Fundamentals of Graphic Design from Coursera

Graphic Design is all around us! Words and pictures—the building blocks of graphic design—are the elements that carry the majority of the content in both the digital world and the printed world. As graphic design becomes more visible and prevalent in our lives, graphic design as a practice becomes more important in our culture.

Through visual examples, this course will teach you the fundamental principles of graphic design: imagemaking, typography, composition, working with color and shape... foundational skills that are common in all areas of graphic design practice. I don't just want you to watch a video of someone talking about design, I want you to MAKE design! If you want to be a designer you have to be a maker and a communicator, so this course will offer you lots of opportunities to get your hands dirty with exercises and with more practical projects.

At the end of this course you will have learned how to explore and investigate visual representation through a range of image-making techniques; understand basic principles of working with shape, color and pattern; been exposed to the language and skills of typography; and understand and have applied the principles of composition and visual contrast. If you complete the course, along with its optional (but highly recommended) briefs, you will have a core set of graphic design skills that you can apply to your own projects, or to more deeply investigate a specialized area of graphic design.

To succeed in this course you will need access to a computer. You can complete this course without one but it will be tougher. Access to, and a beginner's level knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite programs, such as Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign will help you, especially if you want to complete the optional briefs.

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Overview

Welcome! In this first module I will summarize the assignments and expectations of this course.

Week 1: Fundamentals of Imagemaking

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Develops formal design skills in a range of image-making techniques, typography, composition, working with color and shape

Instructed by Michael Worthington, who is recognized for their work in graphic design

Offers learners opportunities to apply skills through exercises and projects

Provides opportunities to develop visual communication skills

Requires access to a computer, potentially posing a barrier for some learners

May be more suitable for learners with some prior knowledge in graphic design or related fields

Reviews summary

Introduction to graphic design fundamentals

Feedback quality from peers can vary widely.

"Some peer feedback was insightful, but much of it was unhelpful or too brief."

"The peer review system was hit or miss, depending on who reviewed your work."

"It's hard to get consistent, quality critiques sometimes."

Access to Adobe software is highly recommended for projects.

"Access to Adobe Creative Suite was definitely helpful for the assignments."

"I managed without Adobe, but I can see how it would be much easier with it."

"Be prepared to use design software, Adobe is suggested but alternatives work."

Assignments help apply core concepts effectively.

"The hands-on exercises and projects were incredibly useful."

"I really enjoyed getting to MAKE design, the assignments pushed me."

"Applying the principles in the optional briefs helped solidify my understanding."

Suitable for those completely new to graphic design.

"As someone completely new to design, I found this course accessible and clear."

"It starts from scratch, which is exactly what I needed as a beginner."

"Perfect introduction for aspiring designers with no prior experience."

Provides a solid base in design theory and principles.

"Excellent overview of typography, color theory, and composition."

"This course provided me with a strong foundation in design basics."

"I gained a solid understanding of the core principles."

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 Fundamentals of Graphic Design with these activities:

Connect with Experienced Graphic Designers

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Seek guidance and support from experienced graphic designers to enhance your learning journey and gain valuable insights.

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Attend industry events and meetups.
Reach out to graphic designers on social media or online forums.
Request informational interviews to learn about their experiences and advice.

Review the Elements of Design

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Review the fundamental principles of design, such as contrast, balance, and hierarchy, to strengthen your foundation before the course begins.

Browse courses on Elements of Design

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Read articles and books on design principles.
Analyze visual examples to identify and understand how the elements of design are applied in practice.

Read 'The Graphic Design Handbook' by Meggs and Purvis

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Gain a comprehensive understanding of graphic design principles and practices by reading this foundational book.

View Meggs' History of Graphic Design on Amazon

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Read through the chapters to understand the key concepts of graphic design.
Review the examples and illustrations to reinforce your understanding.

Five other activities

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Practice Image Manipulation with Adobe Photoshop

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Enhance your image manipulation skills by following online tutorials on Adobe Photoshop.

Browse courses on Image Editing

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Find tutorials on basic image manipulation techniques.
Follow the steps in the tutorials to edit and enhance images.
Experiment with different image manipulation techniques to improve your proficiency.

Complete Typography Exercises

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Improve your typography skills through repetitive exercises that cover topics such as font selection, hierarchy, and readability.

Browse courses on Typography

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Find online typography exercises or worksheets.
Practice identifying and classifying different typefaces.
Experiment with different font combinations and sizes to create effective typography.

Experiment with Color Combinations

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Develop your understanding of color theory by practicing different color combinations and exploring their effects.

Browse courses on Color Theory

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Create a color wheel and experiment with different color combinations.
Design color swatches to explore the impact of hue, saturation, and value.
Analyze the use of color in real-world designs to enhance your understanding.

Learn Advanced Techniques in Adobe Illustrator

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Expand your skills in vector graphics by following tutorials on advanced Adobe Illustrator techniques.

Browse courses on Vector Graphics

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Find tutorials on advanced Illustrator features, such as pathfinding and gradient mesh.
Follow the steps in the tutorials to enhance your understanding and proficiency.
Experiment with different techniques to create complex and visually stunning designs.

Design a Poster for a Fictional Event

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Apply your design skills to create a visually appealing and informative poster that promotes a fictional event.

Browse courses on Poster Design

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Define the event details, target audience, and message.
Sketch out ideas for the poster's layout and design.
Select and incorporate appropriate colors, images, and typography.
Refine the design to ensure clarity and impact.

Career center

Learners who complete Fundamentals of Graphic Design will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Illustrator

The Fundamentals of Graphic Design course would be highly beneficial for aspiring Illustrators. It covers essential image creation techniques and principles like typography, composition, color theory, and shape. A thorough understanding of these concepts is crucial for Illustrators to convey ideas and stories effectively through their artwork.

See salaries and explore the career path for Illustrator

Typographer

The Fundamentals of Graphic Design course would be highly beneficial for Typographers. It provides a solid understanding of typography, including topics like typeface selection, composition, and hierarchy. These principles are essential for Typographers to create visually appealing and effective typographic designs that convey messages clearly and impactfully.

See salaries and explore the career path for Typographer

Logo Designer

Logo Designers will find the Fundamentals of Graphic Design course valuable, as it focuses on core principles of design including image creation, typography, composition, color theory, and shape. These principles are fundamental for Logo Designers to create visually striking and memorable logos that effectively represent brands and businesses.

See salaries and explore the career path for Logo Designer

Graphic designer

Individuals hoping to become Graphic Designers may find value in a course like Fundamentals of Graphic Design. The course delves into the essential principles of graphic design, which include topics like image creation, typography, composition, color theory, and shape. Having a grasp of these fundamentals can help budding Graphic Designers build a solid base for their future careers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Graphic designer

Creative Director

Individuals aiming to become Creative Directors may benefit from taking the Fundamentals of Graphic Design course. It introduces key principles of graphic design, including topics like image creation, typography, composition, color theory, and shape. These principles form the basis of successful creative direction, making this course valuable for aspiring Creative Directors.

See salaries and explore the career path for Creative Director

Web Designer

A Web Designer will find the Fundamentals of Graphic Design course useful, as it covers essential principles such as image creation, typography, composition, color theory, and shape. By mastering these fundamental concepts, Web Designers can gain a solid footing in the field, ensuring their designs are visually appealing and user-friendly.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Designer

Package Designer

Package Designers should consider taking the Fundamentals of Graphic Design course, as it provides a foundation in essential principles such as image creation, typography, composition, color theory, and shape. Package Designers rely on these principles to create visually appealing and functional packaging that attracts consumers and effectively represents the product.

See salaries and explore the career path for Package Designer

UI Designer

A UI Designer will find that the Fundamentals of Graphic Design course may be helpful, as it introduces the fundamental principles of graphic design, including topics like image creation, typography, composition, color theory, and shape. Gaining proficiency in these fundamentals can contribute to a successful career in UI Design.

See salaries and explore the career path for UI Designer

Design Manager

Design Managers may find the Fundamentals of Graphic Design course helpful, as it covers core principles like image creation, typography, composition, color theory, and shape. Understanding these design fundamentals can assist Design Managers in effectively leading and guiding their teams toward successful project outcomes.

See salaries and explore the career path for Design Manager

Motion Graphics Designer

Motion Graphics Designers may find the Fundamentals of Graphic Design course useful, as it provides a foundation in core principles such as image creation, typography, composition, color theory, and shape. These principles are essential for Motion Graphics Designers to create visually engaging and dynamic animations that capture the audience's attention.

See salaries and explore the career path for Motion Graphics Designer

UX Designer

UX Designers may benefit from taking the Fundamentals of Graphic Design course, as it delves into the crucial principles of graphic design, such as image creation, typography, composition, color theory, and shape. Having a strong understanding of these concepts can aid UX Designers in creating user interfaces that are both visually appealing and easy to navigate.

See salaries and explore the career path for UX Designer

Production Artist

Production Artists may find the Fundamentals of Graphic Design course helpful, as it covers essential principles including image creation, typography, composition, color theory, and shape. Understanding these principles is key for Production Artists to produce high-quality and visually appealing design materials that meet client specifications.

See salaries and explore the career path for Production Artist

Front-End Developer

Front-End Developers can enrich their skillset by taking the Fundamentals of Graphic Design course. Core principles like image creation, typography, composition, color theory, and shape are covered, providing a strong foundation for Front-End Developers looking to enhance the visual aspects of their web development projects.

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Art teacher

Art Teachers may find the Fundamentals of Graphic Design course beneficial, as it offers insights into core principles such as image creation, typography, composition, color theory, and shape. Understanding these fundamentals can help Art Teachers effectively convey artistic concepts to their students.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art teacher

Art Director

An Art Director will enjoy this Fundamentals of Graphic Design course, as it may provide insights into the artistry and techniques involved in this field. The program will introduce essential design principles such as image creation, typography, composition, color theory, and shape, helping individuals develop a foundation in the area of visual communication, which is important for those looking to excel in Art Direction.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art Director