Graphics Design FUNDAMENTALSGraphic design is all around us, in a myriad of forms, both on screen and in print, yet it is always made up of images and words to create a communication goal. This four-course sequence exposes students to the fundamental skills required to make sophisticated graphic design: process, historical context, and communication through image-making and typography. The sequence is completed by a capstoneproject that applies the skills of each course and peer feedback in a finished branding project suitable for a professional portfolio.The goal of this specialization is to equip learners with a set of transferable formal and conceptual tools for “making and communicating” in the field of graphic design. This core skill set will equip learners for formal studies in graphic design, and a starting point for further work in interface design, motion graphics, and editorial design. Free Enroll Now WHAT YOU WILL 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 portfolioLearn everything you need to know to work in interface design, motion graphics, and editorial designLEVEL 1: INTRODUCTION TO TYPOGRAPHYTypography is the art of manipulating the visual form of language to enrich and control its meaning. It’s an essential area of skill and knowledge for graphic designers. Typography predates modern graphic design by around 500 years; it is rich in rules, conventions, and esoteric terminology—but it remains an exciting space for invention and expression.In this rigorous introductory course, we will study, name, and measure the characteristics of letterforms.We’ll consider the pragmatic concerns involved in selecting and combining type. We’ll peek into therich historical, cultural, and aesthetic histories of familiar typefaces. We’ll discuss time-tested conventions and best practices in setting type, as governed by principles of hierarchy and spatial organization. And we’ll explore the expressive, meaning-making potential of type INTRODUCTION TO IMAGE MAKINGThis course is for students new to image making. Image making is a fluid and exciting area of graphic design that comes out of practice and process: experimenting fearlessly, showing and sharing ideas, and giving and receiving knowledgeable and constructive input.