Graphic Design
Offered by California Institute of the Arts.
Graphic Design is a beginner-level online course from Coursera in Graphic Design. It is structured in 5 modules, over 2 months. Learners rate it 4.7/5 from 22K ratings on Coursera.
Part of our Graphic Design courses collection, where we compare it against 4 other courses.
Course highlights
| Provider | Coursera |
| Duration | 2 months |
| Level | Beginner |
| Mode | Self-paced |
| Language | English |
| Certificate | Yes — shareable certificate |
| Rating | 4.7★ (22K reviews) |
| Price | Check price |
About this course
The Graphic Design Specialization from Coursera, offered by the California Institute of the Arts, teaches foundational principles for creating compelling visual content. This beginner-level specialization covers key areas like the Fundamentals of Graphic Design, Introduction to Typography, and Introduction to Imagemaking. Learners explore how to effectively use visual elements and text to communicate messages.
The course structure guides you through essential concepts. You start with core graphic design principles. Then, you learn about typography, understanding how different fonts and layouts impact design. The specialization also focuses on imagemaking, teaching techniques for creating and manipulating visual assets. Furthermore, it delves into the Ideas from the History of Graphic Design, providing context for modern practices. The final module, "Brand New Brand," applies these learned principles to develop a complete brand identity.
Upon completing this specialization, you will be able to apply graphic design principles to create various visual projects. You will understand how to choose and combine typefaces for readability and impact. You will also gain skills in creating and using images effectively in your designs. The practical "Brand New Brand" project helps you build a portfolio piece by developing a comprehensive visual identity.
To complete assignments, you need access to a computer. The course also recommends beginner-level knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite programs, such as InDesign, Illustrator, or Photoshop. These tools are often used in professional graphic design. This specialization focuses on fundamental principles and traditional design software skills. If you are looking for courses that teach graphic design using mobile devices, consider SmartPhone Graphic Design. For those interested in newer technologies, the AI Powered Graphic Design - Midjourney, Firefly, GPT, Gemini course explores artificial intelligence tools. For a shorter, focused introduction to the subject, Coursera also offers Fundamentals of Graphic Design. You can find more options on the Graphic Design courses hub.
Level and time commitment
Skills you’ll gain
What this course covers
5 modulesThe 5-part outline Coursera publishes for this course, across 2 months.
Module 1 · Fundamentals of Graphic Design
Module 2 · Introduction to Typography
Module 3 · Introduction to Imagemaking
Module 4 · Ideas from the History of Graphic Design
Module 5 · Brand New Brand
What learners rate it
Rated 4.7/5 by 22K learners on Coursera (checked 6 Nov 2026).
This rating is collected by Coursera from its own enrolled learners. We reproduce it as reported and do not accept paid or incentivised reviews. See it on Coursera →
Compiled by the CoursesGlobal editorial desk. Fees, ratings, duration and certificate details for the 1 course shown are read directly from Coursera course pages — we never estimate a price or a rating. Last verified 6 November 2026.
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Compare with alternatives
Same topic, different trade-offs — here's who runs each one and what it's best at.
| Course | Provider | Rating | Price | Duration | Why pick this one | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graphic Design This |
 Coursera
|
4.7★ | Check price | 2 months | Beginner-friendly · 2 months | |
| Fundamentals of Graphic Design |
Coursera
|
4.8★ | Check price | 7h 54m | Highest rated (4.8★ from 18.5K reviews) | View ↗ |
| Graphic Design Course in Hindi |
 Udemy
|
4.5★ | ₹449 | 1.5 hours | Cheapest paid option (₹449) | View ↗ |
| AI Powered Graphic Design - Midjourney, Firefly, GPT, Gemini |
Udemy
|
4.4★ | ₹459 | 4 hours | Most popular — 1.5K learners | View ↗ |
Where Graphic Design leads
Roles we map to Graphic Design on CoursesGlobal. This is our own mapping of subject to job, not a placement claim by Coursera.
Browse every course we track for one of these — courses for graphic designers.
Common questions
How much does Graphic Design cost?
Coursera does not publish a price we can read on the course page, so we do not show one. Check the fee on the provider site — we would rather say nothing than quote a number we did not collect.
Does Graphic Design come with a certificate?
Yes — Coursera lists a certificate on completion. It is a course certificate, not a formal qualification or university credit.
How long does Graphic Design take?
Coursera lists it at 2 months. It is self-paced, so that is the volume of material rather than a deadline — how long it actually takes depends on the hours you put in each week.
Is Graphic Design suitable for beginners?
Yes. Coursera lists it at Beginner level, so no prior experience in the subject is assumed.
What does Graphic Design cover?
It is organised into 5 modules, starting with Fundamentals of Graphic Design and going on to Introduction to Typography, Introduction to Imagemaking, Ideas from the History of Graphic Design, Brand New Brand. The full outline is on this page.