Graphic Design Basics
Welcome to this graphic design basics course where you will
learn everything you need to know to get started. Graphic
design is the creation of visual content with a communication
purpose. In this course, we will cover the history of graphic
design, design principles, colour theory, vocabulary, and the
elements of typography. Let's dive in!
History of Graphic Design
• Cave painting in prehistoric times (38,000 BC)
• Sumerians created the first written languages (3,000 BCE)
• China used printing methods (200 AD)
• Johannes Gutenberg developed movable type and
printing press (15th century)
• Industrial revolution brought new printing technologies
(1760-1840)
• Art movements influenced design trends (Bauhaus, Swiss
design, postmodernism)
• Embrace of the digital era (1950s)
Basics of Graphic Design
Graphic design is composed of different basic principles,
including:
• Balance: creating stability and visual weight
• Unity: harmonizing all elements in a design
• Contrast: creating visual hierarchies through differences
• Repetition: using repeated elements for consistency
• Pattern: repetition of multiple design elements
Welcome to this graphic design basics course where you will
learn everything you need to know to get started. Graphic
design is the creation of visual content with a communication
purpose. In this course, we will cover the history of graphic
design, design principles, colour theory, vocabulary, and the
elements of typography. Let's dive in!
History of Graphic Design
• Cave painting in prehistoric times (38,000 BC)
• Sumerians created the first written languages (3,000 BCE)
• China used printing methods (200 AD)
• Johannes Gutenberg developed movable type and
printing press (15th century)
• Industrial revolution brought new printing technologies
(1760-1840)
• Art movements influenced design trends (Bauhaus, Swiss
design, postmodernism)
• Embrace of the digital era (1950s)
Basics of Graphic Design
Graphic design is composed of different basic principles,
including:
• Balance: creating stability and visual weight
• Unity: harmonizing all elements in a design
• Contrast: creating visual hierarchies through differences
• Repetition: using repeated elements for consistency
• Pattern: repetition of multiple design elements
