Types of graphic design and the problems they solve
Compare identity, editorial, packaging, information, environmental, and promotional design through concrete briefs and the different decisions each kind of work requires.
Graphic design principles you can apply to a real page
Use alignment, proximity, contrast, repetition, and proportion to organize a page, with a diagnosis method for layouts that feel crowded or uncertain.
Logo design for beginners: build a mark that holds together
Develop a simple original logo concept, test its silhouette and small-size behavior, and prepare useful variations without relying on effects to create recognition.
Poster design: make the message work from a distance
Plan a poster around its first message, viewing distance, and essential details, then use scale and spacing to make the reading order clear.
Flyer design: organize a small page around one action
Build a clear flyer using a concise offer, a deliberate reading sequence, and practical distribution constraints, with an example for a community workshop.
Brochure layout: plan the folds before the panels
Map a folded brochure’s reading sequence, place content according to the physical structure, and avoid common panel, margin, and production mistakes.
Business card design: make a small format easy to use
Prioritize contact information, control small typography and spacing, and proof a business card as a physical object before approving its production file.
Editorial layout: build a system for pages that vary
Create margins, columns, text styles, and image relationships that support extended reading while leaving room for different article lengths and visual pacing.
Infographic design: make the relationship visible
Choose a clear question, match the visual structure to the information, and use labels, units, and restrained emphasis to make an infographic trustworthy and readable.
Visual hierarchy: give information a clear reading order
Rank actual content, assign consistent typographic and spatial roles, and troubleshoot layouts where everything competes or the important details disappear.
Vector versus raster: choose the right kind of artwork
Understand how shape-based and pixel-based images behave, choose a sensible master format, and avoid common export and enlargement mistakes in mixed design projects.
Image file formats: choose a delivery file for the job
Compare practical uses of JPEG, PNG, SVG, and PDF, preserve an editable master, and test exports for transparency, sharpness, and production suitability.
PPI versus DPI: plan image detail for print
Calculate effective image resolution from pixel dimensions and reproduction size, distinguish it from printer dot resolution, and avoid misleading metadata-only fixes.
RGB versus CMYK: prepare color for the destination
Understand display and print color as different reproduction systems, use the right output guidance, and proof important colors instead of expecting identical appearances everywhere.
Print bleed and safe area: protect the edges of a design
Distinguish trim, bleed, and safety margins, extend edge artwork correctly, and check a production file against the printer’s own specifications.
Icon design basics: make a small symbol clear
Choose a recognizable concept, simplify its silhouette, coordinate a family of icons, and test small-size rendering with labels and realistic context.
Graphic design styles: borrow a visual logic thoughtfully
Analyze a style through structure, type, image treatment, and production, then adapt its useful decisions to a new brief without copying a recognizable composition.
Book cover design: connect title, image, and genre cues
Develop a cover concept from the book’s actual promise, test a readable small version, and prepare the spine and back as part of one physical object.