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Basic Elements of Design

Design Principles and Software Overview

Lori Poole

Designing for an organization, while requiring technical skill, is not just about knowing how to use a pagination program such as InDesign or manipulate photos using Photoshop. A designer is a visual storyteller, a person who pairs words with images and typography to best convey information to an audience. Good design evokes emotion and presents the news of the day with clarity and the proper tone. A business card, brochure, or website that has good design provides content that is more inviting, more easily comprehensible and is faster to process. Design isn’t about “making it look pretty,” it’s also about content, layout and audience analysis.

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What's inside

Syllabus

What is Graphic Design?

This module will cover the history of graphic design, uncover what graphic designers do and review the design process.

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Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Taught by Lori Poole, an experienced graphic designer and educator

Covers the fundamentals of graphic design, including elements of design and basic concepts

Emphasizes the importance of content, layout, and audience analysis in design

Suitable for beginners with no prior experience in graphic design

Provides a practical foundation for careers in graphic design

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Reviews summary

Foundational graphic design principles overview

According to learners, this course provides an excellent introduction to the world of design principles. Many highlight its strong focus on the fundamentals of design, appreciating that it lays a solid foundation in concepts like balance, contrast, and hierarchy before diving into software. Students often praise the engaging instructor for making complex ideas easy to grasp. The assignments are practical and help solidify learning. However, a frequent point of feedback is that the "Software Overview" segment is minimal, serving more as a mention than actual software training. This makes it ideal for absolute beginners but potentially just a review for those with prior experience. Overall, it's seen as a strong first step for understanding the 'why' behind good design.

Exercises help reinforce learning.

"The assignments were practical and helped solidify the concepts."

"The practical exercises reinforced the lectures effectively."

"The assignments were fun and practical."

"Assignments were great for practice."

Instructor makes concepts easy to grasp.

"The instructor is engaging and explains complex topics in a way that is easy to understand."

"The instructor's passion for the subject is evident and makes the learning enjoyable."

"The instructor is clear and engaging."

"Instructor is clear."

"The instructor is fantastic."

Perfectly suited for those new to design.

"This course was a wonderful introduction to the world of graphic design."

"Excellent course for anyone new to design."

"It's definitely for beginners or those needing a refresher on theory."

"fine for absolute beginners, but not much value beyond that."

"Loved this course! It's exactly what I needed as a complete beginner."

Lays a solid base in core design concepts.

"This course was a wonderful introduction to the world of graphic design... I especially appreciated the focus on design principles rather than just software tutorials."

"Excellent course for anyone new to design. It lays a solid foundation in principles like balance, contrast, and hierarchy."

"It's more theory-focused than software, which suited my needs perfectly as I wanted to understand *why* things look good..."

"Loved this course! It's exactly what I needed as a complete beginner. The focus on principles was perfect."

"Provides a solid introduction to design principles. The explanations are clear."

May be too basic for those with prior knowledge.

"If you have any prior design experience, this will be mostly review."

"Very basic. Good for someone who literally knows nothing about design."

Teaches principles, not detailed software usage.

"I found the software part a bit rushed, just a brief overview, so don't expect in-depth software skills here."

"The software part was almost non-existent, which was disappointing as the title included "Software Overview"."

"I agree with others that the software overview is just that - an overview. Don't expect to learn InDesign or Photoshop here."

"the 'software overview' is misleading. It's more like a 'software mention'. Don't take this if you're looking to learn tools."

"The software segment is minimal; it basically says you need software... but doesn't teach how to use them."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Basic Elements of Design: Design Principles and Software Overview with these activities:

Review Typography Principles

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Brush up on typography principles to enhance your visual storytelling skills.

Browse courses on Typography

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Review course materials on Typography
Explore online resources on Typography
Experiment with different fonts and typefaces

Review design principles

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Get a grasp of the foundation of graphic design to ensure understanding of basic concepts.

Browse courses on Design Principles

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Read course material on design principles.
Explore design resources online to supplement reading.
Watch videos or tutorials on design principles.
Review notes and assignments from previous design courses.
Take practice quizzes or tests on design principles.

Practice using design software

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Solidify your understanding of using design software to create visual content.

Browse courses on Design Software

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Work through tutorials or practice exercises in design software.
Create sample designs using different software features.
Experiment with different design techniques and effects.

Five other activities

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Show all eight activities

Collaborate with peers on design projects

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Exchange ideas and provide constructive feedback to solidify your understanding of design concepts.

Browse courses on Collaboration

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Form a study group with classmates.
Work together on design projects and assignments.
Give and receive feedback on design work.
Discuss design concepts and techniques.

Design a mock-up brochure

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Apply your knowledge of design principles and software to create a practical design deliverable.

Browse courses on Brochure Design

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Develop a concept and gather content for the brochure.
Sketch out a design layout.
Use design software to create the brochure.
Get feedback on your design from peers or instructors.
Revise and finalize the brochure design.

Explore advanced design techniques

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Expand your knowledge and skills by exploring advanced design techniques.

Browse courses on Motion Graphics

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Identify areas of design you want to improve.
Search for tutorials and resources on advanced design techniques.
Follow tutorials and practice applying new techniques.
Experiment with different design concepts and approaches.

Develop a website prototype

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Demonstrate your understanding of design principles and website development by creating a working prototype.

Browse courses on Website Design

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Plan the website structure and content.
Design the website layout and interface.
Create a prototype using a website builder or coding.
Test the prototype and gather feedback.
Refine and finalize the prototype.

Design a personal brand identity

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Apply your design knowledge and skills to create a comprehensive personal brand identity.

Browse courses on Personal Branding

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Define your personal brand and values.
Develop a visual identity that represents your brand.
Create a logo, color palette, and typography system.
Design branded materials such as a website, social media profiles, and business cards.
Get feedback on your brand identity and make revisions.

Career center

Learners who complete Basic Elements of Design: Design Principles and Software Overview will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Graphic Designer

Graphic Designers create visual concepts, using computer software or by hand, to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, and captivate consumers. This course will provide skills that help build a foundation for a Graphic Designer and help teach principles that can be applied to their work, such as designing for an audience and presenting information clearly.

See salaries and explore the career path for Graphic Designer

Art Director

Art Directors oversee the visual style and concepts of a variety of media, including magazines, newspapers, product packaging, and websites. They work with writers, editors, and other creatives to develop and execute a cohesive visual vision for a project. This course could be helpful for Art Directors who want to broaden their knowledge of design principles and improve their skills in using design software.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art Director

User Experience Designer

User Experience Designers research, design, and evaluate the user experience of products and services. They work to ensure that products are easy to use, efficient, and enjoyable. This course may be useful for User Experience Designers who want to learn more about the principles of design and how to apply them to digital products.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Experience Designer

Web Designer

Web Designers create and maintain websites. They work with clients to determine the goals of the website and then design and develop a website that meets those goals. This course may be useful for Web Designers who want to learn more about the principles of design and how to apply them to web design.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Designer

Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers develop and execute marketing campaigns to promote products or services. They work with a variety of teams to create and implement marketing strategies. This course may be useful for Marketing Managers who want to learn more about the principles of design and how to use them to create effective marketing materials.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Product Manager

Product Managers are responsible for the overall development and success of a product. They work with a variety of teams to define, design, and launch products. This course may be useful for Product Managers who want to learn more about the principles of design and how to apply them to product development.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Creative Director

Creative Directors oversee the creative vision and execution of a variety of projects, including advertising campaigns, branding initiatives, and product launches. They work with a team of creatives to develop and execute creative concepts. This course may be useful for Creative Directors who want to learn more about the principles of design and how to apply them to creative projects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Creative Director

Visual Designer

Visual Designers create visual concepts for a variety of media, including websites, magazines, and product packaging. They work with copywriters and other creatives to develop and execute a cohesive visual vision for a project. This course may be useful for Visual Designers who want to learn more about the principles of design and how to apply them to visual design.

See salaries and explore the career path for Visual Designer

Motion Graphics Designer

Motion Graphics Designers create animated graphics for a variety of media, including television, film, and the web. They work with clients to develop and execute a creative vision for a project. This course may be useful for Motion Graphics Designers who want to learn more about the principles of design and how to apply them to motion graphics.

See salaries and explore the career path for Motion Graphics Designer

Instructional Designer

Instructional Designers develop and deliver training programs for a variety of audiences. They work with subject matter experts to create and deliver training that is effective and engaging. This course may be useful for Instructional Designers who want to learn more about the principles of design and how to apply them to instructional design.

See salaries and explore the career path for Instructional Designer

User Researcher

User Researchers conduct research to understand the needs and behaviors of users. They work with a variety of teams to design and develop products and services that meet those needs. This course may be useful for User Researchers who want to learn more about the principles of design and how to apply them to user research.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Researcher

Information Architect

Information Architects design and organize the structure and content of websites, intranets, and other digital products. They work with a variety of teams to create and implement information architecture solutions that are effective and user-friendly. This course may be useful for Information Architects who want to learn more about the principles of design and how to apply them to information architecture.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Architect

Design Researcher

Design Researchers conduct research to inform the design of products and services. They work with a variety of teams to understand the needs and behaviors of users and to develop design solutions that meet those needs. This course may be useful for Design Researchers who want to learn more about the principles of design and how to apply them to design research.

See salaries and explore the career path for Design Researcher

Interaction Designer

Interaction Designers design and develop the user experience of interactive products and services. They work with a variety of teams to create and implement interaction design solutions that are effective and user-friendly. This course may be useful for Interaction Designers who want to learn more about the principles of design and how to apply them to interaction design.

See salaries and explore the career path for Interaction Designer

Digital Designer

Digital Designers create and develop digital products and services. They work with a variety of teams to design and implement digital solutions that are effective and user-friendly. This course may be useful for Digital Designers who want to learn more about the principles of design and how to apply them to digital design.

See salaries and explore the career path for Digital Designer

Reading list

We've selected 14 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Basic Elements of Design: Design Principles and Software Overview.

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Great introduction to graphic design, providing a comprehensive overview of the field. It is especially useful for those with little to no prior knowledge of graphic design.

Basic Elements of Design

Design Principles and Software Overview

Here's a deal for you

What's inside

Syllabus

Traffic lights

Save this course

Reviews summary

Foundational graphic design principles overview

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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