Graphic Design: A Curriculum

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Written By Samantha Kakac

Below I’ve outlined a rough curriculum for learning graphic design, specifically logo, and web design. If you’re looking to learn something new or sharpen your skills, I hope you found the outline below helpful.

Month 1:

  1. Introduction to Graphic Design:

    • What is graphic design?

    • Importance and impact of design in branding and websites

    • Study the principles of design (balance, contrast, hierarchy, etc.)

    • Understand color theory and its application to design

  2. Introduction to Adobe Creative Suite:

    • Familiarize yourself with Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign

    • Learn the basics of each software and their specific use cases

  3. Drafting Logo Design:

    • Study different logo types (symbolic, typographic, combination, etc.)

    • Explore famous logos and their design concepts

    • Begin sketching logo ideas and concepts

  4. Logo Design Process:

    • Familiarize yourself with the logo design process from concept to final product

    • Learn how to create mood boards, gather inspiration, and conduct research

    • Create initial logo concepts using Adobe Illustrator

    • Receive feedback and refine designs

Month 2:

  1. Advanced Logo Design Techniques:

    • Learn how to create custom typography

    • Experiment with different types of logos (monogram, letterform, etc.)

    • Study logo design trends and best practices

  2. Logo Presentation and Branding:

    • Understand the importance of branding and how logos fit into a brand

    • Explore different branding elements (color palette, typography, etc.)

    • Learn how to present your logo designs effectively

  3. Introduction to Web Design:

    • Study the principles of effective web design (usability, user experience, etc.)

    • Analyze successful websites and their design elements

    • Understand responsive design and mobile optimization

  4. Wireframing and Prototyping:

    • Learn how to create wireframes using software like Adobe XD or Sketch

    • Familiarize yourself with prototyping tools for creating interactive website mockups

    • Create a basic wireframe and prototype for a sample website

Month 3:

  1. Web Design Layout and Composition:

    • Explore different website layouts (grid-based, asymmetrical, etc.)

    • Study the importance of visual hierarchy in web design

    • Learn how to create balanced and visually appealing web layouts

  2. Color and Typography in Web Design:

    • Understand color psychology and its impact on user experience

    • Learn about web-safe fonts and how to select appropriate typography

    • Experiment with typography and color combinations in web design

  3. Visual Elements and Graphics in Web Design:

    • Explore different types of visual elements (images, icons, etc.)

    • Learn how to optimize and prepare images for the web

    • Experiment with creating custom graphics and icons for websites

  4. User Interface (UI) Design:

    • Understand the principles of UI design and its role in web design

    • Study common UI patterns and best practices

    • Create a UI design for a sample web page

Month 4:

  1. Interactive Elements in Web Design:

    • Explore different interactive elements (buttons, forms, etc.)

    • Learn how to create engaging user interactions using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript

    • Implement interactive features into your sample web page

  2. Web Design Tools and Frameworks:

    • Familiarize yourself with popular web design tools like Adobe Dreamweaver or Sublime Text

    • Learn the basics of front-end frameworks like Bootstrap or Foundation

    • Practice creating a website layout using a framework

  3. Responsive Design and Mobile Optimization:

    • Understand the importance of responsive design for different screen sizes

    • Learn how to adapt and optimize a website for mobile devices

    • Test and refine your sample website for responsive design

  4. Website Testing and Debugging:

    • Study different testing techniques for websites (cross-browser, performance, etc.)

    • Learn how to use browser developer tools for debugging

    • Test and fix any issues found in your sample website

Month 5:

  1. Web Design Accessibility:

    • Understand the importance of web accessibility and inclusive design

    • Learn about WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) and ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications)

    • Implement accessibility features into your sample website

  2. SEO and Web Analytics:

    • Study the basics of search engine optimization (SEO)

    • Learn how to improve website visibility and ranking in search engines

    • Explore web analytics tools (Google Analytics) and understand their usage

  3. CMS (Content Management Systems):

    • Familiarize yourself with popular CMS platforms (WordPress, Joomla, etc.)

    • Understand the basics of setting up and managing a website using a CMS

    • Practice creating a website using a CMS of your choice

  4. Client Communication and Project Management:

    • Learn effective communication and collaboration strategies with clients

    • Understand the project management process and its role in web design

    • Practice presenting and discussing your web design work with clients

Month 6:

  1. Portfolio Development:

    • Select your best logo and web design projects for a professional portfolio

Cheers!

Samantha Kakac
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