UDUdemy

Graphic Design Masterclass: Learn GREAT Design

4.6(43,000)·210K enrolled

Beginner 14 hours English Completion Certificate

About this course

Most beginner design courses teach software first and design theory as an afterthought. This course inverts that — it's built around the actual principles that separate good design from bad: typography pairing, color theory, grid systems, and visual hierarchy, with software (Photoshop, Illustrator) used only as the tool to execute those principles, not the focus itself.

Lindsay Marsh teaches through a portfolio of real design exercises — logos, posters, social graphics — building both a skillset and a set of finished pieces students can show. It's frequently recommended as the starting point before a software-specific course like the Photoshop or Illustrator essentials courses, because design judgment transfers across tools while software shortcuts don't transfer design sense.

What you'll learn

Apply core typography principles: pairing, hierarchy, and spacing

Use color theory to make intentional, effective design choices

Build layouts using grid systems and visual hierarchy

Design a complete portfolio piece (logo, poster, or social graphic)

Understand the difference between decorative and functional design choices

This course includes

14h

On-demand video

Yes

Certificate

Yes

Mobile access

English

Language

Comparison · LBS

Compare alternatives for Graphic Design Masterclass: Learn GREAT Design

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.

UDUdemy4.6(43,000)

Graphic Design Masterclass: Learn GREAT Design

Price: Paid
$14.99–$84.99 · frequent sales
Duration: 14 hrs
Level: Beginner
Certificate: Completion

COCoursera4.8(11,000)

Conduct UX Research and Test Early Concepts

Price: Paid
Free to audit; included in Google UX Design Certificate
Duration: 20 hrs
Level: Beginner
Certificate: Course Certificate

Compare →

COCoursera4.8(85,000)

Google UX Design Professional Certificate

Price: Free
Audit free · Cert $49/mo
Duration: 180 hrs
Level: Beginner
Certificate: Professional

Compare →

COCoursera4.7(9,200)

Graphic Design Specialization

Price: Free
Audit free · Certificate $49/mo
Duration: 130 hrs
Level: Beginner
Certificate: Professional

Compare →

Prices & availability can change — confirm on the provider's site. We're not affiliated with any single provider.

Instructor

Lindsay Marsh

Udemy instructor

210K+ learners5 courses4.6 instructor rating

Lindsay Marsh is a graphic designer and Udemy instructor whose design courses have been taken by hundreds of thousands of students, known for teaching design theory and principles rather than just software mechanics.

Requirements

No design or software experience required
Optional: Photoshop or Canva for following along with exercises

Who this course is for

Complete beginners to graphic design who want theory before software
Marketers and social media managers who need basic design literacy
Anyone planning to learn Photoshop or Illustrator next and wanting design fundamentals first

About this provider

Udemy

The world's largest online learning marketplace. 65M+ students, 210,000+ courses.

Visit Udemy →

Frequently asked questions

It helps to follow along in Photoshop, Illustrator, or even free tools like Canva, but the course focuses on principles you can apply in any tool — the theory is the point, not the software.

Yes — it's explicitly designed for people with zero design background, starting from foundational concepts like typography and color theory before any advanced techniques.

Before, ideally. Design theory transfers across every tool you'll ever use; software shortcuts learned without design judgment often produce technically correct but visually weak work.