Discover the Foundations of Great Design in This Udemy Course
If you’re new to graphic design, understanding design theory is essential before diving into creative tools like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator. Without a grasp of color theory, typography, visual hierarchy, and composition, your designs might lack polish and impact.
One popular beginner-friendly option is The Complete Graphic Design Theory for Beginners Course on Udemy. But is it worth your time and money? Let’s dive deep into the course structure, student feedback, pros and cons, and how it compares to other options.
What Is “The Complete Graphic Design Theory for Beginners Course”?
This Udemy course, taught by Lindsay Marsh and Jeremy Deighan, focuses on teaching graphic design principles, not specific software. This makes it a useful starting point for aspiring designers who want to understand how great designs are created.
🖌 Key Features:
- 10+ hours of on-demand video content
- 76 downloadable resources
- Lifetime access to all materials
- Completion certificate for your portfolio
- Beginner-friendly—no experience required
Whether you want to create sleek social media graphics, craft beautiful logos, or improve your branding skills, this course lays the foundation of good design thinking.
Who Should Take This Course?
This course is perfect for:
- ✅ Beginners who want to learn graphic design theory before diving into software
- ✅ Non-designers (business owners, marketers, freelancers) who need basic design knowledge
- ✅ Those who struggle with understanding color, typography, or layout principles
If you’re looking to become a graphic designer professionally, this course is a great first step, but you’ll also need to learn how to use design software like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, or Canva.
Not ideal for:
- ❌ Students looking for hands-on software training
- ❌ Intermediate designers who already know the basics
What You’ll Learn
Even without using specific programs, fundamentals of great design apply everywhere—whether you’re creating a website, social media post, or a business card.
- How colors influence emotions and brand perception
- How to create harmonious color palettes that make designs visually appealing
✍️ Typography Basics
- The differences between serif, sans-serif, and decorative fonts
- How to choose the right fonts for readability and aesthetics
- How to arrange elements on a page for maximum visual impact
- How to use the rule of thirds and negative space effectively
- How to create memorable logos using simple, timeless design principles
- How different brands use color, fonts, and spacing to build an identity
🖼️ Real-World Projects
- Practical exercises to apply what you’ve learned to real-world designs
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to critique designs, understand what works visually, and apply foundational design principles to any creative project.
👍 Pros:
- ✔️ Great introduction to graphic design theory for complete beginners
- ✔️ Practical projects to reinforce learning
- ✔️ Taught by experienced design instructors
- ✔️ Lifetime access—learn at your own pace
- ✔️ Much cheaper than traditional design courses
👎 Cons:
- ❌ No hands-on design software training (you’ll need extra tutorials for tools like Photoshop or Illustrator)
- ❌ Some students found the pace a little slow
- ❌ Limited advanced topics for graphic designers who want to go deeper
What Do Students Say?
🗣 “As a complete beginner, I found this course really helpful in understanding design principles. The instructors explain concepts clearly.” – Reddit User u/designnewbie123
⭐ 4.6/5 Rating on Udemy
The course has thousands of positive reviews from students worldwide, praising its in-depth but beginner-friendly lessons.
❝ Great for beginners! The instructors break down complex topics into easy-to-understand lessons. ❞ – Sarah M. (5/5 stars)
However, some students wished it included more hands-on design exercises using software.
🔥 Final Verdict: This is a solid choice for those who want to learn design fundamentals before jumping into creative software.
How Does It Compare to Other Online Courses?
While this course is great at teaching design theory, there are other options available if you’re looking for something more software-focused or advanced.
| Course | Best For | Price | Software Training? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graphic Design For Beginners (Udemy) | Around $20 (on sale) | ✅ Yes | |
| Graphic Design Masterclass (Udemy) | Beginners-to-intermediate | Around $20 (on sale) | ✅ Yes |
| The Complete Graphic Design Theory for Beginners (THIS COURSE) | Absolute beginners wanting theory first | Around $20 (on sale) | ❌ No |
| Coursera Graphic Design Specialization | More in-depth, university-backed | $$$ ($50+/month) | ✅ Yes |
| Skillshare Graphic Design Bootcamp | Hands-on projects | Subscription-based ($15/month) | ✅ Yes |
Is This Course Worth the Price?
💰 Regular Price: $84.99
💸 Often on sale for $19.99 or less
Udemy frequently discounts courses up to 80-90%, making this an affordable way to learn graphic design fundamentals without committing to expensive university programs.
Final Verdict: Should You Take This Course?
✅ Take this course if…
- ✔️ You’re a beginner who wants to understand color theory, typography, and layout
- ✔️ You prefer learning theory first before jumping into hands-on software
- ✔️ You want to build a strong foundation in design thinking