Looking to expand your knowledge? Check out this round-up of free lessons on graphic design theory.



We can't stress how essential it's to learn the fundamentals of design. The internet has made it easy for us to share information and to learn new information. Today, we've put together a list of free graphic design theory lessons for you.

We often see only the result of a design process and not much of the behind-the-scenes work. We often wonder about the 'why' and 'how' of the process. These 50 excellent graphic design theory lessons will help you understand the process a bit better.

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Typography

1. The Ultimate Guide to Basic Typography The world of design is extensive. Learn the most important terms that you need to navigate your design career. This article touches on misused terms and explains some important typesetting terminology. Visit Lesson

2. How to Use Variable Fonts on the Web Variable fonts allow you to have an unlimited number of fonts that derive from the same font file. Forget about having any limitations in your design as variable fonts will allow you to be more flexible. Visit Lesson

3. How to Use Color Fonts on the Web Looking to use more than one solid color in your next web design project? This tutorial shows you how to use different colors per glyph, which will give you a fun result. Visit Lesson

4. A Brief History of Display Fonts Display fonts are essential if you're looking to create a certain atmosphere and feeling in your design. In this article, get familiar with the history of display fonts and how they came to be so popular. Visit Lesson

5. How to Combine Fonts, How Not To, and the Best Font Combinations Typography is an essential part of graphic design. When I was a beginner designer, I had trouble understanding and combining fonts for a project. In this article, you'll learn how to use this important tool with simple tips and tricks. Visit Lesson

6. A Brief History of Type Typography has a fascinating history and it’s come a long way to become what it is today. Learn the history of type starting from the earliest engravings, the printing press revolution, its impact in the Midcentury Modernism, and all through to today. Visit Lesson

7. How to Improve the Accessibility of Fonts and Typography in Your Designs Design for accessibility has been improving year after year. Typography is one of the most essential tools in graphic design and therefore has a huge impact on how text is viewed. Learn how to improve your technique for accessibility with this handy article. Visit Lesson

8. The Different Types of Fonts: When to Use Each Font Type and When Not There’s no shortage of fonts these days. There are so many options for every single project. Building a font collection is a smart way to organize all your favorite fonts. Check out this article to learn more about classifications and find some great inspiration. Visit Lesson

9. The Rise of the Sans Serif Do you want to learn a bit more about the history of sans serifs? The last few years have brought a lot of changes in branding. Many companies were shifting from serif fonts to sans serifs. Check out this article to learn more about the reasons behind it. Visit Lesson

10. 3 Tips to Help You Avoid Bad Web Typography Typography has so many variable options. Our jobs as designers don’t end at choosing a single font. We also have to decide all the smaller details that can cause a big impact on our design project. In this article, learn more about how to avoid bad web typography. Visit Lesson

Grid-Based Design

1. How to Design With Grids and Break Them If you ever wondered about grids, this article covers everything from their origin to how to design with them. As the foundation of any visual design, grids have become essential for composing layouts. This tool will help you create an organized and cohesive page. Check out this article to learn more. Visit Lesson

2. How to Create a Bauhaus Poster in Adobe InDesign Curious about how to include grids in your poster design? The Bauhaus school was a German art school that emerged during the pre-war period. Their ideals have come to define what we now know as Modernism. This tribute poster is based on a grid, which was essential to the philosophy of this school. Visit Lesson

3. How to Make Icons So you’ve mastered grids, and now you're wondering how you can take it up another notch? This tutorial is perfect if you're looking to create your own icons. This thorough article will show you how to carry out icon research, how to choose the right size, and how to make it pixel perfect. Visit Lesson

4. Finding Inspiration in Graphic Design History: 5 Aesthetics to Inspire Your Next Project Throughout design history, there have been multiple styles that adopted the grid as their own. One of them is the International Typographic Style. Learn more about the Swiss Style, which used the grid to organize content. Visit Lesson

5. How to Create a Professional Magazine Layout This quick introductory tutorial is perfect if you are wondering how to use grids in a magazine layout. You’ll learn the essential techniques for creating templates and print-ready spreads. Visit Lesson

6. Illustrator in 60 Seconds: The Perspective Grid Perspective grids are one of those tools in Adobe Illustrator that not many people know how to use. With this super quick tutorial, you’ll be sure to learn everything about perspectives and how to create designs based on perspective grids. Visit Lesson

7. Quick Tip: How to Create an Isometric Grid in Less Than 2 Minutes! Isometric vectors are an awesome trend of illustration that look hard to create but are in fact super easy. In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to create a rectangular grid to use as a base for your vectors. Visit Lesson

8. How to Create a Newsletter Template in InDesign If you are new to grids, this tutorial is perfect for you. You’ll learn how to set up a template by using a basic three-column grid. You’ll be able to see how to populate pages with images and text to keep your design clean and organized. Visit Lesson

9. How to Create a 60s Retro Flyer Design This flyer is inspired by the Swiss Typographic Style or modernist design that was popular in the 1960s. The heavy use of grids as an organizational system helps display information in a clean and clear way. Check out more to learn about how to keep your design cohesive and pristine! Visit Lesson

10. A Comprehensive Introduction to Grids in Web Design That’s right, grids aren’t only for print design. Web design is completely based on grids. In this article, you’ll learn everything from basic lingo to theory and examples of how websites are using grids. Visit Lesson

Color Theory

1. The 5 Problems With Fundamental Color Theory Color theory is one of the first tools we learn as designers. This article goes over five myths of color theory that could be limiting us as designers. Visit Lesson

2. Creating Graphic Design and Illustration for Color Blind People A large number of the worldwide population suffers some kind of vision impairment. We, designers, have a great impact on their lives through the work we put out. This article outlines a few solutions we could use to improve their quality of life. Visit Lesson

3. 10 Best Logo Colour Schemes & Combinations (With Examples) Choosing color combinations for logos is an important job as color can affect emotions and behaviors. We’ve all felt uncertain at times when designing a brand and not being able to decide what to choose. This article helps you understand how to effectively use color for a logo. Visit Lesson

4. Photoshop in 60 Seconds: RGB vs. CMYK If you’re a beginner designer, learning color modes is essential to do your job the right way. In this video, you’ll learn the differences between the two most important color modes, RGB and CMYK, what they stand for, and how to convert color modes in Adobe Photoshop. Visit Lesson

5. Advanced Color Theory: What Is Color Management? Know everything about RGB and CMYK but want to learn more? This article helps you understand other color models available to designers. You’ll learn how to and when to use them, how to manage colors, and what happens when you convert color spaces. Visit Lesson

6. Accessibility Basics: Designing for Visual Impairment About 9% of the global population experiences a kind of visual impairment, so can we do anything to improve their online experience? In this useful article, you’ll learn more about how website design affects visually impaired individuals and what we can do to make it better. Visit Lesson

7. The Ultimate Guide to Adobe Illustrator Swatches Keeping an organized workspace is essential if you are working in Adobe Illustrator. This article is all about the Swatches panel. You’ll learn everything from adding swatches to handling pattern swatches. Visit Lesson

8. Why You Should Avoid Vibrating Color Combinations Vibrating colors is a phenomenon that happens when two highly saturated color schemes look as if they are vibrating. The colors appear to merge and glow. In this article, you’ll learn how vibrating colors can cause legibility issues and how it affects visually impaired individuals. Visit Lesson

9. An Introduction to Color Theory for Web Designers If you dabble in web design, you need to read this essential introduction to color theory. This practical article explains many design principles you can use to choose a color scheme. Visit Lesson

10. 6 Beginner “Safety First” Color Guidelines for the Web Color theory for web design is just as important as for print design. We all get very excited about color palettes and tend to use one too many color combinations. This article outlines a few tips on how to successfully use color in web design. Visit Lesson

Design Theory

1. The Basic Elements of Design Understanding the fundamental concepts of design is essential to creating a layout that makes sense. In this article, you’ll learn many concepts that are useful when it comes to composition. Visit Lesson

2. 60 Design Terms You Should Know We put together a glossary of terms that every designer should know. No matter what stage of your career you are in, this article is important to refresh your memory. Visit Lesson

3. Become a Better Designer by Exploring Universal Beauty: Myth vs. Reality Have you wondered what’s considered beautiful around the world? This article touches on the concept of beauty, where it comes from, and how this idea shapes us as designers. Visit Lesson

4. The Principles of Design If you are a beginner designer, this article is for you. The creation of a successful design piece is based on a set of principles. These tools can help you structure your design while still keeping it interesting. Visit Lesson

5. The Testing Phase of Design Thinking Testing your design before it goes into the masses is important. It’ll help you see if the design functions effectively and how it was intended. In this article, you’ll learn more about the importance of the testing phase of design thinking. Visit Lesson

6. A Comprehensive Introduction to Visual Design Learn the fundamental principles of web design with real examples. Whether you’re an experienced designer or beginner, this article is a solid ground for you to build your practice. Visit Lesson

7. How to Advocate for Design Among Non-Designers If you’ve been struggling with limitations in your design role by non-designers, this article is for you. You’ll learn a few pointers on how to better advocate for your role and for the value of good design. Visit Lesson

8. Why Design Matters To Your Business The value of design is taking a more important role in all types of businesses. Investing in user experience can mean you are making a great investment and improving key metrics that support your business. Learn how in this insightful article. Visit Lesson

9. How Apple Ended Up Leading the Icon Design Trends Have you ever wondered why icon design is so important and how it came to be essential for digital devices? Take a look at this article to learn more about this revolutionary trend which started back in the 70s. Visit Lesson

10. Prototyping in Design Thinking: Fail Fast, Fail Often Testing your prototype is an essential step in Design Thinking. Not only to see if they work but to see if the user is utilizing the product the same way designers think. Learn about the guidelines and types of prototypes you can use in your process. Visit Lesson

UI & Usability

1. Usability Testing Methods: The Benefits of Face-to-Face Tests It’s hard to predict what users are thinking without testing products. Testing methods have come a long way, and most clients want to have the product out the door ASAP. But, without testing, the product can fail. Learn more about the benefits of testing products in this article. Visit Lesson

2. How to be a Design Usability Champ Understanding how to present and measure user research results is key to the developing process of a product. Learn a few guidelines on how to ease communication between users and project teams. Visit Lesson

3. An Introduction to Remote Usability Testing If you ever wondered about remote usability testing, this article is for you. It contains valuable information that can help you with the decision-making process if your product is ready for the masses. Visit Lesson

4. Why Dark UI Patterns Are Bad for Business Dark UI patterns have a very short term benefit when it comes to user trust. This article shares a set of best practices to avoid unethical and deceptive UI patterns. Visit Lesson

Dark UI patterns have a very short term benefit when it comes to user trust. This article shares a set of best practices to avoid unethical and deceptive UI patterns. 5. 8 Golden Rules for Better Interface Design If you’re struggling with usability issues in your design process, this article can help you move in the right direction. This article outlines eight design principles that are applicable to most user interfaces. Visit Lesson

6. UX/UI Kits to Speed Up Your Design Process If you are running short on time, resources are the perfect way to get ahead and buy yourself some time. Great quality resources are hard to come by, so here’s a list of resources that can help you speed up the UI/UX design process. Visit Lesson

7. UX in 60 Seconds: Using Component Libraries Check out this super quick introductory video on using component libraries for UX. It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner designer or seasoned—this video is essential! Visit Lesson

8. Create Amazing Prototypes in No Time with the Envato Elements Sketch Plugin Prototyping tools have come a long way in recent years. Sketch is one tool that is Mac-based and offers amazing functions through the use of plugins. Learn more about how to use this plugin and take your designs to a higher level. Visit Lesson

9. 5 Easy Rules for Mobile UI Design Beginners The creation of mobile applications grows daily. To design a good application, there are several rules to take into consideration that are different from desktop applications. Follow these rules before you get started on your next project. Visit Lesson

10. The Best Free Figma Resources: Templates, Icons, UI Kits, and More If you are using Figma as your interface design tool, this article has an awesome list of free resources to help you. Figma allows you to collaborate in real time while creating flawless and responsive experiences. Visit Lesson

That's It!

Understanding design principles and the essential tools you can work with is important. Sometimes we want to run before we walk, and that can open you up to mistakes. Learning the basics is important, not only to apply to projects but to also communicate and educate clients. We hope these 50 free lessons are useful for you as they are to us!

If you liked this article, check out our free course on design systems—it's perfect for helping you translate graphic design theory into your web design work. You may also like these articles: