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Graphic design basics

Canva's free 44-minute course on design basics: layout, hierarchy, fonts, colour, images and exporting.

Taught byCanva Design School
Start free on Canva Design School

About this course

Canva's Design School offers this short video course on the foundations of graphic design. It covers principles such as layout, hierarchy, typography and colour, with examples you can apply straight away in Canva or any other design tool.

Best for: Non-designers who make social posts, presentations or flyers and want them to look more professional.

What you will be able to do

  • Apply basic layout and hierarchy principles
  • Pair fonts and choose colours more confidently
  • Create cleaner social and marketing graphics
  • Critique and improve simple designs

Syllabus and your progress

Tick modules off as you finish them on Canva Design School.

0 of 7 modules done

Plan your pace

At 4 hours a week you would finish in about 1 week, using the course time estimate above.

Progress is saved in this browser only. No account needed.

Cost and certificate

No certificate

Canva Design School course; the page lists no price and does not offer a certificate for this course.

Canva Design School sets the terms and can change them. Check the course page before you commit serious time, and tell us if something changed.

Quick answers

Is Graphic design basics really free?
Yes, the course material is free on Canva Design School. Canva Design School course; the page lists no price and does not offer a certificate for this course.
How long does Graphic design basics take?
Plan for about 45 min in total (Provider listing: 44 minutes across 12 lessons). It is video lectures, so you can go faster or slower.
Do I need experience before Graphic design basics?
No. It is a beginner course with no prerequisites listed.

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