Design Course

Lesson 1 • Visual Hierarchy and Flow

Hierarchy directs viewer attention through size, weight, and placement. Students construct compositions that guide the eye in a deliberate sequence.

Lesson 2 • Elements of Visual Composition

Core visual elements—line, shape, form, space, texture, and value—are introduced as the raw materials of design. Students identify them in real examples.

Lesson 3 • Principles of Design

Principles such as balance, contrast, repetition, alignment, and proximity govern how elements relate. Students apply each principle to simple layout exercises.

Lesson 4 • Critique and Design Vocabulary

Structured critique methods build the ability to articulate design decisions objectively. Students give and receive feedback using shared terminology.

Lesson 1 • Color Models and Modes

RGB, CMYK, and HSB models are explained in terms of their practical use cases. Students select the correct model for screen versus print output.

Lesson 2 • Hue, Saturation, and Value

Tints, shades, and tones are manipulated to control mood and depth. Students adjust HSV parameters to achieve specific visual effects.

Lesson 3 • The Color Wheel and Relationships

Primary, secondary, and tertiary relationships form the basis of color harmony. Students map complementary, analogous, and triadic schemes.

Lesson 4 • Color Psychology and Meaning

Color carries cultural and emotional associations that influence perception. Students map color choices to audience expectations and brand intent.

Lesson 1 • Spacing, Alignment, and Grid

Kerning, tracking, leading, and alignment control readability and rhythm. Students apply spacing rules within a grid to achieve professional results.

Lesson 2 • Anatomy and Classification of Type

Letterform anatomy—serifs, stems, bowls, and counters—enables precise type evaluation. Students classify typefaces by historical and structural category.

Lesson 3 • Type in Layout and Context

Type interacts with images, color, and white space to shape the overall composition. Students integrate type into multi-element layouts cohesively.

Lesson 4 • Selecting Typefaces for Purpose

Typeface selection is driven by tone, audience, and medium. Students match typefaces to communication goals using a structured decision framework.

Lesson 1 • Constructing and Using Grids

Grids are built from content requirements, not imposed arbitrarily. Students construct custom grids and place content within them systematically.

Lesson 2 • Compositional Strategies

Rule of thirds, golden ratio, and Z- and F-pattern layouts guide viewer attention. Students apply multiple strategies and compare their visual impact.

Lesson 3 • Multi-Page and Multi-Screen Layouts

Consistency across pages and screens requires systematic layout decisions. Students design spreads and responsive breakpoints using a unified grid.

Lesson 4 • Grid Anatomy and Types

Column, modular, hierarchical, and baseline grids each serve different layout needs. Students identify the appropriate grid type for a given design problem.

Lesson 1 • Research and Inspiration Methods

Competitive analysis, mood boards, and visual audits inform design direction. Students build a research toolkit that feeds ideation without copying.

Lesson 2 • Prototyping and Iteration

Low- and high-fidelity prototypes test ideas before final production. Students iterate based on structured feedback and measurable criteria.

Lesson 3 • Presenting and Defending Design Decisions

Design rationale must be communicated clearly to stakeholders. Students present work using structured narratives tied to brief requirements.

Lesson 4 • Ideation and Concept Development

Sketching, mind mapping, and rapid iteration generate diverse concepts before committing to digital execution. Students produce multiple viable directions.

Lesson 1 • Brand Strategy and Visual Identity

Brand positioning, personality, and values translate into visual decisions. Students map strategic attributes to design choices before any visual work begins.

Lesson 2 • Color and Typography in Branding

Brand color palettes and type systems must work cohesively across all touchpoints. Students define brand-specific color and type guidelines.

Lesson 3 • Brand Guidelines Documentation

Brand guidelines codify rules for consistent application by any designer or team. Students produce a complete, usable brand standards document.

Lesson 4 • Brand System and Touchpoints

A brand system extends the identity across print, digital, and environmental applications. Students apply the system to diverse real-world touchpoints.

Lesson 1 • Accessibility in Visual Design

Accessible design meets contrast, size, and structure requirements for all users. Students audit and correct designs against established accessibility standards.

Lesson 2 • UI Design Principles and Patterns

Consistency, feedback, affordance, and clarity define effective UI design. Students analyze existing interfaces and identify principle violations and successes.

Lesson 3 • Designing for Screens and Devices

Screen resolution, pixel density, and device diversity shape design decisions. Students adapt layouts for mobile, tablet, and desktop breakpoints.

Lesson 4 • Component and Design System Basics

Reusable components ensure consistency and speed in UI production. Students build a basic component library with defined states and variants.

Lesson 1 • Digital Portfolio Platforms and Formats

Platform choice affects discoverability, presentation quality, and maintenance effort. Students evaluate options and build a functional online portfolio.

Lesson 2 • Portfolio Strategy and Curation

Portfolio content is selected to match target roles and audiences, not to show everything. Students define a positioning strategy and select work accordingly.

Lesson 3 • Ethics, Intellectual Property, and Standards

Designers must respect copyright, attribution, and professional ethical standards. Students identify common IP issues and apply ethical decision-making frameworks.

Lesson 4 • Client Communication and Project Management

Professional practice requires clear scoping, contracts, and communication protocols. Students draft project agreements and practice client communication scenarios.