Graphic Design for Beginners
In this on-going class, students will learn the graphic design skills needed to run a business. We will use FREE software to create a new digital project every week: logos, merch, ads, & media graphics. #CREATIVE
Elizabeth (BFA, MAE)
Average rating:
4.8
Number of reviews:(420)
Popular
What's included
1 live meeting
55 mins in-class hours per weekAssessment
Students may request a formal assessment before enrolling in this course.Grading
Graded assessments provided by request.Class Experience
Beginner Level
Have you ever dreamed of being a famous youtube personality? Creating a T-shirt design company? Marketing a skateboard business? No matter what kind of business you're creating, today's entrepreneurs are more successful if they know about graphic design! ⭐New to Outschool? Send me a message before you enroll!!!⭐ ⭐ Get $10 off your first class with coupon code BFAMANEW10 until Jun 21, 2025. Enter the coupon code at checkout. ⭐ Every day in this class is a crash course in graphic design, brand identity, digital art tools, and marketing strategies-- vital pieces of building a business! You'll learn the skills you need to advertise your business, share on social media, and design professional-looking products. Beginners who have not yet mastered any digital art program are welcome! You will learn how to use Canva for text-based graphics and Graphite for logo design and illustrations in class. *** Before class, please check the topic schedule below to see which app we will use. For most lessons we will use Canva: students will need a parent to open an account at Canva.com and install the app if you use an iPad or phone. For logo design and illustrations, make sure https://editor.graphite.rs works in your Laptop browser or you have access to another vector art program (see list of Adobe Illustrator alternatives below.) Graphite will NOT work on mobile devices. *** Please log in to the Outschool and Zoom classroom from the same device where you will create your art. This is to facilitate the Zoom screen-share for work-in-progress check-ins and technical help; at the end of class, we will post our final work to the Outschool classroom. You MAY log in on more than one device at a time if you wish.*** Students who are already proficient in at least one digital art program will be MORE successful in this class, but it is NOT required (Canva, Adobe Photoshop, Photopea, Krita, Adobe Illustrator, ibisPaint, Medibang, Autodesk Sketchbook, etc.) Students may choose to use the digital art program they are most familiar with *except* when we work on logos for vector art; this project must be completed with a vector art program. Each class will open with a quick overview of brand identity as it relates to graphic design concepts. As students introduce themselves, we will brainstorm potential mock businesses that relate to their interests. Then I will demonstrate how to use Canva and/or Graphite to make a design project for the mock (or real!) business of their choosing. Schedule: Week of 10/28: Logo Design (Use a vector art program - Graphite https://editor.graphite.rs/, Curve for iPad, or VectorMotion for Android) Week of 11/4: Merch: Sweats & T-shirt Design Week of 11/11: Animated Advertising a Product using Seasonal Themes (Raster Graphics & Canva) Week of 11/18: Youtube Cover Image/ Ending Screen Week of 11/25: Logo Design (Use a vector art program - Graphite https://editor.graphite.rs/, Curve for iPad, or VectorMotion for Android) Week of 12/2: Unique Merch & Unusual Products: Targeted Advertising (Canva or your choice of pixel-based art program - Photopea, Photoshop, Procreate, IbisPaint, etc.) Week of 12/9: Print Advertising: Events & Coupons Week of 12/16: Business Cards Week of 12/23: Logo Design (Use a vector art program - Graphite https://editor.graphite.rs/, Curve for iPad, or VectorMotion for Android) Week of 12/30: Animated Advertising a Product using Seasonal Themes - Back to School Week of 1/6: Merch: T-shirt Design & Other Customized Clothing Week of 1/13: Viral Meme Ads Week of 1/20: Logo Design (Use a vector art program - Graphite https://editor.graphite.rs/, Curve for iPad, or VectorMotion for Android) Week of 1/27: Merch: Design & Illustrate a Cute Sticker (Use a vector art program - Graphite https://editor.graphite.rs/, Curve for iPad, or VectorMotion for Android) Week of 2/3: Package and product design, Merch: Totes and Paper bags Week of 2/10: Advertising a Product using Seasonal Themes Week of 2/17: Web Banners Week of 2/24: Illustration (Use a vector art program - Graphite https://editor.graphite.rs/, Curve for iPad, or VectorMotion for Android) ** This schedule with repeat with some variation based on student interest and requests, but will always alternate between these topics: Graphic Design for Social Media Engagement: Youtube Cover Image, Memes, Web Banners Ad Campaigns T-shirt Design, Merch, & Other Collateral Logo Design #creative ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RELATED CLASSES: Graphic Design for Beginners (Teen Edition) - Try this if you're ready to work on more complex software! → https://outschool.com/classes/graphic-design-for-beginners-yQhyLOeO?usid=xT93q5Wy&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link Graphic Design for Beginners: 1-on-1 https://outschool.com/classes/graphic-design-for-beginners-1-on-1-GPxxhbgL?usid=xT93q5Wy&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link Graphic Design for Beginners - BOOT CAMP 1 https://outschool.com/classes/graphic-design-for-beginners-boot-camp-1-eJyaxz6x?usid=xT93q5Wy&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link Graphic Design for Beginners - BOOT CAMP 2 https://outschool.com/classes/graphic-design-for-beginners-boot-camp-2-OBl4aSyQ?usid=xT93q5Wy&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link Graphic Design for Beginners: Collateral Design Package & Critique https://outschool.com/classes/graphic-design-for-beginners-collateral-design-package-and-critique-c8J43Kwm?usid=xT93q5Wy&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Full-curriculum and assessments or evaluation is available for homeschool students! This class is equivalent to a graphic design, computer art, or graphics class in middle or high school but is easy enough for upper elementary students or as a fun after-school activity. I post the assignment in the Outschool classroom every week. All students are asked to post their finished work in the Outschool classroom as a comment to share with everyone. (NOT required; please message if you're having technical issues.) Grading and critical feedback will be provided privately through Outschool student messages.
Learning Goals
Students will learn the basics of graphic design, brand identity, and digital art.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
💡 Please log into the Outschool classroom on the same device as your art app and give permission for zoom to control your device remotely if possible. If you prefer using a mobile device to make you art, I recommend logging into the Outschool meeting TWICE: one log-in should be the mobile device where you are creating your art and the second should be a device with a video camera facing the student so we can better communicate. To prevent audio feedback, disable the audio on one device.
I will be demonstrating using Graphite or Inkscape for our vector graphics lessons; I will demonstrate using Photoshop/ Photopea for raster graphics lessons. I can demonstrate with most other programs listed below as necessary by request. Canva will be used as a resource for most lessons. I may occasionally show mock-ups created by Redbubble as well.
Redbubble.com is a print-on-demand platform that can quickly create a mock-up of merchandise. For the purposes of this class, I will be showing how a logo or other design created in Canva will really look on a T-shirt, coffee mug, etc. using my own account. Students will NOT be invited to create their own account for the purposes of this class.
GRAPHIC DESIGN - Canva
💻 Canva - Free (with paid options) online software with many options for creating graphics. Most of our work can be completed using only canva. No installation required on a computer. For mobile devices, install the app at canva.com or from your app store.
Canva requires all account holders to be aged 13 or older – parents will need to create an account for students aged under 13 years. It is recommended that all students log in with a parent account. This course uses the free version of Canva; you do not need to upgrade to a paid subscription. Be sure you are logged into an active account before class begins, preferably on the SAME DEVICE AS ZOOM.
VECTOR ART PROGRAMS
💻 Graphite - Free online software that works like Adobe Illustrator but is easy to use. It will work in most up-to-date browsers with a good internet connection. This program works best on a computer; will not function properly on mobile devices. Find it at https://editor.graphite.rs/
📱 Curve app - The best FREE option for iPad and iPhone users. Please install before class!
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/linearity-curve-graphic-design/id1219074514
📱 VectorMotion app - The best FREE option for Android phone and tablet users. Please install before class! (free at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.vectormotion.mobile&pcampaignid=web_share )
💻 Inkscape - Free software that works like Adobe Illustrator and is great for students using a laptop. It's counter-intuitive to use, but good free alternative for students who already know Illustrator. Install it from inkscape.org
💻 Krita - Free, open source software for computers with photo editing capabilities but built for illustration. Find it at https://krita.org
💻 Adobe Illustrator - Still the industry standard for digital illustration and graphic design for computers. Purchase at https://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator or search your app store for "Illustrator."
RASTER GRAPHICS PROGRAMS
💻 Photopea.com -Free online software that works nearly exactly like Adobe Photoshop and is great for students using a computer. Students who have not purchased and installed Photoshop on their computer may opt to use Photopea instead if they have a strong internet connection. Find it at https://www.photopea.com
💻 Adobe Photoshop - Still the industry standard for photo editing and digital art. It is available for any device in a PAID edition, but free and “lite” editions exist for mobile devices. Find it at https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop or search your app store for "Photoshop."
📱 ibisPaint, Sketchbook, GIMP, Procreate, etc. - Students may choose to use the graphics software of their choice. If not listed here, please check with the instructor to be sure your program will work for this class.
Supply List
💡 Before class, please open a FREE account at Canva.com, and make sure you have access to ONE Vector art program. Rarely, I may invites students to use ONE OPTIONAL Raster graphics program. See list of suitable programs below. 💡 Please log into the Outschool classroom on the same device as your art app and give permission for zoom to control your device remotely if possible. If you prefer using a mobile device to make your art, I recommend logging into the Outschool meeting TWICE: one log-in should be the mobile device where you are creating your art and the second should be a device with a video camera facing the student so we can better communicate. To prevent audio feedback, disable the audio on one device. 💡 I will be demonstrating using Graphite or Inkscape for our vector graphics lessons; I will demonstrate using Photoshop/ Photopea for raster graphics lessons. I can demonstrate with most other programs listed below as necessary by request. Canva will be used as a resource for most lessons. I may occasionally show mock-ups created by Redbubble as well. Redbubble.com is a print-on-demand platform that can quickly create a mock-up of merchandise. For the purposes of this class, I will be showing how a logo or other design created in Canva will really look on a T-shirt, coffee mug, etc. using my own account. Students will NOT be invited to create their own account for the purposes of this class. GRAPHIC DESIGN - Canva 💻 Canva - Free (with paid options) online software with many options for creating graphics. Most of our work can be completed using only canva. No installation required on a computer. For mobile devices, install the app at canva.com or from your app store. Canva requires all account holders to be aged 13 or older – parents will need to create an account for students aged under 13 years. It is recommended that all students log in with a parent account. This course uses the free version of Canva; you do not need to upgrade to a paid subscription. Be sure you are logged into an active account before class begins, preferably on the SAME DEVICE AS ZOOM. VECTOR ART PROGRAMS 💻 Graphite - Free online software that works like Adobe Illustrator but is easy to use. It will work in most up-to-date browsers with a good internet connection. This program works best on a computer; will not function properly on mobile devices. Find it at https://editor.graphite.rs/ 📱 Curve app - The best FREE option for iPad and iPhone users. Please install before class! https://apps.apple.com/us/app/linearity-curve-graphic-design/id1219074514 📱 VectorMotion app - The best FREE option for Android phone and tablet users. Please install before class! https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.vectormotion.mobile&pcampaignid=web_share 💻 Inkscape - Free software that works like Adobe Illustrator and is great for students using a laptop. It's counter-intuitive to use, but good free alternative for students who already know Illustrator. Install it from inkscape.org 💻 Krita - Free, open source software for computers with photo editing capabilities but built for illustration. Find it at https://krita.org 💻 Adobe Illustrator - Still the industry standard for digital illustration and graphic design for computers. Purchase at https://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator or search your app store for "Illustrator." RASTER GRAPHICS PROGRAMS 💻 Photopea.com -Free online software that works nearly exactly like Adobe Photoshop and is great for students using a computer. Students who have not purchased and installed Photoshop on their computer may opt to use Photopea instead if they have a strong internet connection. Find it at https://www.photopea.com 💻 Adobe Photoshop - Still the industry standard for photo editing and digital art. It is available for any device in a PAID edition, but free and “lite” editions exist for mobile devices. Purchase it at https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop or search your app store for "Photoshop." 📱 ibisPaint, Sketchbook, GIMP, Procreate, etc. - Students may choose to use the graphics software of their choice. If not listed here, please check with the instructor to be sure your program will work for this class.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Joined March, 2022
4.8
420reviews
Popular
Teacher expertise and credentials
Virginia Teaching Certificate in Music/Theater/Arts
Master's Degree in Education from Virginia Commonwealth University
I teach classes on a variety of arts-related subjects:
* piano, sight-reading, song-writing;
* realistic drawing techniques;
* comic book creations & anime drawing styles;
* digital arts, Photoshop, graphic design.
Look at the bottom of my profile to find my other classes.
→ https://outschool.com/teachers/Elizabeth-Essex ←
I hold a Bachelors in Fine Art from Virginia Tech and a Masters in Art Education from Virginia Commonwealth University. I taught digital art to undergraduate pre-service art teachers as an adjust professor at VCU and as a public high school teacher; now I enjoy teaching digital art to students online. I love teaching drawing, painting, sculpture and Photoshop to learners of all ages. I've been teaching for 20+ years and running my own piano studio for 10+ years. There's a special place in my heart for creative works and the artists that make them, especially fantasy stories and narrative artworks, comics and graphic novels.
Reviews
Live Group Class
$18
weekly1x per week
55 min
Completed by 159 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 9-14
2-4 learners per class
