Skills you'll learn:

Digital Arts Foundations
Nanodegree Program
This Nanodegree explores digital art and graphic design through software like Canva, focusing on 2D shapes, layout, and Mondrian-inspired compositions. It covers color theory, RGB, and Hex codes, using Adobe Color for custom themes. We'll examine the printing press's impact, typography, and typeface selection. We will also delve into texture, space, and spatial depth in art, learn about balance and scale in composition, and explore symmetry and asymmetry. Furthermore, we'll learn about contrast and pattern, movement, rhythm, emphasis, and visual hierarchy in design. We will also learn about unity, including Gestalt principles and design brief analysis. In the final project, you will design a vector-based poster for your social media website, showcasing your graphic design skills.
This Nanodegree explores digital art and graphic design through software like Canva, focusing on 2D shapes, layout, and Mondrian-inspired compositions. It covers color theory, RGB, and Hex codes, using Adobe Color for custom themes. We'll examine the printing press's impact, typography, and typeface selection. We will also delve into texture, space, and spatial depth in art, learn about balance and scale in composition, and explore symmetry and asymmetry. Furthermore, we'll learn about contrast and pattern, movement, rhythm, emphasis, and visual hierarchy in design. We will also learn about unity, including Gestalt principles and design brief analysis. In the final project, you will design a vector-based poster for your social media website, showcasing your graphic design skills.
Beginner
1 month
Last Updated June 8, 2024
Prerequisites:
Beginner
1 month
Last Updated June 8, 2024
Skills you'll learn:
Prerequisites:
No experience required
Courses In This Program
Course 1 • 45 minutes
Welcome to the Nanodegree Program!
Welcome to Udacity! We're excited to share more about your Nanodegree program and start this journey with you!
Lesson 1
Welcome!
Welcome to Udacity. Takes 5 minutes to get familiar with Udacity courses and gain some tips to succeed in courses.
Lesson 2
Getting Help
You are starting a challenging but rewarding journey! Take 5 minutes to read how to get help with projects and content.
Course 2 • 2 weeks
Elements of Design
Digital art and graphic design shape our visual environment using vector graphics and design principles. Through software like Canva, we'll explore 2D shapes, format, layout, and design tools, creating a Mondrian-inspired composition. We'll delve into color theory, RGB, Hex codes, and the color wheel and create custom color themes using Adobe Color. Additionally, we'll examine the historical impact of the printing press, typography, type classifications, anatomy, and the process of choosing typefaces in design and digital arts.
Lesson 1
Introduction to Digital Arts
Digital art and graphic design shape our visual environment. Vector graphics allow scalability, while the elements and principles of design guide creation using software such as Canva.
Lesson 2
Introduction to Shape
We will explore 2D shapes, their types, and digital representations using stroke and fill. We will gain insight into format, layout, and design tools and create a Mondrian-inspired composition.
Lesson 3
Introduction to Color
We will explore color in two forms: subtractive in nature and additive in the digital realm. We will learn about RGB, Hex codes, and the color wheel and create custom color themes with Adobe color.
Lesson 4
Introduction to Type
We will explore the history of the printing press & typography and the influence that is still felt today. We'll cover type classifications, anatomy, & how to choose type in design and digital arts.
Course 3 • 2 weeks
Elements of Design and Composition
This course delves into texture in both fine arts and the digital realm, utilizing images, lines, shapes, typography, and layered colors to create depth and a tactile sense. The concept of space is explored, encompassing foreground, middleground, background, and perspective, with techniques for recreating depth using basic elements. The course also covers balance and scale in composition, including understanding visual weight, achieving harmony through balanced and counterbalanced elements, and exploring symmetry and asymmetry in design.
Lesson 1
Introduction to Texture
In this lesson, we will explore texture in fine arts and the digital art realm, creating depth and the illusion of a tactile sense through images, lines, shapes, typography, and layering colors.
Lesson 2
Introduction to Space
In this lesson, we will explore the idea of space in art: foreground, middleground, background, and perspective. And we will learn to recreate depth using basic elements.
Lesson 3
Introduction to Composition: Balance and Scale
In this lesson, we look at balance and scale in composition: understand visual weight, create harmony through balance and counterbalance of elements, and explore symmetry and asymmetry in design.
Lesson 4
Introduction to Composition: Contrast and Pattern
In this lesson, we explored contrast and patterns in brand design. We covered various types of contrast and the components of patterns dot, line & grid, followed by creating custom patterns.
Course 4 • 1 week
Composition
This course focuses on movement and rhythm in compositions, utilizing repetition and rhythm to establish visual flow. By manipulating elements and utilizing Canva's animation tools, we can guide the viewer's eye movement. Visual hierarchy and emphasis are explored, examining their historical use in advertisements and understanding the order of importance in emphasizing focal points. Points of entry and design briefs are analyzed to enhance understanding. Achieving unity in compositions is also covered, including the concept of unity and various approaches to achieve it. The relation between Gestalt groupings and unity is explored, along with an analysis of a design brief.
Lesson 1
Introduction to Composition: Movement
In this lesson, we will explore how movement and rhythm create visual flow in compositions. We will also manipulate elements to guide eye movement and experiment with Canva's animation tools.
Lesson 2
Introduction to Composition: Emphasis
We explore visual hierarchy and emphasis in design and historical uses in advertisements. We look at the order of importance in emphasis and focal points, analyze points of entry and design briefs.
Lesson 3
Introduction to Composition: Unity
We look at achieving unity in compositions: understanding its concept and various approaches. Exploring Gestalt groupings' relation to unity. Analyzing a design brief.
Course 5 • 2 weeks
Project: Social Media Introduction Poster
In this project, students will create a vector-based social media poster, which can serve as a mockup ad for their new graphic design company and showcase their design skills.
Lesson 1 • Project
Social Media Introduction Poster
In this project, students will create a vector-based social media poster, which can serve as a mockup ad for their new graphic design company and showcase their design skills.
Course 6 • 10 minutes
Congratulations!
Congratulations on finishing your program!
Lesson 1
Congratulations!
Congratulations on your graduation from this program! Please join us in celebrating your accomplishments.
Taught By The Best

Joshua Wilder Oakley
Visual Communications Professor at California State University San Francisco
Joshua Wilder Oakley is currently a Visual Communications Professor at California State University San Francisco and has also taught at the University of San Francisco. His teaching philosophy mirrors his design philosophy - make the world a better place through good design and visual problem solving. In addition to teaching, Oakley is also a Freelance Graphic Designer and Photographer.
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