Basic Graphic Design

Introduction to Graphic Design

• What is Graphic Design?

• The importance of design in business, marketing, and communication.

• Types of graphic design (Print design, web design, branding, etc.)

• Overview of graphic design tools: Canva, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator

2. Principles of Design

• Balance: How to create visual harmony.

• Contrast: Using contrasting colors and elements effectively.

• Emphasis: Making certain elements stand out.

• Unity: Ensuring all design elements work together cohesively.

• Proximity & Alignment: Proper alignment of objects for a clean, organized layout.

3. Introduction to Canva (For Beginners)

• Getting started with Canva: Signing up and navigating the platform.

• Creating designs from scratch vs. using templates.

• Adding and editing text, images, shapes, and icons.

• Working with layers and grouping elements.

• Creating social media graphics, flyers, posters, and presentations.

4. Introduction to Adobe Photoshop (For Beginners)

• Overview of the Photoshop workspace.

• Basic tools and their functions: Selection tools, Brush tools, Shape tools, etc.

• Working with layers: Layer styles, opacity, and blending modes.

• Introduction to image resizing and cropping.

• Text editing: Adding and styling text.

• Using filters and effects to enhance designs.

5. Typography Basics

• Understanding fonts: Serif vs. Sans Serif fonts.

• Choosing the right font for your design.

• Font pairing: Creating contrast through typography.

• Typographic hierarchy: Emphasizing important text elements.

6. Color Theory in Graphic Design

• Understanding the color wheel and color relationships.

• Color psychology: How colors affect mood and perception.

• Creating color schemes: Complementary, analogous, and triadic colors.

• Applying color schemes to various design projects.

7. Designing for Social Media

• Best practices for creating social media posts and ads.

• Understanding dimensions for different platforms (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.)

• Tips for creating eye-catching visuals for social media marketing.

• Designing banners, thumbnails, and cover photos.

8. Branding & Logo Design

• Basics of creating a brand identity.

• How to design a professional logo.

• Using shape, typography, and color to create a memorable logo.

• Designing business cards, letterheads, and brand collateral.

9. Basic Image Editing

• Cropping and resizing images for design projects.

• Removing backgrounds from images using Photoshop or Canva.

• Adding effects to photos to enhance designs.

• Combining multiple images into a single design.

10. Practical Design Projects

• Design a social media post for a campaign.

• Create a logo and branding materials for a fictional business.

• Create a flyer or brochure for an event.

• Design a simple web page layout mockup.

• Practice with real-world scenarios and get feedback from the instructor.

🎓 Final Project & Certification

• Submit your own design portfolio including several designs (social media posts, flyers, logos).

• Get personalized feedback on your projects.

• Receive a course completion certificate to showcase your newly learned skills.

 Software Tools Covered

• Canva (Paid version available)

• Adobe Photoshop (Paid, trial version available)

• Optional: Adobe Illustrator for advanced vector design (beginner overview)