Graphic Design
Foundation to Professional

Progressive learning path

Five skill levels after setup. Each level ends with a capstone you can show an employer.

1. 0

   Pre-Course

   Before Week 10/1

   Get design software installed and learn your way around the canvas.

   PRERequirements & SetupBefore Week 1
2. 1

   Foundation

   Weeks 1–20/4

   Design principles, color, typography and grids — the grammar of visual design.

   M01Design PrinciplesWeeks 1–2M02Color TheoryWeeks 1–2M03Typography BasicsWeeks 1–2M04Working with Layout & GridsWeeks 1–2

   Capstone — Single-Page Promotional Flyer

   Design a single-page promotional flyer for a fictional local business, applying design principles, a deliberate color palette, paired typography and a grid-based layout — combining all four Foundation modules.

3. 2

   Beginner

   Weeks 3–40/3

   Tool mastery in Figma, logo design and the basics of a brand system.

   M05Figma Essentials (Tool Mastery)Weeks 3–4M06Logo & Brand Mark DesignWeeks 3–4M07Introduction to BrandingWeeks 3–4

   Capstone — Mini Brand Identity Kit

   Design a mini brand identity kit: logo, color palette, typography pairing and a one-page style guide for a fictional business — using Figma components for consistency.

4. 3

   Intermediate

   Weeks 5–70/3

   Marketing design, UI/UX fundamentals and working from real client briefs.

   M08Social Media & Marketing DesignWeeks 5–7M09UI/UX Design FundamentalsWeeks 5–7M10Working with Client BriefsWeeks 5–7

   Capstone — Social Campaign + App Landing Screen

   Design a complete social media campaign plus a simple app landing screen for a fictional client brief — demonstrating platform design, UI/UX basics and brief interpretation.

5. 4

   Advanced

   Weeks 8–90/2

   Scalable identity systems and professional critique and iteration.

   M11Advanced Branding & Identity SystemsWeeks 8–9M12Design Critique & IterationWeeks 8–9

   Capstone — Full Brand Identity Rollout

   Design a full brand identity rollout for the Next Door Tech ecosystem or a fictional SME: complete guidelines, multiple real-world application mockups and a written rationale document — directly portfolio-ready.

6. 5

   Professional

   Weeks 10–120/3

   Portfolio, case studies, freelance business practice and final delivery.

   M13Building a Design PortfolioWeeks 10–12M14Freelance & Client WorkflowWeeks 10–12M15Final Project & PresentationWeeks 10–12

   Capstone — Original Client-Ready Final Project

   Design, develop and present an original brand identity or digital product design project from brief to final delivery — demonstrating mastery across all five levels, reviewed against a professional rubric (creativity, principle application, consistency, presentation, business readiness).