Fundamentals of Graphic Design

  • 4.8
Approx. 15 hours to complete

Course Summary

Learn the fundamentals of graphic design and get a strong foundation in visual communication. This course covers topics such as color theory, typography, and composition.

Key Learning Points

  • Understand the principles of good design and how to apply them
  • Learn about color theory and how to use color effectively in design
  • Explore typography and how to choose the right fonts for your designs

Job Positions & Salaries of people who have taken this course might have

  • Graphic Designer
    • USA: $50,000 - $80,000
    • India: ₹3,00,000 - ₹6,00,000
    • Spain: €18,000 - €30,000
  • Art Director
    • USA: $70,000 - $120,000
    • India: ₹5,00,000 - ₹12,00,000
    • Spain: €30,000 - €50,000
  • Web Designer
    • USA: $50,000 - $80,000
    • India: ₹3,00,000 - ₹6,00,000
    • Spain: €18,000 - €30,000

Related Topics for further study


Learning Outcomes

  • Understand the principles of good design and how to apply them
  • Create effective designs using color, typography, and composition
  • Develop a strong foundation in visual communication

Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course

  • Access to a computer with internet connection
  • No prior experience in graphic design required

Course Difficulty Level

Beginner

Course Format

  • Online
  • Self-paced

Similar Courses

  • Graphic Design Specialization
  • Introduction to Graphic Design

Related Education Paths


Notable People in This Field

  • David Airey
  • Jessica Walsh

Related Books

Description

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.

Knowledge

  • Implement the fundamentals of color: visual, rhythm, and pattern in design
  • Use scale, weight, direction, texture, and space in a composition
  • Typeset text and experiment with letter forms
  • Create your own series of images using different image making techniques

Outline

  • Course Overview
  • Course Welcome
  • Why Peer Review?
  • Peer Review Tips
  • How to apply feedback
  • Why study graphic design?
  • About this course
  • About the assignments
  • Course Tools
  • Academic Integrity
  • What is peer review?
  • Forum Guidelines
  • Requesting Peer Reviews
  • Week 1: Fundamentals of Imagemaking
  • Introduction to Imagemaking
  • Denotative Imagemaking 1
  • Denotative Imagemaking 2
  • Techniques of Imagemaking 1
  • Techniques of Imagemaking 2
  • Techniques of Imagemaking 3
  • Process, Generation, Iteration
  • Imagemaking Demo 1: Printing with an Object
  • Imagemaking Demo 2: Duct Tape Prints
  • Imagemaking Demo 3: Improvised "Light Table"
  • Example Submissions from Brief 1.1: Explorations in Imagemaking
  • Connotative Imagemaking 1
  • Connotative Imagemaking 2
  • Week 2: Fundamentals of Typography
  • Introduction to Typography
  • The Anatomy of Letters
  • Words and Spacing
  • Type Size: The Point System
  • Typesetting Text
  • Typefaces, Fonts and Type Families
  • Typeface Categories
  • Denotation in Type
  • Connotation in Type
  • Looking at Letterforms
  • Experimenting with Letterforms
  • Typographic Composition
  • Typography
  • Week 3: Fundamentals of Shape and Color
  • Introduction to Shape & Color
  • Graphic Shapes
  • Visual Contrast
  • Marks, Icons, and Symbols
  • Negative/Positive, Figure/Ground
  • Working with Color
  • The Color Wheel
  • Mixing Color: Paint, Print and Screen
  • Rhythm and Pattern 1
  • Rhythm and Pattern 2
  • Shape and Color
  • Week 4: Fundamentals of Composition
  • Introduction to Composition
  • Principles of Composition
  • Visual Contrasts
  • Single Contrasts
  • Multiple Contrasts
  • Type Contrasts
  • Image Contrasts
  • Example Submissions from Brief 4.1: Single Contrasts
  • Composition in a Single Image
  • Cropping and Hierarchy
  • Composition in Context
  • Conclusion
  • What's next?
  • Continuing your graphic design studies
  • Choosing a design program
  • Building your portfolio
  • Design portfolio tips
  • Writing your artist statement

Summary of User Reviews

The Fundamentals of Graphic Design course on Coursera has received positive reviews from users. Many users have praised the course for its comprehensive and easy-to-follow curriculum. The course has an overall high rating from the users.

Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course

The course has a comprehensive and easy-to-follow curriculum.

Pros from User Reviews

  • The course is well-structured and informative
  • Great for beginners in graphic design
  • The instructor provides clear explanations and examples
  • The assignments are challenging but rewarding

Cons from User Reviews

  • Some users found the course to be too basic
  • The course does not cover advanced design techniques
  • The course material can be outdated
  • Some users experienced technical difficulties with the platform
  • The course lacks interaction with other students and the instructor
English
Available now
Approx. 15 hours to complete
Michael Worthington
California Institute of the Arts
Coursera

Instructor

Michael Worthington

  • 4.8 Raiting
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