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Learner Reviews & Feedback for Fundamentals of Graphic Design by California Institute of the Arts

4.8
stars
17,036 ratings

About the Course

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....

Top reviews

GA

Aug 20, 2018

Very interesting, I liked the format. Easy to follow, nice excercises. It's actually good to cover the basics of design, even if you are not an absolute beginner, and especially if you are self taught

CS

May 9, 2018

An ok course for beginners. A bit too basic for someone who has already had experience in design, but is great anyway cause it breaks things back down to the simplest parts to help you remember roots.

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1301 - 1325 of 4,402 Reviews for Fundamentals of Graphic Design

By Алина Н

Dec 13, 2020

I like it! Thank you! This course is very different from understanding "design" in Russia. This is more interesting.

By Arpita U

Sep 7, 2020

A well explained course for beginners like me in Graphic design. Enjoyed the course thoroughly. Thankyou coursera :)

By Sarmad M

Aug 22, 2020

This was a great starter course. Covering the basics of design. Excited to complete the rest in this specialization.

By Faeze T

Jan 19, 2020

It was easy but very creative and informative. A very good representation for a fundamental course.Thank you so much

By Rosimira d S A

Nov 14, 2019

Este curso foi ótimo para revisar e aprofundar meus conhecimentos em Design Gráfico sou grata por esta oportunidade.

By Lakics F

Jun 5, 2019

My very first online course, and I really enjoyed it.

I liked the assignments and the reactions, feedback on my work.

By George C

Jan 13, 2018

Great way to learn the fundamentals of graphic design and highly recommended for anyone looking to learn the basics.

By Adam

Jan 5, 2017

Really great remedial start of graphic design. Knowing very little going into it, I loved the pace and assignments.

By Jeyana M

Feb 6, 2016

Great course. Interesting and fun lectures, useful exercises. Awakes creativity in you.

Thanks a lot for this course!

By Magdalena P

Dec 30, 2015

This course is very helpful to understand why some designers present certain information or things in a certain way.

By Aracely A C Z

Mar 12, 2022

A good start for graphic design, it makes you explore your creativity and teaches you the basics, the fundamentals.

By Regina M A

Jan 28, 2021

Very good guided, gives your creativity a boost and you learn a lot of the techniques and theory behind imagemaking

By Emerson J R

Jan 11, 2021

excelente curso, gostei muito, aprendi muito com os professores da CalArts. me agregou muito conteúdo ao meu ensino

By SANYAM J

Nov 16, 2020

I loved the course. This was perfect for a beginner. Assignments with concepts helped me to experience

what i learnt

By Mahnoor

Nov 4, 2020

It's a very good experience for me to learn graphic, you teach very well and I also like activities and assignment.

By Lohith N

Oct 20, 2020

Through course I learnt a new way of communicating things. learnt the basics of fundamentals in graphics designing.

By Alejandro G V

Jun 4, 2020

It can be really helpful to improve the creativity, also it teaches you how to design with logic, not by randomnes.

By Julianne C

Jun 4, 2020

I really enjoyed this course. It paired well with learning Adobe Illustrator and allowed me to learn along the way.

By Hasnat A H

May 22, 2020

The course is very enjoyable. I observed the beauty of graphic design and also had fun discovering my creativities.

By NARAYAN B

May 4, 2020

Intriguing, extremely well-structured

Hand-on experience in every step

Short, crisp, to the point

Enhances creativity

By Néstor H R

Nov 23, 2019

Great course. Really enjoyed it from day one. Got to try some stuff I didn't know I could do so that's always good.

By Andrey T

Jan 10, 2017

This course helps to look at things, at design and instruments of design deeper and wider. It encourages to create!

By Elisaveta P

Jan 21, 2016

Ii really enjoyed this course because it sets the basics - it is called "fundamental" and really it is. Thank you!.

By Peneloppe G

Mar 18, 2024

The course is very useful for anyone who is willing to advance in one's career or looking for other opportunities.

By Camille M

Aug 31, 2023

I had so much fun completing this course, great content and fun assignments! I'm excited to start the next course!