Design 101
Learn practical design principles and
start designing better.
COURSE LENGTH WHO IT'S FOR PRICE POINT
4 weeks; 3-5 hours per week, Marketers, entrepreneurs,
$799
including project work and other non-designers who
regularly design visual assets
ABOUT THIS COURSE
Design 101 gives you an introduction to the fundamental concepts, practices, and vocabulary of
visual design. You’ll learn about practical design elements and principles that will help you create
more appealing and functional designs. What you learn in this course will enable you to use
creative tools and templates more effectively for design-related work—whether it's editing
marketing materials in Canva, modifying website templates, or improving pitch decks. You’ll also
learn to evaluate designs and be better able to communicate your design ideas and needs
effectively to others. Design 101 is ideal for anyone looking to level up the polish, look, and
effectiveness of their work, whether it’s brand communications, social media visuals, promotional
banners, website graphics, blog pages, or email newsletters.
WHY THESE SKILLS MATTER
Good design has become an expectation for any business, and learning design skills empowers you
to create compelling visuals that effectively communicate your message, enhancing the quality
and effectiveness of your work. These skills make you better at your job, whether you’re looking
to promote your business, advance in your career, or present a professional brand image. By
leveraging time-tested design principles, you can elevate any project, from marketing materials to
web graphics, ensuring your content stands out and resonates with your audience.
FORMAT
During the 4-week online course, you’ll engage in a mix of learning moments, including
Self-paced asynchronous learning: A mix of text lessons, how-to guides, and other learning
formats to reinforce core concepts
Hands-on projects and exercises: Put theory into practice through practical work
Written project feedback: Receive personalized critique and insights on your project
work from an expert mentor
Peer Group Sessions: Engage with peers and get live feedback and guidance on your
project work or coursework.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
Create Effective Designs
Select and Use Images and Icons
Understand and apply foundational design Learn to source and integrate images and icons
principles and basic design elements such as line, that feel intentional and relevant to your design
point, shape, texture, and space to produce visually projects, ensuring they align with your design goals
compelling designs.
and enhance the overall visual narrative.
Select and Leverage Colo r
Make Your Layouts Pop
Select and e ectively use colors to enhance visual
ff Utilize organizational principles to build cohesive
appeal and communication in your designs by and visually pleasing designs and practice using
creating and customizing color palettes from grids and understand how various design elements
scratch tailored for your digital design projects.
interact in a coherent layout.
Make Your y ogra y Im actfu
T p ph p l
Evaluate Desig n
mprove the impact of textual elements in your
I Evaluate designs for their e ectiveness and ability
ff
designs by understanding font selection, text to convey the intended message and o er ff
hierarchy, and readability.
constructive feedbac with design principles in
k
mind.
WHAT WE'LL O ER C V
1 W eek 1: Design Elements + Principles
understanding design
Develop an understanding for what “design” means and the practices, vocabulary, and
mindset of professional designers. H one your ability to see “good” and “bad” design, and to
productively evaluate design.
BASIC PRINCIPLES AND FUNDAMENTAL ELEMENTS OF DESIGN
L earn about key design principles such as composition, typography, and color theory and
dive into the fundamental elements of design – including line, point, shape, texture, and space
– to build a solid foundation to upscale your creative projects.
EVALUATING DESIGN
Develop the skills to assess design work by applying the principles and elements of design.
L earn to identify what makes a design e ffective or ineffective, and judge the overall quality of
a project.
2 Week 2: Layout + Composition
VISUAL HIERARCHY
Understand visual hierarchy and learn techniques used to create and control hierarchy to direct the
viewer’s attention.
ORGANIZATIONAL PRINCIPLES
Learn the fundamentals and best practices of well-ordered layouts and practice your ability to create
organized and coherent layouts.
GRID SYSTEMS
Analyze various grid systems used in digital designs and learn to set up and deconstruct them, in
consideration of visual hierarchy, spacing, and alignment.
3 Week 3: Color + Images
COLOR THEORY AND PALETTE CREATION
Understand how color theory informs designers’ selection of color palettes and learn to create color
palettes from scratch for your digital design projects.
UNDERSTANDING IMAGERY
Develop an understanding of the role of images in design and how to select images that align with
your design goals. Learn the principles of effective imagery to enhance your visual narratives.
4 Week : ypography + Icons
4 T
TYPOGRAPHY FUNDAMENTALS
Gain familiarity with typography terminology and type anatomy, and understand typeface classifications
and the purposes for each style to improve the impact of textual elements in your designs.
ICONOGRAPHY/ICON FUNDAMENTALS
Explore the significance of icons in design and understand the principles of creating and
selecting icons that convey the right message and complement your design projects.
GIVING FEED AC AND COMMUNICATION
B K
Get introduced to the art of giving and receiving constructive design feedback based on
established design principles to improve existing designs and collaborate effectively with others.
READY TO DIVE IN ?
SIGN ME UP
Get started with Design 101
