This condensed survey course focuses on four key periods or themes from the history of design in the West. Together we’ll trace the emergence of design as a recognized practice, why things look the way they do, and how designers approached specific design problems in their work.
Ideas from the History of Graphic Design
This course is part of Graphic Design Specialization
Instructors: Louise Sandhaus
98,037 already enrolled
Included with
(2,480 reviews)
What you'll learn
Learn about the history of graphic design
Understand the emergence of design as a recognized practice
Learn about graphic design radicalism in late 1950s to early 1970s
Make informed design choices
Skills you'll gain
Details to know
Add to your LinkedIn profile
4 assignments
See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills
Build your subject-matter expertise
- Learn new concepts from industry experts
- Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
- Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
- Earn a shareable career certificate
Earn a career certificate
Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV
Share it on social media and in your performance review
There are 4 modules in this course
This week we are going to take a look at the effects of industrialization in the late 19th century, and how goods were produced, sold, and marketed.
What's included
14 videos8 readings1 assignment1 peer review1 discussion prompt
This week, we'll look at how the work and teachings of The Bauhaus (1919-1933), and how design emerged as a recognized practice.
What's included
11 videos1 reading1 assignment1 peer review
Modernism in mid-century America through the eyes of four key designers.
What's included
13 videos1 reading1 assignment1 peer review
Design practice in the late 1950s to early 1970s was new, radical and divergent. To show you just how varied it was, we’ll look at the work of four key players/movements.
What's included
14 videos5 readings1 assignment1 peer review
Offered by
Recommended if you're interested in History
Parsons School of Design, The New School
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
University of Colorado Boulder
Why people choose Coursera for their career
Learner reviews
Showing 3 of 2480
2,480 reviews
- 5 stars
78.35%
- 4 stars
15.84%
- 3 stars
4.07%
- 2 stars
0.92%
- 1 star
0.80%
Open new doors with Coursera Plus
Unlimited access to 7,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription
Advance your career with an online degree
Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online
Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business
Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy
Frequently asked questions
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. 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.
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.
If you subscribed, you get a 7-day free trial during which you can cancel at no penalty. After that, we don’t give refunds, but you can cancel your subscription at any time. See our full refund policy.