Social Media Management and Design with Canva
Learn to run social media pages and design posters, posts, videos and flyers with Canva, even if you have never designed anything before.
- 17 lessons
- 4 h 19 min
- Certificate
Design and social media - Beginner
Graphic Design Fundamentals
Learn the principles behind good design (contrast, hierarchy, colour, type and layout), then make logos, posters and social graphics with free tools and export them correctly.
About this course
Every shop sign, school poster, WhatsApp status and church programme is a piece of graphic design. Some are easy to read and make you want to act; others are crowded and confusing. The difference is rarely talent. It is a handful of principles that anyone can learn and practise.
This beginner course teaches those principles first: contrast, hierarchy, alignment, spacing, colour, typography and layout. Then you apply them to real jobs such as a logo, a brand kit, an event poster and a social media graphic. We use free tools such as Canva, Inkscape and GIMP, so you do not need an expensive computer or software. The last module covers exporting for screen and print, copyright and licensing, and how to build a portfolio.
No experience is needed. If you can use a computer or a phone and are curious, you can start today.
What you will learn
- Explain how contrast, hierarchy, alignment, proximity, repetition and white space make a design clear
- Choose a colour palette, and understand RGB, CMYK and readable colour combinations
- Choose and pair fonts, and set text that is easy to read
- Build balanced layouts using a grid and visual flow
- Tell raster images from vector graphics and pick the right free tool for each job
- Design a simple logo and a small brand kit
- Create posters, flyers and social media graphics for a real purpose
- Export files correctly for web and print, and use images, fonts and logos legally
Course content
5 modules · 16 lessons · 4 h 20 min · 6 quizzes
Module 1: How design works
See what graphic design is for and learn the core principles: contrast, hierarchy, alignment, proximity, repetition and space.
- What graphic design is and how a design project flows 12 min
- Contrast and visual hierarchy 15 min
- Alignment, proximity, repetition and white space 15 min
- Quiz: 7 questions
Module 2: Colour and typography
Choose colours that work together, understand RGB and CMYK, and set type that is easy to read.
- Colour basics: the wheel, palettes and meaning 15 min
- Screen and print colour: RGB, CMYK and accessibility 15 min
- Typography: choosing and pairing fonts 18 min
- Setting readable text 15 min
- Quiz: 8 questions
Module 3: Layout, tools and images
Arrange elements with grids and balance, meet the free design tools, and handle images properly.
- Layout: grids, balance and visual flow 15 min
- Free design tools: Canva, Inkscape and GIMP 18 min
- Working with images: raster, vector and resolution 18 min
- Quiz: 7 questions
Module 4: Logos, brand and everyday projects
Design a simple logo, build a small brand kit, and make posters and social media graphics that work.
- Logo basics: designing a simple, strong mark 18 min
- Brand identity: colours, fonts and a brand kit 15 min
- Posters, flyers and social media graphics 20 min
- Quiz: 8 questions
Module 5: Delivering your work responsibly
Export for web and print, respect copyright and licences, and gather feedback to build a portfolio.
- Exporting for web and for print 18 min
- Copyright, licences and using other people's work 18 min
- Feedback, improving and building a portfolio 15 min
- Quiz: 8 questions
Final exam
25 questions. Pass with 70% or more to earn your certificate.
What you need
- No design experience needed
- A computer, laptop or smartphone with internet access
- A free Canva account (or another free design tool) for the practice activities
Further reading
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