Art and design
Visual culture, creative practice, design principles and artistic movements.
Areas within Art and design
Visual art
General vocabulary for visual artworks, artistic media and creative practice.
97 wordsPainting and drawing
Painting, drawing, colour, line, composition, media and techniques.
50 wordsSculpture
Three-dimensional art, carving, modelling, casting and sculptural materials.
42 wordsArchitecture
Buildings, architectural design, structure, form and built environments.
178 wordsGraphic design
Layout, branding, visual communication, graphics and publication design.
39 wordsDesign principles
Balance, contrast, hierarchy, proportion, rhythm, alignment and other design principles.
35 wordsArt history
Artistic movements, periods, styles, criticism and historical context.
35 wordsPhotography
Photography, exposure, composition, lenses, image-making and photographic genres.
36 wordsTextiles and fashion
Fabric, textiles, garments, fashion design and decorative surface techniques.
227 wordsTypography
Type, fonts, letterforms, spacing, readability and typographic design.
17 wordsArchitecture
Specialist vocabulary classified under Art and design.
110 wordsDesign studies
Specialist vocabulary classified under Art and design.
4 wordsVisual art
Specialist vocabulary classified under Art and design.
50 words120 featured terms
The database can contain more terms than shown here; this page prioritises the strongest mappings.
(architecture) a masonry construction (usually curved) for spanning an opening and supporting the weight above it
Architectural ornamentnoun(architecture) something added to a building to improve its appearance
Architecturenounthe discipline dealing with the principles of design and construction and ornamentation of fine buildings; "architecture and eloquence are mixed…
Artnounthe creation of beautiful or significant things; "art does not need to be innovative to be good"; "I was never any good at art"; "he said that a…
Art formnoun(architecture) a form of artistic expression (such as writing or painting or architecture)
Artistic creationnounthe creation of beautiful or significant things; "art does not need to be innovative to be good"; "I was never any good at art"; "he said that a…
Artistic productionnounthe creation of beautiful or significant things; "art does not need to be innovative to be good"; "I was never any good at art"; "he said that a…
Atticnoun(architecture) a low wall at the top of the entablature; hides the roof
Columnnoun(architecture) a tall vertical cylindrical structure standing upright and used to support a structure
Columniationnoun(architecture) the arrangement of columns (especially freestanding columns) in a structure
Congenoun(architecture) a concave molding
Congeenoun(architecture) a concave molding
Corbelnoun(architecture) a triangular bracket of brick or stone (usually of slight extent)
Corbel archnoun(architecture) an arch constructed of masonry courses that are corbelled until they meet
Corbel stepnoun(architecture) a step on the top of a gable wall
Corbie gablenoun(architecture) a gable having corbie-steps or corbel steps
Corbie-stepnoun(architecture) a step on the top of a gable wall
Corbiestepnoun(architecture) a step on the top of a gable wall
Cornernoun(architecture) solid exterior angle of a building; especially one formed by a cornerstone
Crow stepnoun(architecture) a step on the top of a gable wall
Cymanoun(architecture) a molding for a cornice; in profile it is shaped like an S (partly concave and partly convex)
Cymatiumnoun(architecture) a molding for a cornice; in profile it is shaped like an S (partly concave and partly convex)
Designnounthe act of working out the form of something (as by making a sketch or outline or plan); "he contributed to the design of a new instrument"
Designingnounthe act of working out the form of something (as by making a sketch or outline or plan); "he contributed to the design of a new instrument"
Dripnoun(architecture) a projection from a cornice or sill designed to protect the area below from rainwater (as over a window or doorway)
Drip moldnoun(architecture) a projection from a cornice or sill designed to protect the area below from rainwater (as over a window or doorway)
Drip mouldnoun(architecture) a projection from a cornice or sill designed to protect the area below from rainwater (as over a window or doorway)
Entablaturenoun(architecture) the structure consisting of the part of a classical temple above the columns between a capital and the roof
Foliagenoun(architecture) leaf-like architectural ornament
Foliationnoun(architecture) leaf-like architectural ornament
Hipnoun(architecture) the exterior angle formed by the junction of a sloping side and a sloping end of a roof
Modillionnoun(architecture) one of a set of ornamental brackets under a cornice
Ordernoun(architecture) one of original three styles of Greek architecture distinguished by the type of column and entablature used or a style developed…
Paintingnouncreating a picture with paints; "he studied painting and sculpture for many years"
Piernoun(architecture) a vertical supporting structure (as a portion of wall between two doors or windows)
Pillarnoun(architecture) a tall vertical cylindrical structure standing upright and used to support a structure
Pinnaclenoun(architecture) a slender upright spire at the top of a buttress or tower
Quoinnoun(architecture) solid exterior angle of a building; especially one formed by a cornerstone
Rhythmnoun(architecture) the repetitive use of a group of visual elements to establish a recognizable pattern
Scapenoun(architecture) upright consisting of the vertical part of a column
Shaftnoun(architecture) upright consisting of the vertical part of a column
Termnoun(architecture) a statue or a human bust or an animal carved out of the top of a square pillar; originally used as a boundary marker in ancient R…
Terminal figurenoun(architecture) a statue or a human bust or an animal carved out of the top of a square pillar; originally used as a boundary marker in ancient R…
Terminusnoun(architecture) a statue or a human bust or an animal carved out of the top of a square pillar; originally used as a boundary marker in ancient R…
Trussnoun(architecture) a triangular bracket of brick or stone (usually of slight extent)
Vaultingnoun(architecture) a vaulted structure; "arches and vaulting"
Acenounthe smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number; "he has the one but will need a two and three to go with it"; "they had lunch a…
Agate linenounspace for one line of print (one column wide and 1/14 inch deep) used to measure advertising
Alignmentnounthe act of adjusting or aligning the parts of a device in relation to each other
Aperturenounan man-made opening; usually small
Architectnounsomeone who creates plans to be used in making something (such as buildings)
Architectural plannounscale drawing of a structure; "the plans for City Hall were on file"
Artnouna superior skill that you can learn by study and practice and observation; "the art of conversation"; "it's quite an art"
Artnounphotographs or other visual representations in a printed publication; "the publisher was responsible for all the artwork in the book"
Artistnouna person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination
Artistrynouna superior skill that you can learn by study and practice and observation; "the art of conversation"; "it's quite an art"
Artworknounphotographs or other visual representations in a printed publication; "the publisher was responsible for all the artwork in the book"
Balancenounharmonious arrangement or relation of parts or elements within a whole (as in a design); "in all perfectly beautiful objects there is found the…
Baroquenounelaborate and extensive ornamentation in decorative art and architecture that flourished in Europe in the 17th century
Baroquenessnounelaborate and extensive ornamentation in decorative art and architecture that flourished in Europe in the 17th century
Billnouna sign posted in a public place as an advertisement; "a poster advertised the coming attractions"
Brandingnounthe act of stigmatizing
Brushverbtouch lightly and briefly; "He brushed the wall lightly"
Buildingnouna structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place; "there was a three-story building on the corner"; "it wa…
Cameranounequipment for taking photographs (usually consisting of a lightproof box with a lens at one end and light-sensitive film at the other)
Canvasnounan oil painting on canvas fabric
Canvassnounan oil painting on canvas fabric
Cardnouna sign posted in a public place as an advertisement; "a poster advertised the coming attractions"
Carveverbform by carving; "Carve a flower from the ice"
Carvernounan artist who creates sculptures
Carvingnouncreating figures or designs in three dimensions
Casenouna specific size and style of type within a type family
Castnounthe visual appearance of something or someone; "the delicate cast of his features"
Castingnounthe act of creating something by casting it in a mold
Charcoalnouna stick of black carbon material used for drawing
Clothnounartifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers; "the fabric in the curtains was light and semitranspa…
Colornounthe appearance of objects (or light sources) described in terms of a person's perception of their hue and lightness (or brightness) and saturati…
Colornouna visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or transmit or reflect; "a white color is made up of many different wavelengt…
Coloringnouna visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or transmit or reflect; "a white color is made up of many different wavelengt…
Colournounthe appearance of objects (or light sources) described in terms of a person's perception of their hue and lightness (or brightness) and saturati…
Colournouna visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or transmit or reflect; "a white color is made up of many different wavelengt…
Colouringnouna visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or transmit or reflect; "a white color is made up of many different wavelengt…
Composingnounthe spatial property resulting from the arrangement of parts in relation to each other and to the whole; "harmonious composition is essential in…
Compositionnounthe spatial property resulting from the arrangement of parts in relation to each other and to the whole; "harmonious composition is essential in…
Compositionnounart and technique of printing with movable type
Constructionnouna thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts; "the structure consisted of a series of arches"; "she wore her hair in an amazi…
Contemporaryadjectivecharacteristic of the present; "contemporary trends in design"; "the role of computers in modern-day medicine"
Contrastverbto show differences when compared; be different; "the students contrast considerably in their artistic abilities"
Control gridnounan electrode placed between the cathode and anode of a vacuum tube to control the flow of electrons through the tube
Counterpointverbto show differences when compared; be different; "the students contrast considerably in their artistic abilities"
Creative personnouna person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination
Cubismnounan artistic movement in France beginning in 1907 that featured surfaces of geometrical planes
Designnouna decorative or artistic work; "the coach had a design on the doors"
Designernounsomeone who creates plans to be used in making something (such as buildings)
Divisionnounone of the portions into which something is regarded as divided and which together constitute a whole; "the written part of the exam"; "the fina…
Documentaryadjective(of film, television, radio, or photography) depicting a real-life event using images or interviews with people involved in the event
Draftingnounthe creation of artistic pictures or diagrams; "he learned drawing from his father"
Draftsmanshipnounthe creation of artistic pictures or diagrams; "he learned drawing from his father"
Drawingnounthe creation of artistic pictures or diagrams; "he learned drawing from his father"
Edificenouna structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place; "there was a three-story building on the corner"; "it wa…
Elevationnoundrawing of an exterior of a structure
Embossmentnounsculpture consisting of shapes carved on a surface so as to stand out from the surrounding background
Embroiderynoundecorative needlework
Emphasisnounspecial and significant stress by means of position or repetition e.g.
Exposurenounthe intensity of light falling on a photographic film or plate; "he used the wrong exposure"
Expressionismnounan art movement early in the 20th century; the artist's subjective expression of inner experiences was emphasized; an inner feeling was expresse…
Fabricnounartifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers; "the fabric in the curtains was light and semitranspa…
Facadenounthe face or front of a building
Facenouna specific size and style of type within a type family
Fancyworknoundecorative needlework
Fashionnounhow something is done or how it happens; "her dignified manner"; "his rapid manner of talking"; "their nomadic mode of existence"; "in the chara…
Figurenouna decorative or artistic work; "the coach had a design on the doors"
Fontnouna specific size and style of type within a type family
formnouna category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality; "sculpture is a form of art"; "what kinds of desserts are there?"
formnouna perceptual structure; "the composition presents problems for students of musical form"; "a visual pattern must include not only objects but th…
formnounthe visual appearance of something or someone; "the delicate cast of his features"
Fountnouna specific size and style of type within a type family
Frontagenounthe face or front of a building
Frontalnounthe face or front of a building
Fusainnouna stick of black carbon material used for drawing
