California Institute of the Arts

Graphic Design Specialization

California Institute of the Arts

Graphic Design Specialization

Make Compelling Design.

Learn and apply the principles of graphic design towards a comprehensive branding project.

Anther Kiley
Michael Worthington
Gail Swanlund

Instructors: Anther Kiley +4 more

452,012 already enrolled

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Get in-depth knowledge of a subject

from 21,873 reviews of courses in this program

Beginner level
No prior experience required
2 months to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
Get in-depth knowledge of a subject

from 21,873 reviews of courses in this program

Beginner level
No prior experience required
2 months to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

  • Gain the fundamental skills needed to be a graphic designer

  • Communicate through image-making and typography

  • Complete a capstone project to add to your professional portfolio

  • Learn everything you need to know to work in interface design, motion graphics, and editorial design

Skills you'll gain

  • Category: Art History
  • Category: Color Theory
  • Category: Visual Design
  • Category: Conceptual Design
  • Category: Creative Design
  • Category: Design
  • Category: Design Elements And Principles
  • Category: Digital Design
  • Category: Graphic and Visual Design
  • Category: Graphic and Visual Design Software
  • Category: Graphic Design
  • Category: Ideation
  • Category: Information Architecture
  • Category: Layout Design
  • Category: Logo Design
  • Category: Photography
  • Category: Style Guides
  • Category: Typography
  • Category: Visual Storytelling

Tools you'll learn

  • Category: Adobe InDesign

Details to know

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Taught in English

Specialization - 5 course series

Fundamentals of Graphic Design

Fundamentals of Graphic Design

Course 1, 8 hours

What you'll learn

  • Master the fundamentals of color theory by implementing visual rhythm and repeating patterns within professional design projects.

  • Apply principles of composition and visual hierarchy using scale, weight, direction, texture, and spatial awareness.

  • Develop professional typography skills through precise text typesetting and creative experimentation with letterforms.

  • Practice advanced imagemaking by creating a series of original visuals using diverse analog and digital design techniques.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Design Elements And Principles
Category: Graphic Design
Category: Color Theory
Category: Design
Category: Graphic and Visual Design Software
Category: Creative Design
Category: Image Analysis
Category: Design Reviews
Category: Visual Design
Category: Creative Thinking
Category: Writing
Category: Creativity
Category: Graphic and Visual Design
Category: Design Strategies
Category: Conceptual Design
Introduction to Typography

Introduction to Typography

Course 2, 23 hours

What you'll learn

  • Master the technical terms and measuring systems used to measure and describe type.

  • Explore Western typography's history and leverage cultural, historical, and aesthetic associations when choosing and working with type

  • Learn typesetting and page layout—using hierarchy, grids, and composition—to create sophisticated typographic designs.

  • Synthesize established conventions with experimental approahces to design impactful typography that communicates meaningfully.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Typography
Category: Peer Review
Category: Design Elements And Principles
Category: Layout Design
Category: Art History
Category: Design
Category: Design Thinking
Category: Graphic and Visual Design Software
Category: Design Strategies
Category: Creative Design
Category: Graphic Design
Category: Creativity
Category: Information Architecture
Category: Visual Design
Category: Design Research
Category: Graphic and Visual Design
Introduction to Imagemaking

Introduction to Imagemaking

Course 3, 18 hours

What you'll learn

  • Make informed design choices using image-based research

  • Create ranges of representation using images

  • Compose spreads for your own book

  • Design a book with your own images

Skills you'll gain

Category: Creativity
Category: Creative Design
Category: Design Elements And Principles
Category: Layout Design
Category: Digital Publishing
Category: Graphic and Visual Design
Category: Graphic Design
Category: Visual Storytelling
Category: Adobe InDesign
Category: Peer Review
Category: Digital Design
Category: Storytelling
Category: Design Research
Category: Photography
Category: Design Reviews
Category: Aesthetics
Ideas from the History of Graphic Design

Ideas from the History of Graphic Design

Course 4, 11 hours

What you'll learn

  • Design Literacy: Analyze the evolution of visual communication and historical movements to inform modern branding and professional design strategy.

  • Strategic Application: Evaluate how technological shifts and principles from the Bauhaus to Post-modernism solve contemporary design problems.

  • Professional Vocabulary: Develop a technical vocabulary to articulate design choices and defend creative strategies to clients and stakeholders.

  • Creative Differentiation: Investigate the cultural origins of design trends to find unique visual references that differentiate your work.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Graphic Design
Category: Design
Category: Art History
Category: Visual Design
Category: Public History
Category: Research and Design
Category: Graphic and Visual Design
Category: Style Guides
Category: Design Research
Category: Creative Design
Category: Logo Design
Category: Layout Design
Category: Design Reviews
Category: Brand Strategy
Category: Design Elements And Principles
Brand New Brand

Brand New Brand

Course 5, 19 hours

What you'll learn

  • Synthesize typography, imagemaking, composition and systematic thinking skills through ideation, invention, and conceptualization

  • Demonstrate visual research and development skills through the creation of a Brand Development Guide

  • Expand a brand identity's palette through the inclusion of graphic marks or icons, color, secondary typefaces, and/or images

Skills you'll gain

Category: Branding
Category: Design Research
Category: Color Theory
Category: Graphic Design
Category: Logo Design
Category: Brainstorming
Category: Creative Design
Category: Creativity
Category: Adobe Photoshop
Category: Ideation
Category: Style Guides
Category: Graphic and Visual Design
Category: Typography
Category: Layout Design
Category: Adobe InDesign

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Instructors

Anther Kiley
Anther Kiley
1 Course192,643 learners
Michael Worthington
Michael Worthington
8 Courses1,205,605 learners

Offered by

California Institute of the Arts

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