CalArts' five-course specialisation in the fundamentals of graphic design — typography, imagemaking, composition and brand. It is a proper design-school grounding in principles rather than software tutorials, and one of the most respected free-to-audit design programmes online.
Good for: Beginners who want the principles of graphic design from a leading art school.
Less suitable if: You mainly want software tutorials, or you already have design training.
Requirements: None, though access to design software helps for projects.
Realistic time: Around 130 hours across five courses; a few months part-time.
About this course
California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) is one of the most respected art and design schools in the United States, and this specialization brings that academic rigor to Coursera's self-paced format. Across several courses, it covers fundamental design elements and principles, typography, branding and identity design, and image-making — building toward a capstone project that results in a complete portfolio piece.
What you'll learn
Apply core elements and principles of graphic design
Design effective typographic compositions
Build a complete brand identity system
Understand image-making and visual communication theory
Produce a capstone portfolio piece reviewed against design fundamentals
This course includes
130h
On-demand video
Yes
Certificate
Yes
Mobile access
English
Language
What it costs
Free to audit on Coursera; the certificate needs a subscription, with financial aid available.
Comparison · LBS
Compare alternatives for Graphic Design Specialization
Same topic, different options. We surface the trade-offs others hide so you can pick the course that actually fits your time, budget, and goals.
The certificate is issued through Coursera with the California Institute of the Arts. It is a respected name, but the portfolio you build matters most.
Instructor
CF
CalArts Faculty
Coursera instructor
310K+ learners6 courses4.7 instructor rating
Taught by California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) faculty, one of the most respected art and design schools in the United States, known for its rigorous approach to visual communication.