I’m not a graphic designer, but I am interested in how they work on magazines, posters, and other written materials. I studied the history of art with a focus on printed ephemera at university, so you could say that this is a lifelong interest.
To learn more about the people who make printed products attractive, legible, and readable, I’ve been auditing courses on Coursera. Here are four courses I’m following at the moment:
Graphic Design Theory – Hierarchy
Graphic Design Theory – Print Design
Textual Elements of Design – Fonts, Typography, and Spacing
All four courses are delivered through videos and short readings. They explain key concepts in a simple and straightforward way. I’d recommend them to anyone who wants to understand why graphic designers still matter in the age of AI. Their work is about far more than “making things look pretty.” They’re communicators who think carefully about how people interact with digital and printed surfaces.
The “Hierarchy” course explains how graphic designers use the appearance and positioning of letters and numerals to help readers find the information they need. The “Print Design” course, led by the same teacher, expands these principles into the world of printed products such as magazines.
The typography courses focus on typefaces (e.g. Baskerville, Helvetica, Arial) and their impact on readers. They both explain technical terms. “Introduction to Typography” does a deep dive into the history of different lettering. I particularly enjoyed that because I tend to notice variations in typeface across different time periods and cultures.
If you know of similar courses, you’re welcome to drop me a line.
