Welcome to Graphic Design, the second course in the Effective Communications Specialization. Over 70 different companies have provided this specialization to their employees as a resource for internal professional development. Why? Because employers know that effective visual communication is the key to attracting an audience, building a relationship, and closing the sale.
This practical course gives you the tools to create professional looking Powerpoints, reports, resumes, and presentations.. Using a set of best practices refined through years of experience, you’ll:
• make your work look fresh and inspired.
• apply simple design “tricks” to begin any project with confidence and professionalism.
• receive and respond to criticism and revise your project from good to great.
"This course is fantastic. It teaches a great amount of starter graphic design information but it is broken down into easily understood videos and quizzes. The quality was top notch and the interaction was as good as you would get in a brick and mortar school. I did not feel like I was missing anything by taking it online." - a recent Graphic Design student
All of the course assignments can be completed with basic presentation software such as Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Slides, or Apple Keynote. You’ll also have opportunities to explore and apply more sophisticated tools, such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.
This course is part of the Effective Communication: Writing, Design, and Presentation Specialization
Graphic Design
Offered By
Effective Communication: Writing, Design, and Presentation SpecializationUniversity of Colorado Boulder
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Week
14 hours to complete
Module 1: Getting Started
This module introduces you to the importance of recognizing good design as the starting place for creating professional, attractive work of your own.
We will look to the ubiquitous world of graphic design to establish a vocabulary of successful design and to find inspiration for our own projects.
We will also discuss course prerequisites and review a basic digital design glossary that will help you navigate your chosen application.
12 videos (Total 32 min), 4 readings, 2 quizzes
12 videos
(Optional) What's So Great About The Capstone? (For New Learners)3m
(Optional) From Writing to Design; the Handoff2m
(Optional) The Importance of Designing Well1m
Course Overview2m
Course Prerequisites2m
Glossary of Design Terms5m
Professionalism in Design2m
Designing with a Critical Eye1m
Developing a Design Vocabulary1m
The Importance of Inspiration1m
Unexpected Places Yield Unexpected Results4m
4 readings
A Few Important Points About This Course10m
A Glossary of Design Terms15m
Developing a Design Vocabulary10m
Why Designers Use Templates10m
1 practice exercise
Glossary Quiz20m
Week
28 hours to complete
Module 2: The Blank Canvas
This module will look at the blank canvas – the untouched rectangle that will become our design project. We’ll discuss the importance of working with a grid, understanding negative space, and using appropriate margins. This module will also explore the palette of elements which, when chosen and used wisely, ensure that the finished design project is successful. We’ll cover type, color, images, and graphic elements such as borders, bars, and backgrounds.
15 videos (Total 65 min), 4 readings, 2 quizzes
15 videos
Introducing the Grid4m
The Grid and Audience Perception4m
The Power of Negative Space2m
Introducing the Palette1m
Type Is the Message6m
Type Anatomy5m
Type Families7m
Type Formatting9m
Creating with Type3m
Color and Its Meaning3m
Color and the Natural World3m
Image Treatment2m
Creative Cropping4m
Graphic Elements2m
4 readings
Practicing Building Grids30m
Practicing Negative Space30m
Practicing Templates10m
Practicing Cropping10m
2 practice exercises
Typeface Quiz20m
Seeing Design 'Tricks' in Action12m
Week
310 hours to complete
Module 3: Tricks of the Trade
It's time to start designing! In this module, we'll discuss the process of composition. We'll use the palette items covered in Module 2, and deploy common visual design “tricks” such as contrast, repetition, sublimation, tension, and more. To help see both the effect and the universality of these design approaches, we'll look at design examples from art history, film, and current media. We’ll also cover the strategy of composition. We'll see that providing an obvious target, maintaining a natural visual flow, and prioritizing information are all critical to clear visual communication.
12 videos (Total 34 min), 4 readings, 1 quiz
12 videos
Designing with a Closed Set of Elements: The Clarity Guitars Ad45s
Contrast4m
White Space3m
Repetition in writing, design, and presentation1m
Rhythm or Repetition2m
Sublimation2m
Interlocking Elements2m
Introduction to Tension5m
Tension and Movement4m
Targets and Portals3m
Establishing Priorities2m
4 readings
Using the Closed Set10m
Practicing Contrast 2s
Practicing Tension45m
Practicing Logos45m
Week
47 hours to complete
Module 4: Revision and Distance
As we've said before, designers don't work in a vacuum. Our work will be judged by others, and, as good designers, we will learn to take that judgement constructively and in stride. In this module we’ll talk about what it means to be confident, yet open to criticism. We’ll explore the importance of revision as an ongoing component of design, as well as the need to enlist feedback and maintain distance in assessing our own work.
4 videos (Total 14 min), 3 quizzes
4 videos
You Are Your Own Worst Critic3m
Looking Back at Best Practices4m
Moving Forward: Public Speaking1m
2 practice exercises
Rubric Training Quiz 145m
Rubric Training Quiz 245m
4.7
146 Reviews83%
started a new career after completing these courses
46%
got a tangible career benefit from this course
22%
got a pay increase or promotion
Top Reviews
i will definitely recommend this course not only to those interested in graphic design but also to those who have to make simple power point presentations. you will find the tips very useful!
There were a lot of design elements thought were irrelevant, now i know better. This course made graphic design limitless. It also show me how to do more and appreciate everything visible
Instructor
David Underwood
Design and Media Teaching ConsultantPhET Interactive Simulations, Department of Physics, University of Colorado Boulder
About University of Colorado Boulder
CU-Boulder is a dynamic community of scholars and learners on one of the most spectacular college campuses in the country. As one of 34 U.S. public institutions in the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU), we have a proud tradition of academic excellence, with five Nobel laureates and more than 50 members of prestigious academic academies.
About the Effective Communication: Writing, Design, and Presentation Specialization
Over seventy companies and tens of thousands of students worldwide have used Effective Communication to deliver ideas powerfully in the workplace. By taking Business Writing, Graphic Design, and Successful Presentation, you’ll hone your written, visual, and verbal business presentation skills. You'll learn to write well-organized, clear business documents; to design elegant presentation slides, reports, and posters; and to present and speak with confidence and power. In the final Capstone Project, you'll develop a portfolio of work—including a memo, a slide deck, and a presentation—to showcase your communication skills and represent your personal brand. The Effective Communication Specialization takes you on a journey of self realization. You’ll learn that excellence in communication involves the ability to express who you are—your best self—in everything you do.
What our students say:
"A life-changing specialization."
"Simple yet powerful rules."
"Essential for everyone."
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.
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. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
What is the refund policy?
Is financial aid available?
What kind of software will I need to complete this course?
Learners need some familiarity and access to presentation software like Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Slides, and Apple Keynote. Although it is not required, design students may also use programs like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, or InDesign.
More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.
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