Chevron Left
Back to Fundamentals of Graphic Design

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

4.8
stars
17,236 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

MB

Invalid date

Well structure, informative, and very accessible introduction to graphic design. Assignments were achievable and enjoyable, and supported the lesson very well. Great course! I hope you create more!

KA

Invalid date

Well structured and full of practical lessons. Clear and informative lectures for each design elements. I highly recommend this course both for beginners and graphic designers with some experiences.

Filter by:

4401 - 4425 of 4,443 Reviews for Fundamentals of Graphic Design

By Teresa S

Aug 28, 2021

At one tine a enjoyed this class and now I don't. I Have been treated unfairly for the last couple months to turn in one assignment so I can complete this coursed. Every time I turned in assignment you always finds something wrong. Is this how Coursera teach and grade their student.

By Nissam F F

May 16, 2021

A lot of Theory, but having already worked a bit in the graphic design I don't think this is very useful when you start working. But maybe good to initiate a complete beginner.

By Deleted A

Jun 15, 2020

Super basic stuff. I think it could be condensed. Not sure I learned more than a couple concepts, which could have been summarized on 1-2 slides.

By Pamela G

Jan 1, 2020

Very boring video lectures, especially dry if this is your first exposure to graphic design or design in general. It does not motivate.

By Avyudaya A

Apr 5, 2020

This was too basic for me. I think that I joined the wrong course unknowingly. This course might be good for actual beginners.

By Heather W L

Oct 15, 2021

Every screen was black and I lost interest in the course right away, it felt very juvenile. I was hoping for more substance.

By Mia M

Feb 18, 2021

This course is really only for complete beginners. Great instructions for people who have never finished a creative project.

By Julliette G

Jan 29, 2021

a bit boring? even though graphic design is really not? and had to play it 1.50 speed too!

By Deleted A

Dec 30, 2020

not find that course that much beneficial that i think before enroll

By Priscila A d S

Jan 15, 2019

Não gostei muito que meus exercícios são avaliados por colegas.

By Misbah K M

Sep 4, 2022

Not what i expected that i would learn. over all a good course

By Azeem A

Jan 12, 2016

I joined to learn outstanding experience but ... disappointed

By Karen D

Jun 26, 2024

I need some human guidance but no one is responding

By Vaishnavi S

Dec 10, 2023

Even after completing it shows not completed

By Angie F

Oct 22, 2021

Seemed kind of old, like from the early 10's

By Fateh p s b

Nov 7, 2020

didnt really learn anything new

By Daniil K

Jan 25, 2016

Too simple and boring

By Srinidhi.R

Jan 25, 2022

good

By Hope W

Feb 18, 2021

dreadful, California State of the Arts say this course is free if you go through the link they have on the site. But after completing the first assignment and trying to upload, you are faced with a forced "week free trial" to continue - on the 4 week course. Meaning after a week you will incur fees. VERY SNEAKY, as you do all the work and try to upload but you cannot hand it in until you sign up. I am not doing it on principle. No mention of this upon signing up. VERY DISSAPOINTED.

By Michel V L

Nov 9, 2020

I was looking for a way to unsubscribe, but that seems impossible. Unfortunately, there is no option to contact Coursera, either. I hope somebody reads this to help me unsubscribe from this course, because when I enrolled, it wasn't clear to me, the language would be Chinese, which I don't speak.

By Tayyaba N

Dec 11, 2023

i could not understand. they did not include software learning. how can i beginner start fundamental without learning software

By Егор С

Aug 17, 2021

Зачем помечать это под русским языком, чтобы потом все это было на английском, без какого-либо перевода ?

By Heather L

May 24, 2020

Not what I expected at all. Coursera will not refund. Not good at all. $50 down the drain :/

By Elizabeth D

Jul 22, 2021

Would give zero starts if I could. So incredibly boring- I learned nothing.

By Hala A

Feb 11, 2021

I'm sorry but this course is too boring and has no valuable information.