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Last active December 22, 2025 12:23
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Web Design Keyword Cheatsheet

🎨 Web Design Keyword Cheatsheet

A practical vocabulary to help users describe what they want when prompting AI or briefing designers.


🧱 Layout & Structure

Use these to describe how the page is structured.

  • Bento Grid
  • Hero Section
  • Hero + Sections
  • Split Layout (Text / Image)
  • Card-Based Layout
  • Masonry Grid
  • Asymmetrical Layout
  • One-Page Scroll
  • Modular Blocks
  • Dashboard Layout
  • Sidebar Layout
  • Mobile-First Layout
  • Full-Width Sections

Example

β€œUse a bento grid layout with modular sections.”


🎨 Visual Style & Aesthetic

Defines the overall look & feel.

  • Modern SaaS
  • Minimalist
  • Clean UI
  • Corporate / Professional
  • Brutalist
  • Soft UI
  • Flat Design
  • Glassmorphism
  • Neumorphism
  • Futuristic
  • Retro / Vintage
  • Editorial Style
  • Playful
  • High-Contrast
  • Dark Mode
  • Light Mode

Example

β€œModern SaaS style with glassmorphism elements.”


🌈 Background Keywords

Use these to describe page background treatment.

Minimal & Neutral

  • Subtle Background
  • Neutral Background
  • Off-White Background
  • Light Gray Background
  • Clean Flat Background
  • Low-Contrast Background

Gradient & Color

  • Soft Gradient
  • Linear Gradient
  • Mesh Gradient
  • Radial Gradient
  • Pastel Gradient
  • Monochrome Gradient
  • Dark Gradient
  • Accent Gradient

Texture & Material

  • Light Noise Texture
  • Grainy Texture
  • Paper Texture
  • Frosted Glass Background
  • Glassmorphism Background
  • Soft Blur Background

Dark & Moody

  • Dark Mode Background
  • Charcoal Background
  • Matte Black
  • Midnight Blue
  • Deep Navy
  • Dark Background with Soft Glow

Pattern & Structure

  • Subtle Grid Pattern
  • Dot Pattern
  • Line Pattern
  • Geometric Pattern
  • Abstract Shapes
  • Blurred Blobs
  • Decorative Accents

Technical / Data Style

  • Technical Grid Background
  • Blueprint Style
  • Wireframe Background
  • Data Grid
  • System UI Background

Example

β€œSubtle off-white background with light noise texture.”


🧭 Navigation & UX

Describes how users move through the site.

  • Sticky Navigation
  • Floating Header
  • Mega Menu
  • Sidebar Navigation
  • Hamburger Menu
  • Breadcrumb Navigation
  • Smooth Scrolling
  • Anchor Links
  • Floating CTA Button
  • Step-Based Flow
  • Wizard-Style Form

🧩 Components & UI Elements

Use these to specify what appears on the page.

  • Call-to-Action (CTA)
  • Feature Cards
  • Pricing Table
  • Comparison Table
  • Testimonial Carousel
  • Logo Wall
  • FAQ Accordion
  • Tabs
  • Badges / Pills
  • Stats Counter
  • Timeline
  • Modal / Dialog
  • Tooltip
  • Search Bar
  • Notification Toast

✍️ Copy & Content Style

Controls tone and messaging.

  • Benefit-Driven Copy
  • Short Punchy Headlines
  • Problem β†’ Solution Flow
  • Storytelling Copy
  • Professional Tone
  • Conversational Tone
  • Technical / Developer-Focused
  • Marketing-Friendly
  • SEO-Optimized Copy
  • Minimal Text
  • Action-Oriented CTAs
  • Clear Microcopy

🎞 Animation & Interaction

Defines motion and interactivity.

  • Subtle Micro-Interactions
  • Hover Animations
  • Scroll-Based Animations
  • Fade-In Sections
  • Slide-Up Cards
  • Parallax Scrolling
  • Page Transitions
  • Loading Skeletons
  • Lottie Animations
  • Interactive Charts
  • Cursor Effects
  • No Animation

πŸ§‘β€πŸ’» Website Type / Use Case

Helps tailor design decisions.

  • SaaS Landing Page
  • Startup MVP
  • Agency Website
  • Portfolio Website
  • Personal Brand Site
  • E-Commerce Store
  • Dashboard / Admin Panel
  • Blog / Content Site
  • Documentation Site
  • Healthcare Website
  • Education Platform
  • Fintech Website
  • Enterprise Website

🧠 Power Combination Phrases

Designer-style shorthand that works very well in prompts:

  • Bento grid with subtle gradient background
  • Modern SaaS style with mesh gradient
  • Dark mode with elevated cards
  • Neutral background with accent gradients
  • Off-white background with paper texture
  • Minimal layout with high-contrast cards
  • Dashboard layout with technical grid background

🧩 Recommended Prompt Template

Design a [website type] using a [layout style] and [visual style].
Use a [background style].
Include [components].
Apply [copy style] and [animation style].
Target audience: [who].

Example

Design a SaaS landing page using a bento grid layout and modern SaaS style.
Use a subtle off-white background with light noise texture.
Include feature cards, pricing table, and FAQ accordion.
Apply benefit-driven copy and subtle micro-interactions.
Target audience: digital agencies.

🎭 Look & Feel Keywords (Design Mood & Personality)

Use these keywords to describe the emotional tone and visual personality of a website. They answer the question: β€œHow should this website feel?”


🌈 Friendly & Expressive

Bright, approachable, and human.

  • Pastel Theme
  • Playful / Fun
  • Friendly
  • Cheerful
  • Colorful
  • Whimsical
  • Youthful
  • Cute
  • Soft Rounded UI

Example

Pastel theme with a playful and friendly look.


🧘 Calm & Soft

Gentle, low-stress, and comfortable to look at.

  • Calm
  • Soft
  • Muted
  • Relaxed
  • Airy
  • Light & Spacious
  • Low Visual Noise
  • Gentle Contrast
  • Neutral & Balanced

Example

Calm and soft look with muted colors and airy spacing.


πŸ’Ό Professional & Serious

Trustworthy, polished, and business-focused.

  • Professional
  • Corporate
  • Formal
  • Clean & Polished
  • Minimal
  • Conservative
  • Structured
  • Reliable
  • Authoritative

Example

Professional and clean look suitable for enterprise clients.


πŸš€ Modern & Bold

High-energy, confident, and contemporary.

  • Modern
  • Bold
  • Confident
  • High-Contrast
  • Sharp
  • Dynamic
  • Eye-Catching
  • Statement Design
  • Trendy

Example

Bold and modern look with high-contrast elements.


🧠 Smart & Technical

Precise, logical, and system-oriented.

  • Technical
  • Analytical
  • Data-Driven
  • Developer-Focused
  • Systematic
  • Rational
  • Precise
  • Utilitarian
  • Functional

Example

Technical and data-driven look suitable for dashboards.


🎨 Creative & Artistic

Expressive, unique, and design-forward.

  • Creative
  • Artistic
  • Experimental
  • Expressive
  • Illustrative
  • Handcrafted
  • Editorial
  • Story-Driven
  • Visual-First

Example

Creative and artistic look with expressive visuals.


πŸŒ‘ Premium & Sophisticated

High-end, elegant, and refined.

  • Premium
  • Elegant
  • Sophisticated
  • Luxurious
  • Refined
  • Minimal Luxury
  • Tasteful
  • High-End
  • Exclusive

Example

Premium and elegant look with refined typography.


πŸ•Ή Retro & Nostalgic

Inspired by past eras and familiar aesthetics.

  • Retro
  • Vintage
  • Nostalgic
  • 90s Web
  • Pixel Art Style
  • Old-School
  • Analog Feel
  • Classic
  • Throwback

Example

Retro and nostalgic look inspired by 90s web design.


🌍 Human & Natural

Organic, warm, and emotionally grounded.

  • Human-Centered
  • Warm
  • Organic
  • Natural
  • Earthy
  • Soft Human Touch
  • Handwritten Feel
  • Authentic
  • Approachable

Example

Warm and human-centered look with organic elements.


🧠 Power Combo Phrases

These combinations work especially well in prompts:

  • Playful yet professional
  • Calm and premium
  • Modern but friendly
  • Technical yet approachable
  • Minimal and elegant
  • Bold and creative
  • Soft and human-centered
  • Clean but expressive

🎯 Quick Picker (MVP-Friendly)

If you need a short dropdown list, start with these 20:

  1. Pastel Theme
  2. Playful / Fun
  3. Calm
  4. Soft
  5. Professional
  6. Corporate
  7. Modern
  8. Bold
  9. Clean & Polished
  10. Minimal
  11. Technical
  12. Data-Driven
  13. Creative
  14. Artistic
  15. Premium
  16. Elegant
  17. Warm
  18. Human-Centered
  19. Retro
  20. Nostalgic

βœ… Tip

Look & feel keywords work best when combined with layout + background.

Example Prompt

Bento grid layout, modern SaaS style, pastel theme, playful yet professional look, subtle gradient background.

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