Course overview

An online, portfolio-focused graphics design course covering visual fundamentals and practical production for digital and print. Participants will learn design principles, typography, color, layout, branding, and content creation for social media, posters, and presentations. The course emphasizes repeatable workflows and template-based production suitable for real-world marketing and institutional communication.

Target participants

Beginners who want to start creating professional designs for social media and print
Marketing/communications teams producing daily creative assets
Students and early-career professionals building a design portfolio
Entrepreneurs and founders who need cost-effective brand materials

Prerequisites

Basic computer skills (file management, browser use)
A laptop/desktop with stable internet

Tools & set-up requirements

Canva (recommended) or Adobe Express (alternative)
Optional: Figma for layout practice (browser-based)
Access to a shared drive (Google Drive/OneDrive) for submissions
A set of brand assets (logo, colors, fonts) if available; otherwise templates will be provided

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

Apply core design principles (contrast, alignment, hierarchy, balance, proximity) to improve clarity and aesthetics
Select and pair typography effectively for readability and brand tone
Use color theory to create consistent palettes and accessible designs
Create layouts using grids and spacing for professional composition
Design social media creatives, posters, and simple print collateral using templates and brand rules
Build a mini brand kit and basic style guide for consistent output
Produce a small portfolio (8-12 pieces) ready for professional sharing

Assessment & certification guidance

Weekly practice submissions (short tasks) with instructor feedback
Portfolio review rubric (clarity, consistency, typography, color, alignment, relevance)
Completion certificate based on portfolio submission and participation