Visual Elements of User Interface Design
About this course
Most UI courses teach you which Figma panel does what. This CalArts course does the opposite: it teaches the visual design principles — typography, color theory, Gestalt grouping, layout grids — that make an interface look intentional rather than assembled. It's tool-agnostic, which means the skills transfer whether you end up in Figma, Sketch, or anything that replaces them.
It's part of CalArts' broader Graphic Design Specialization on Coursera, so expect an academic, critique-driven structure rather than a fast-paced software walkthrough. That makes it a strong complement to tool-specific courses like Figma or Canva training elsewhere in this catalog — those teach the software, this teaches the eye.
What you'll learn
This course includes
Compare alternatives for Visual Elements of User Interface Design
- Price
- PaidFree to audit, paid certificate
- Duration
- 14 hrs
- Level
- Beginner
- Certificate
- Course Certificate
- Price
- PaidFree to audit; included in Google UX Design Certificate
- Duration
- 20 hrs
- Level
- Beginner
- Certificate
- Course Certificate
- Price
- FreeAudit free · Cert $49/mo
- Duration
- 180 hrs
- Level
- Beginner
- Certificate
- Professional
- Price
- FreeAudit free · Certificate $49/mo
- Duration
- 130 hrs
- Level
- Beginner
- Certificate
- Professional
Instructor
Delivered through CalArts (California Institute of the Arts) on Coursera, drawing on the design faculty's studio-based teaching approach to visual communication.
Requirements
- No prior design software experience required
- Basic comfort with visual/creative coursework helpful
Who this course is for
- UI/UX designers who know the tools but want stronger visual fundamentals
- Graphic designers moving into digital interface work
- Self-taught designers without formal visual design training