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

4.8
stars
17,084 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

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.

AR

Apr 17, 2016

very good introductory course. i enjoyed the assignments, they are not overwhelming, easy to start, and the optional ones offer great opportunity to dig little deeper into graphic design fundamentals.

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1326 - 1350 of 4,411 Reviews for Fundamentals of Graphic Design

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 A 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!

By Hamza A

Jun 25, 2023

I really benefited from this Course, I learned new skills and concepts that I can apply in my designs from now on.

By Dhruv B

Jan 24, 2022

Loved the way basics were covered and how often we neglect the same. If the basics are clear we can make anything.

By Collector P

Apr 18, 2021

Excellent, the lessons are very easy to follow and remember. Lots of things you can do to make your brain running.

By Ivonne J A C

Jul 29, 2020

me gusto mucho los ejercicios que se realizaron para lograr entender los diferentes conceptos que aquí se muestran

By kavin p

Jun 15, 2020

Iam really excited to be a part of this course.I would like to continue to be a learner in calarts for its beauty.

By Sara M

May 11, 2020

Wonderful course for learning the building blocks of Graphic Design. Everything about it was thoroughly enjoyable!

By Jennifer L J

May 1, 2020

It is very useful, easy to understand. This course really develop my skills in graphic design. Thank you coursera.

By Mohammad T

Jun 12, 2019

Great and awesome course. I learnt a lot of techniques in graphic design

Really Awesomeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

By Sian-Louise N

Feb 26, 2019

I learned a lot from this course and I am now working through the next courses in this Specialization as a result.

By Estefany P S

Mar 21, 2018

great introduction to the core of the art, helpful exercises and encourages you to keep practicing and having fun.

By Ágnes H

May 16, 2016

It gives a very good overview of the fundamentals of graphic design, also how to start thinking the graphical way.

By Luis R

Feb 25, 2016

Perfect short introduction to Graphic Design.

I wish I could have dedicated more time for the optional assignments!

By Lenka S

Jan 1, 2016

Great class, I learned a lot and with these basics I can now go on and continue studying this subject confidently.

By Roger V

Mar 20, 2024

Easy to understand, useful information I never knew I had. Everything makes sense when the lecturer explains it.

By Paola S

Nov 23, 2021

Este curso fue increíble, definitivamente me dio las bases fundamentales del diseño gráfico. Lo súper recomiendo.

By Miss A S

Aug 13, 2021

It was a wonderful experience thanks for giving this kind of opportunity to us to lean something every innovative

By Aslı A

Feb 14, 2021

It was so nice to learn the fundamentals of graphic design and good to remember the importance of basic elements.

By Mark H

Sep 8, 2020

Very fun and informative course. Does require somewhat of a working knowledge with Photoshop or similar software.

By Aneri S

Aug 10, 2020

Absolutely loved the course! It was perfect, very well crafted

Thank you, Michael, you're a very good professor :)

By Ray B

Feb 16, 2020

Very interesting course with an engaging lecturer and format, an excellent hands-on overview of the fundamentals.

By Shahzaib W

Dec 14, 2019

Excellent course, teaching methodology and assignments helps a lot in understanding and applying design concepts.

By Ariel T O

Jul 17, 2019

Not sure if this is possible, but it would have been cool to get some feedback from a professor as well as peers.