Welcome to the course
Graphic Design
Welcome to Graphic Design. You will learn the principles behind good design, including space, alignment, grids, type, color and layout, and then apply them to real marketing pieces: social posts, quote graphics, a video banner and a flyer. The worksheets turn each lesson into a small design exercise that you can add to your portfolio.
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Meet your course
Every course opens with a short welcome, so you know what you will build, how the lessons flow and what you will take away. Each lesson ends with a printable worksheet, and the course ends with a final exam and certificate.
What this course covers
Everything you will learn
Design BasicsGraphic Design KnowledgeUsing Canva
Course roadmap
3 short, focused modules, 13 lessons
Module 1: Design Basics
Graphic designers create visual concepts to communicate ideas that inspire, inform and captivate. They develop layouts and production design for ads, brochures, magazines and reports.
Lesson 1: Design Space
- Why elements should never land on the page by accident
- Layout and composition as fundamental skills
- Example: the same elements, arranged badly and well
- Sketch a layout with the design worksheet
Lesson 2: Placing Elements
- The six principles of design, starting with balance
- How to balance elements on the page
- Example: a balanced versus an unbalanced layout
- Rebalance a design
Lesson 3: Grids
- Why grids are essential to giving a layout structure
- How to use a grid
- Example: a layout built on a grid
- Apply a grid to your own layout
Module 2: Graphic Design Knowledge
Learn the principles of graphic design. Like building blocks, each layers on the one before to form the foundation for a logo, a website or an illustration.
Lesson 1: Fundamentals of Design
- Why the fundamentals underpin every visual medium
- The core principles
- Example: principles at work in one design
- Identify the principles in a design you like
Lesson 2: Typography Basics
- What typography is beyond choosing a typeface
- The basics of arranging type
- Example: two typographic treatments compared
- Choose your type pairing with the brand style guide template
Lesson 3: Typography Terms
- Why typography's language can be hard to learn
- The key terms explained
- Example: a type specimen annotated
- Build a typography glossary
Lesson 4: Layout and Composition
- What layout and composition mean and how they differ
- How to arrange elements
- Example: a layout critique
- Redesign a layout
Lesson 5: Images
- The different types of images, including denotative and connotative
- How images create meaning
- Example: the same message with different images
- Choose images for a design
Lesson 6: The Power of Color
- The role of color in graphic design
- How hue, saturation and brightness work
- Example: a palette that shaped a brand
- Build your palette in the brand style guide template
Module 3: Using Canva
Canva is a design platform for creating social media graphics, presentations, posters and other visual content.
Lesson 1: Creating a Facebook Post
- How to use Canva for social media images
- Steps to build a post
- Example: a branded post
- Create your own post
Lesson 2: Creating an X Quote Post
- Why small businesses should be active on social media
- How to design a quote post
- Example: a quote post
- Create yours
Lesson 3: YouTube Banner
- Why a channel banner matters
- How to design one
- Example: a channel banner
- Design your banner
Lesson 4: Creating a Flyer
- How a flyer promotes an event
- How to design and prepare one for print
- Example: an event flyer
- Create your flyer
Final exam and certificate
The final exam has 10 multiple-choice questions. Pass with 80 percent to unlock your certificate and a LinkedIn-ready badge. You can retake it as often as you like.
How every lesson works
Four short sections, built around real examples
1
Learn the concept
A clear, focused introduction to one idea, with no filler.
2
See real examples
Strong and weak examples, plus the data behind them.
3
Study an example
A realistic scenario, or a real-world case study where noted, that shows the idea in action.
4
Apply it and download
Build your own version using a worksheet or template you keep.
Free downloadable takeaway
Brand style guide template
A one-page style guide template for colors, fonts, logo use and layout rules.
Every lesson has a printable worksheet, and the playbook gathers them all in one document. Print it or save it as a PDF, then use it in your job search, freelance projects or your own marketing.
Free template
Brand style guide template
Certification
Pass the final exam. Earn your certificate.
- A 10-question multiple-choice final exam that covers every module
- Pass with 80 percent. Retake it as often as you like
- A certificate with a verification code, plus a LinkedIn-ready badge and an Add to LinkedIn button
A
Certificate of completion
Graphic Design
Awarded to you by Acadium
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Quick answers
Course questions
Is this course really free?
Yes. Acadium courses are free to take.
How long does it take?
You learn at your own pace. Lessons are short and focused, so they fit around work or school.
How do I get my certificate?
Finish the lessons, then take the final exam. Pass with 80 percent and your certificate appears straight away, with a verification code, an Add to LinkedIn button and a downloadable badge.
Can this help me get an apprenticeship?
Yes. Finishing courses and building a portfolio helps you stand out to mentors when you apply for a remote apprenticeship.