Graphic designer
About Course
Graphic design is made up of several key concepts that anyone interested in pursuing this art form
needs to know. Silvia Ferpal, graphic designer, visual artist, and winner of the 2019 Spanish
National Design Award, teaches you the traditional principles of design that will help you take on
any project that comes your way.
In this course, learn the four cornerstones of graphic design: shape, typography, color, and
composition. Discover how to mold your ideas around these key concepts and create a visual
universe based on your imagination, creativity, and graphic resources that you can use for your final
project.
Anyone who wants to get started in the art of graphic design or enhance their own designs, from
client presentations to university projects. This course is also perfect for entrepreneurs interested in
learning a new skill set to better express their ideas.
Silvia Fernndez Palomar, better known as Silvia Ferpal, walks the line between art and design in her
work. In 2019, she won the Spanish National Design Award in the youth category thanks to her
unique approach to design that blends traditional disciplines with more contemporary forms of
expression. She currently works as a freelance designer and teaches design at the IED art school.
She has collaborated on projects for Ogilvy & Mather, Paseo, Designit Madrid, Designit New York,
and, more notably, on a design project for the Royal Spanish Academy which led her to live in Rome
for the duration of it. Her client list includes Harvard, Bloomberg, Inditex, and Leroy Merlin; she
also designed the official typography for the City of Madrid. Her work has been published by other
major companies such as Corraini and Santillana.
Domestika’s courses are online classes that provide you with the tools and skills you need to
complete a specific project. Every step of the project combines video lessons with complementary
instructional material, so you can learn by doing. Domestika’s courses also allow you to share your
own projects with the teacher and with other students, creating a dynamic course community.
All courses are 100% online, so once they’re published, courses start and finish whenever you want.
You set the pace of the class. You can go back to review what interests you most and skip what you
already know, ask questions, answer questions, share your projects, and more.
The courses are divided into different units. Each one includes lessons, informational text, tasks, and
practice exercises to help you carry out your project step by step, with additional complementary
resources and downloads. You’ll also have access to an exclusive forum where you can interact with
the teacher and with other students, as well as share your work and your course project, creating a
community around the course.
Graphic Design is presenting information through graphical and textual elements designed for a
specific function. When creating visual assets with the right principles, you will convey a more
powerful and effective message to your audience.
Whether you want to improve your designing skill or are considering a career as a graphic designer,
this Best Courses Guide (BCG) has a selection of the best Graphic Design courses from over 900
Graphic Design courses in our catalog, including popular options from Udemy, Coursera, LinkedIn
Learning, and YouTube.
In a 2021 article, Forbes said that AI is making its way into the world of graphic design. Technology
is bringing sophisticated design tools to us, replicating human work and providing a more efficient
outcome. However, even with the correct use of technology, AI cannot replace the human touch, and
graphic designers will still be in the market.
This five-part specialization will teach you how to create eye-catching designs, the design process,
historical context, and how to communicate effectively through image-making and typography. The
five parts are:
Become a Graphic Designer on LinkedIn Learning is a collection of nine short courses. Each course
teaches a specific aspect of graphic design, from basic concepts and technicalities to creating
inclusive content and advanced principles.
The Complete Graphic Design Theory for Beginners Course contains all you need to master graphic
design theory. Knowing the fundamentals of graphic design such as color, typography, layout,
composition and branding is extremely important, and this course teaches you that. No experience
needed.
If you already have some knowledge and experience as a visual designer, UX Academy by DesignLab
is a great resource. This online bootcamp will help you in building your portfolio and land your
dream job with 1-on-1 video calls with experts from Figma, Meta, IBM, and more.
This course offers an immersive learning experience with practical exercises & projects to start or
enhance your career in UX design. By dedicating 20 hours per week, you can expect to complete the
course in 30 weeks, culminating in a final project that showcases your newly acquired skills in a
portfolio with four creative capstone projects.
Graphic Design is a free-to-audit course offered by University of Colorado Boulder on Coursera.
This practical course teaches you the theory and basics of graphic design, and also encourages you
to apply those concepts and create your own designs in any presentation software.
Theory is indispensable to any subject, and so is it for graphic design. Designer Martin Perhiniak will
take you through just about everything there is to know in graphic design theory, so that you
become confident in your graphic design skills.
Please recommend the best out of the 10 for a busy computer science university student, I want to
be able to freelance parallel to studies and I would like to finish a course of these before the
semester starts next September.
I had a lot of fun in this course. I learnt some extra bits of information related to graphic design and
I think it’s a great start for beginners as well as good practice for intermediate and experts!
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit
mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to
earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If
you don’t see the audit option:
The course may offer ‘Full Course, No Certificate’ instead. This option lets you see all course
materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be
able to purchase a Certificate experience.
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you
earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your
Accomplishments page – from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Each week you will gain experience applying these principles, by completing practical and realistic
projects. Through this project work you will become familiar with techniques for working with
images and fonts, designing layouts, and crafting logos and visual identities. The four projects can
be tailored to your needs and can be related to current professional projects if required.
The course is also suitable for those wishing to discover and practice the fundamental principles of
communication via the combination of text and image, perhaps as a first step into a new area of
study, or simply to exercise an enquiring mind in a two-dimensional arena. The course does not
cover the use of graphic design software, but you are welcome to complete projects using any
software you wish, or none, as all projects can be completed working with hand tools (pens, pencils,
paper, scissors, glue etc.).
This course is designed for individuals interested in exploring the endless possibilities of how words
and images interact. Perfect for small business owners, creative individuals working in a corporate
world and those keen to craft a graphic identity online. This is an opportunity to expand your
portfolio and become familiar with the 20 key graphic design principles. Each of the four projects
can be tailored to your needs and could be used for professional endeavours if you wish. Perfect for
those wishing to study the subject at a high level or for those who eager to widen their skills and
exercise an enquiring mind.
NB The course does not cover the use of graphic design software, but of course you are welcome to
complete projects using any software you wish, or none, as all projects can be completed working
with hand tools (pens, pencils, paper, scissors, glue etc.).
In this online short course on graphic design, you will gain hands-on experience by working on
various projects, from logos to magazine spreads. You will gain practical knowledge that can be
applied to any visual communication project.
Graphic design courses cover a broad range of topics essential for developing creative and technical
design skills. These include fundamental principles of design, typography, color theory, and layout.
Learners will also explore digital illustration, image editing, and software tools like Adobe
Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Advanced courses might explore user interface (UI) and user
experience (UX) design, branding, and motion graphics, providing a comprehensive understanding
of the graphic design field.
Choosing the right graphic design course depends on your current skill level and career aspirations.
Beginners should seek courses that cover basic design principles, essential software tools, and
introductory projects. Those with some experience might benefit from intermediate courses focusing
on specific areas such as digital illustration, branding, or UI/UX design. Advanced learners or
professionals seeking specialized knowledge might consider courses on motion graphics, advanced
digital techniques, or portfolio development. Reviewing course content, instructor expertise, and
learner feedback can help ensure the course aligns with your career goals.
A Graphic Design course typically covers a range of essential skills, tools, and concepts needed to excel in the field of design. Here are some of the key features commonly included in a Graphic Design course:
1. Fundamentals of Design
- Color Theory: Understanding how colors work together, color harmony, and emotional impact.
- Typography: Learning different typefaces, font combinations, and how typography affects readability and design.
- Composition & Layout: Mastering how elements are arranged in a design, focusing on balance, contrast, alignment, and proximity.
2. Software Skills
- Adobe Creative Suite: Courses typically teach industry-standard software such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and After Effects for various design tasks (photo editing, vector graphics, page layout, motion graphics).
- Other Tools: Exposure to other design tools like Sketch, Figma, or Canva, depending on the focus of the course.
3. Visual Communication
- Branding and Identity: Understanding how to create visual identities, logos, and brand guidelines that communicate a companyâs values.
- Advertising Design: Creating designs for print and digital advertisements, including brochures, posters, billboards, and social media posts.
- UI/UX Design: Introduction to user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) principles, focusing on designing websites and mobile applications.
4. Creative Process
- Idea Development: Learning how to brainstorm, sketch, and iterate on design concepts.
- Storytelling Through Design: Understanding how to visually communicate a narrative or message effectively.
- Problem Solving: Developing solutions to real-world design problems, considering client needs and target audience.
5. Practical Experience
- Portfolio Development: A key part of the course involves building a portfolio with a collection of work to showcase to potential employers.
- Real-World Projects: Some programs include live client projects, internships, or design challenges to gain hands-on experience.
6. Design Theory and History
- Design Movements: Learning about significant design movements such as Art Deco, Bauhaus, and Modernism, and how they influence contemporary design.
- Cultural Impact: Understanding the cultural, social, and historical context of design choices.
7. Professional Skills
- Time Management: Managing multiple design projects and deadlines effectively.
- Client Communication: Learning how to work with clients, present ideas, and accept constructive feedback.
- Marketing and Self-Promotion: Strategies for promoting oneself as a designer, including networking, freelancing, and using platforms like Behance or Dribbble.
8. Interactive and Motion Design (Optional)
- Motion Graphics: Basics of animation, video editing, and creating dynamic visual content.
- Web Design: Introduction to web design principles, HTML/CSS basics, and creating responsive designs.
9. Ethics and Sustainability in Design
- Sustainable Design: Exploring eco-friendly practices and how to integrate sustainability into design processes.
- Ethical Considerations: Addressing issues like cultural sensitivity, inclusivity, and accessibility in design.
10. Assessment and Critique
- Design Reviews: Receiving feedback on designs from instructors and peers to improve and refine skills.
- Final Projects: Completing major projects, often including a capstone or final portfolio presentation.
Conclusion
Graphic Design courses aim to equip students with both creative and technical skills, preparing them for careers in fields such as advertising, marketing, digital media, and web design. The course offers a balance of theory, hands-on practice, and industry-standard tools, helping students develop their unique design style while meeting professional standards.