examples include WordPress and Wix.
Wireframe	A basic visual representation of a website’s layout, showcasing the arrangement of elements.
Above the fold	The visible portion of a website without scrolling; refers to the top section of a web page.
Call-to-Action (CTA)	A button, link, or image that prompts a user to take a specific action, such as “Sign Up” or “Buy Now.”
White space	The empty space around design elements, used to create balance and improve readability.
Mockup	High-fidelity layout of a site, representation of final colour, typography, imagery, etc.
Landing Page	A single web page optimised for a specific audience or search engine result.
Hex Code	On websites, the hexadecimal colour, a six digit number used to represent colour in HTML/CSS. It makes it easy to identify specific colours without relying on your visual impressions which is subjective.
Hero Image	The main image/graphic on a homepage or landing page, usually with a primary call to action.
Responsive Design	A design that is not fixed, but adapts to the user’s screen size and/or device.
Tech Stack	A profile of the technologies used to develop a website or application. It covers database, front-end and back-end tools used for the project.
Favicon	It’s the little logo you see next to a website on the browser. It is a small, 16×16 pixel icon used on web browsers to represent a website or a web page.

Communicating Your Designs with Web Developers

With these common web design terminology in your vocabulary, you would have acquired the necessary ingredients for effective communication with your web designer. To ensure effective communication with web developers, utilise your newly acquired web design vocabulary to provide a clear and comprehensive design brief that includes:

• Project goals and objectives
• Target audience
• Design preferences and inspirations
• Functional requirements
• Content requirements
• Deadlines and milestones
• It’s also essential to use appropriate web design terminologies when discussing design elements, layouts, and functionality with your web designer.

Conclusion

Being familiar with common web design terminologies will enable you to communicate more effectively with web designers and developers. This understanding leads to smoother collaborations, better-informed decision-making, and ultimately, a more successful website that aligns with your business goals.