Design
Visual Hierarchy
Plain-language definitionThe use of size, placement, contrast, and spacing to communicate importance and reading order. Strong hierarchy lets people understand a page before reading every word.
Why it matters
Use the term to make a better decision.
In practice, visual hierarchy matters when a team needs to connect a technical or creative choice to a visible change in clarity, performance, discovery, or conversion. The useful question is not whether the term sounds sophisticated. It is what decision it helps the team make.