Graphic Design Fundamentals
Learn why some designs look professional and others look homemade — the principles behind it, and how to apply them with free tools.
- 7 lessons
- about 14 minutes (estimate)
- Free
- Free BvLogic Certificate of Completion
- Video in English & اردو
- Exercises in اردو
- 21 quiz questions
- 7 exercises
- 1 graded lab
Earn your free BvLogic Certificate of Completion.
A digital credential issued by BvLogic Academy to recognize successful completion of this introductory learning activity.
Not a government qualification or regulatory certification.
That was a one-minute preview. The full course video is for signed-in learners. Sign in to watch it here, or create a free BvLogic ID; it takes a minute, and this course is added to it.
What you'll be able to do
- Name the specific reasons a design looks amateur, instead of only sensing that it does.
- Arrange elements so a design looks ordered, using rules rather than instinct.
- Pick a colour scheme with a method instead of by taste, and keep it readable.
- Make text look professional by controlling size, weight, spacing and font count.
- Decide what a viewer sees first, second and third — and make that happen.
- Produce three real pieces applying every principle so far.
- Deliver files that work, in the right format, at the right size, first time.
Course content
- 1 What makes a design look professional Name the specific reasons a design looks amateur, instead of only sensing that it does.
- 2 Layout, alignment and space Arrange elements so a design looks ordered, using rules rather than instinct. Sign in to open
- 3 Colour, and how to choose it Pick a colour scheme with a method instead of by taste, and keep it readable. Sign in to open
- 4 Typography: the fastest improvement Make text look professional by controlling size, weight, spacing and font count. Sign in to open
- 5 Hierarchy: guiding the eye Decide what a viewer sees first, second and third — and make that happen. Sign in to open
- 6 Practical work: post, poster, logo Produce three real pieces applying every principle so far. Sign in to open
- 7 Exporting for print and screen Deliver files that work, in the right format, at the right size, first time. Sign in to open
Read what each lesson covers
- What makes a design look professional. Six mechanical faults make work look homemade: too many fonts, nothing aligned, no space, everything the same size, too many colours and stretched images.
- Layout, alignment and space. Align everything to something with a grid and snapping, group related items by proximity, keep a margin on all four sides, and use the squint test.
- Colour, and how to choose it. One dominant colour, a rare accent and neutrals; contrast is legibility; borrow palettes; colour meaning is local; and never rely on red versus green alone.
- Typography: the fastest improvement. One or two clearly different fonts, variety through weight, decisive size differences, 50 to 75 characters per line, never stretched type, and a font designed for Urdu script.
- Hierarchy: guiding the eye. Decide three levels before opening any tool, signal them with size, weight, colour, space and position, make some things quieter, and use the two-second test.
- Practical work: post, poster, logo. A square post readable at thumbnail size, an A4 poster with a generous margin, and a logo that works in black and white at 32 pixels, using only images you have the right to use.
- Exporting for print and screen. RGB for screen, CMYK at 300 dpi for print, JPG, PNG, PDF or SVG for the right job, 3 mm of bleed, clear file names and the editable original kept.
Course lab
Graded lab A brand kit for one local business Open the lab →Who this course is for
- Complete beginners who can tell a homemade design from a professional one but cannot say why.
- Small business owners and staff making their own posters and posts with free tools.
- Anyone starting paid design work for social media.
Try the first exercise (in Urdu)
ملتی جلتی چیزوں کے دو designs ڈھونڈیں — دو restaurant posts، دو دکانوں کے banners۔ فیصلہ کریں کون سا زیادہ professional لگتا ہے، پھر لکھیں کہ کمزور والے میں چھ خامیوں میں سے کون سی موجود ہیں۔ ان کا نام لینا ہی مہارت ہے۔
Using this in Pakistan
- Indeed's range for graphic designers in Faisalabad is Rs 20,193 to 66,908 a month across all experience levels, with junior graphic designers averaging Rs 30,138. Source
- Faisalabad pays graphic designers about 23% below the national average, so remote work for Lahore, Karachi or overseas clients matters. Source
- Freelance: Pakistani graphic designers featured on Upwork charge about $5 to $12 an hour. Source
Questions
Is it really free?
Yes. No payment and no card; lesson 1 needs no account.
Is there a certificate?
Yes, when you complete every lesson.
Can I learn in Urdu?
Every lesson has an Urdu exercise alongside the English reading.
How long does it take?
About 14 minutes of reading, plus the exercises.
What comes next?
The paid Graphic Designing programme, in Faisalabad and live online.
Graphic Designing
Graphic Design
This free course is the introduction. The programme is taught by a trainer, marked by the academy, and carries the syllabus in full: the part an employer asks about.
See the full syllabus and feeRelated free courses
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- Logo DesignUrdu video
Graphic Design courses in Pakistan · All free courses · Government free courses open now