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An Introduction to Design

Learn the fundamentals of design and apply them to your own work.

Design is all around us but most of us don't notice it. By the end of this course you'll start to notice design elements in everyday life. By understanding the fundamentals of design, you can start to apply them to your software UI & UX, marketing materials, emails, web design and pretty much anything else you produce.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Course Introduction

Typography

Color - Models and Meanings

The Fundamental Gestalt Principles - Understanding Perception

Other Important Principles - Layout and Organization

Course Summary and Next Steps

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Students pursuing a career with responsibilities in UX and UI design will benefit greatly from this

This course is apt for students interested in subjects like marketing and communications

Students in the field of digital marketing will benefit from this foundational course in graphic design principles

Students with aspirations of developing their own websites will likely find this course to be a suitable starting point

Instructors have received recognition for their work in the design industry and the course includes a mix of learning materials

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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 An Introduction to Design with these activities:

Read 'Design of Everyday Things' by Don Norman

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Gain insights into design principles and their application in everyday life from a classic work on design.

View Things That Make Us Smart: Defending Human... on Amazon

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Read the book thoroughly and take notes
Identify key concepts and principles discussed in the book

Study Gestalt

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Review the Gestalt principles of organization to enhance your understanding of design principles.

Browse courses on Gestalt Principles

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Read articles and watch videos on Gestalt principles
Analyze real-world designs and identify how Gestalt principles are applied

Typography Drills

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Refine your typography skills through repetitive exercises, improving your ability to select and use fonts effectively.

Browse courses on Typography

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Identify different typefaces and their characteristics
Practice combining fonts to create visual hierarchy
Experiment with typography in design projects

Five other activities

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Follow Online Tutorials on Adobe Creative Suite

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Enhance your design skills by following structured tutorials on industry-standard design software.

Browse courses on Adobe Photoshop

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Identify relevant tutorials covering specific design techniques
Follow the tutorials step-by-step and practice the techniques
Experiment with different design elements and compositions

Design Challenge: Create a Marketing Flyer

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Apply design principles to create a visually appealing marketing flyer, reinforcing your understanding of design elements.

Browse courses on Marketing Materials

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Identify the target audience and marketing message
Choose appropriate fonts and colors based on design principles
Create a layout that effectively conveys the message
Obtain feedback from peers or mentors to improve the design

Peer Critique Sessions

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Engage in peer critique sessions to receive feedback on your design work, fostering improvement and collaboration.

Browse courses on Design Critique

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Organize peer critique sessions with classmates
Present your design work and receive feedback
Provide constructive feedback to peers

Attend a Design Workshop

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Engage with industry professionals and learn advanced design techniques through a hands-on workshop.

Browse courses on Design Principles

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Research and identify relevant design workshops
Attend the workshop and actively participate in discussions
Apply the learned techniques to your own design projects

Contribute to Open Source Design Projects

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Get involved in open source design projects to contribute to the community, enhance your skills, and learn from others.

Browse courses on Open Source

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Identify open source design projects that align with your interests
Contribute to the project by reporting bugs, suggesting improvements, or creating new features
Collaborate with other contributors to enhance the project

Career center

Learners who complete An Introduction to Design will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

UX Designer

UX Designers use the principles they learn in design courses in their work every day. An Introduction to Design covers fundamentals like typography, color theory, and layout that are all heavily relied upon by UX Designers. By taking this course, you will build a strong foundation for success as a UX Designer.

See salaries and explore the career path for UX Designer

Graphic designer

Graphic Designers use the principles they learn from design courses in their work every day. An Introduction to Design covers fundamentals like typography, color theory, and layout that are all heavily relied upon by people working in this role. By taking this course, you will build a strong foundation for success as a Graphic Designer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Graphic designer

Web Designer

Web Designers rely on the knowledge they gain in design courses to create websites that are both visually appealing and functional. The topics covered in An Introduction to Design, such as Gestalt Principles and color theory, are essential for designing websites that users find easy to navigate and enjoyable to use.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Designer

UI Designer

UI Designers rely on the knowledge they gain in design courses to create user interfaces that are visually appealing and functional. The topics covered in An Introduction to Design, such as Gestalt Principles and color theory, are essential for designing user interfaces that users find easy to navigate and enjoyable to use.

See salaries and explore the career path for UI Designer

Product Designer

Product Designers need to have a strong understanding of design principles in order to create products that are both useful and desirable. An Introduction to Design provides a solid foundation in these principles. The course covers topics such as typography, color theory, and layout, which are all essential for Product Designers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Designer

Reading list

We've selected 13 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 An Introduction to Design.

Making and Breaking the Grid, Third Edition

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A classic guide to the vocabulary and principles of design, providing a foundational understanding of the concepts taught in the course.

An Introduction to Design

What's inside

Syllabus

Good to know

Save this course

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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