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Course Description

Students 18 and up encouraged to enroll.

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 image-making, typography, composition, working with color and shape... foundational skills that are common in all areas of graphic design practice. If you want to be a designer, you have to be a maker and a communicator. This course consists of hands-on exercises and practical projects that will provide you with a core set of skills that you can apply to your own projects, or to more deeply investigate a specialized area of graphic design. Access to, and a beginner's level knowledge of Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe InDesign is required.

Learner Outcomes

In this course you will:     

  • explore and investigate visual representation through a range of image-making techniques
  • gain an understanding of the basic principles in working with shape, color, and pattern
  • gain an understanding of the principles of composition and visual contrast
  • be introduced to the language and skills of typography

Prerequisites

Introductory level knowledge of Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe InDesign.
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Section Title
Fundamentals of Graphic Design
Type
Online
Dates
May 08, 2025 to Jun 12, 2025
Delivery Options
Online-Asynchronous  
Course Fee(s)
Tuition non-credit $475.00 Click here to get more information
Section Fees
Adobe Creative Cloud $250.00 Optional
Instructors
Section Notes

THIS COURSE IS ACCESSED THROUGH CANVAS

The Canvas platform provides an instructor-led learning experience. These class sizes are small to facilitate discussion and engagement with your instructor and other students. You have access to recorded content from CalArts instructors and may complete the course work at your own pace with set deadlines. The instructor is available in live sessions to answer your questions and provide individualized feedback on assignments.

Most Canvas online courses qualify towards a CalArts Certificate.