This is a 4-session course aimed at students who want to enter the world of graphic and web design. Students will use the free version of Canva, (canva.com) to create a series of exciting and interactive digital products to preview online, download and share. 

Session 1: In this lesson, students will look at the role of a graphic designer and discuss the ways that graphic design is used to promote and present information or products. Students will be introduced to the canva.com interface and begin to explore its features and tools. Students will think about being safe online, as well as considering copyright laws and restrictions. 

Session 2: Students are encouraged to think of a scenario, activity, or company to create digital products for – they will then create a logo for their chosen scenario. This class will look at the different ways that logos can be added to a range of business products, including posters and merchandise. 

Session 3: This class will begin to explore the more advanced features of Canva, and students will use Canva to create invitations to a business launch event, suitable for either on-screen display or download. 

Session 4: In this class, students will use continue to develop their skills and create a social media post to show off and promote their product or business. We will pull together different animation and text styles to impress potential clients. This class will investigate the many ways that companies and organisations use social media to influence potential clients and customers. Students will be encouraged to explore the Canva templates to continue creating more business documents, such as business cards and websites. 

This course is designed to run on a desktop PC or laptop. This course is not suitable for tablet or phone users. Students will need to have access to a free Canva account before the first session. 

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.