What software is required for the Brand New Brand Capstone?

<text variant="body1">A desktop or laptop computer with access to Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign) is recommended. While some learners use free alternatives, professional-grade software is highly recommended to produce the high-fidelity mockups and the final Brand Development Guide required for the course.

Am I eligible to take the Brand New Brand capstone course?

<text variant="body1">To be eligible for the capstone and earn the Specialization Certificate, you must first earn a certificate in the four prerequisite courses: Fundamentals of Graphic Design, Introduction to Typography, Introduction to Imagemaking, and Ideas from the History of Graphic Design.

Will this course help me build a professional design portfolio?

<text variant="body1">Yes. The primary outcome of this capstone is a comprehensive Brand Development Guide for a startup of your own invention. This project-based work is designed to demonstrate your ability to handle a full identity system—including logotypes, color palettes, and real-world applications—making it a centerpiece for your professional portfolio.

How long does it take to complete the Brand New Brand project?

<text variant="body1">The course is structured over approximately six weeks, requiring a total commitment of roughly 40 hours. This includes time for visual research, iterative design, peer review, and final publication of your branding system.

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. 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.

What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?

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.

Is financial aid available?

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

Brand New Brand

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Brand New Brand

This course is part of Graphic Design Specialization

Instructor: Michael Worthington

41,624 already enrolled

Included with

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7 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

1,318 reviews

Intermediate level

Some related experience required

Flexible schedule

2 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

98%

Most learners liked this course

7 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

1,318 reviews

Intermediate level

Some related experience required

Flexible schedule

2 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

98%

Most learners liked this course

What you'll learn

Synthesize typography, imagemaking, composition and systematic thinking skills through ideation, invention, and conceptualization
Demonstrate visual research and development skills through the creation of a Brand Development Guide
Expand a brand identity's palette through the inclusion of graphic marks or icons, color, secondary typefaces, and/or images

Skills you'll gain

Tools you'll learn

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

6 assignments¹

AI Graded see disclaimer

Taught in English

91%

of learners achieved a positive career outcome

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This course is part of the Graphic Design Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

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Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 7 modules in this course

This course is the culmination of the Graphic Design Specialization and gives you an opportunity to tie together your knowledge and skills into a single project: a brand development guide for a company you will invent.

This course takes you through the entire design process, from ideation to creation to presentation. Through the guide, you will be creating and giving a visual identity to an imaginary start-up company, and applying that visual identity to a number of forms. You will also develop a logotype and accompanying graphic palette to visually represent your company, as well as apply that design to a number of different applications to see it at work. Note: Only learners who have earned a certificate in the four previous courses in the Specialization are eligible to take the Capstone.

Module details

What's included

2 videos9 readings

2 videosTotal 18 minutes

Course Welcome4 minutes
Example Submission for Final Project14 minutes

9 readingsTotal 44 minutes

About the Capstone1 minute
What you need to take this course2 minutes
What is a Brand Development Guide?15 minutes
Setting up your project2 minutes
Project Tip 1: Develop a simple structure or grid6 minutes
Project Tip 2: Make Your Design Intentions Clear2 minutes
Project Tip 3: Give Your Design Room3 minutes
Project Tip 4: Apply Your Brand Design3 minutes
Meet and Greet10 minutes

In this module you will choose an area your start-up company works in, create a written (fake) history of your company, define company idealogical goals and philosophy, brainstorm for naming ideas and name your company.

What's included

5 videos2 readings1 assignment

In this module you will carry out visual research of reference material for your start-up's identity. You will create digital “mood boards” to show the look and feel and visual direction of your company's identity.

What's included

2 videos2 readings1 assignment

In this module you will learn how to create a logotype for your company, with emphasis on finessing typographic forms.

What's included

8 videos1 reading1 assignment

8 videosTotal 39 minutes

Choosing a Typeface4 minutes
Typographic Space6 minutes
Typesetting with Expression6 minutes
Beyond Typesetting5 minutes
Shapes of Letters, Shapes of Words5 minutes
Typographic Skeletons5 minutes
Customizing Letters5 minutes
Variations and Refinement4 minutes

1 readingTotal 1 minute

Introduction to Week 31 minute

1 assignmentTotal 180 minutes

Week 3 Assignment: Logotype180 minutes

In this module you will be extending the palette of your brand identity by creating a suite of elements for your start-up company: color palette, visual mark, secondary typefaces, imagery/forms and a secret ingredient.

What's included

10 videos1 reading1 assignment

10 videosTotal 34 minutes

Marks, Icons, and Symbols3 minutes
Working with Color5 minutes
Creating Hierarchy3 minutes
Making Methods and Techniques2 minutes
Range of Representation3 minutes
Adding Color4 minutes
Adding a Mark/Icon6 minutes
Adding a Secondary Typeface3 minutes
Adding Imagery2 minutes
Adding a Secret Ingredient3 minutes

1 readingTotal 1 minute

Introduction to Week 41 minute

1 assignmentTotal 180 minutes

Week 4 Assignment: Palette180 minutes

In this module you will be using your extended palette, or suite of elements, to create a set of design pieces that showcase the identity for your imaginary start-up company.

What's included

1 video1 reading1 assignment

In this module you will be reworking and refining your identity components. You will be finishing and refining the design of your Brand Development Guide and submitting it for the final. We will be wrapping things up this week and reviewing our peers' work.

What's included

6 videos2 readings1 assignment

6 videosTotal 26 minutes

Principles of Composition7 minutes
Page Space5 minutes
The Grid4 minutes
Simple Composition: Creating Page Spreads4 minutes
Complex Composition: Putting your book together3 minutes
Brand Development Guide3 minutes

2 readingsTotal 11 minutes

Introduction to Week 61 minute
Congratulations10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 90 minutes

Week 6 Final Assignment: Display Your Brand90 minutes

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Instructor

Instructor ratings

(266 ratings)

Michael Worthington

8 Courses1,208,431 learners

Offered by

California Institute of the Arts

Learner reviews

5 stars
91.21%
4 stars
7.57%
3 stars
0.75%
2 stars
0.15%
1 star
0.30%

Showing 3 of 1318

Reviewed on Jun 10, 2022

I loved it, how the instructor walk with you every step until the brand guide is complete is awesome, you learn in this course the importance of each subject in the specialization.

Reviewed on Dec 31, 2022

The way the course was designed was very helpful for beginners to understand the process of identity design. But the only drawback was having knowledge of software tools beforehand taking the course.

Reviewed on Dec 1, 2024

The course was very interesting but I couldn't get a grade immediately because the person marking it was a colleague I didn't know and it wasn't clear who the colleague was

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