The University of the Arts London is offering an online Graphic Design for Beginners Short Course for people who want to build practical visual communication and design skills.
The course is designed as an intensive introduction to:
Graphic Design
Typography
Layout
Logo Design
Visual Identity
and
Image-Based Communication.
Students complete four practical projects while learning 20 core graphic design principles.
The program is delivered online and is suitable for beginners, creative professionals, small business owners and people considering graphic design as a new area of study.
Current 2026 course dates are available from:
September 2026
with additional sessions in:
October 2026
November 2026
and later dates extending into 2027.
Prices currently start from:
£420.
UAL Graphic Design for Beginners Course 2026 Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Institution | University of the Arts London |
| Course | Graphic Design for Beginners Online Short Course |
| Level | Beginner |
| Study mode | Online |
| Learning style | Project-based |
| Main focus | Graphic design fundamentals |
| Principles covered | 20 |
| Main projects | 4 |
| Current starting price | £420 |
| September 2026 course | 2–23 September 2026 |
| October 2026 courses | Available |
| November 2026 course | Available |
| Tutor feedback | Weekly personalized feedback |
| Digital badge | Yes |
| Certificate | Certificate of attendance |
| Software training | Not included |
| College environment | UAL Short Courses |
About the University of the Arts London Course
The Graphic Design for Beginners Online Short Course provides a practical introduction to the fundamental principles of graphic design.
The course is designed around:
Learning by doing.
Instead of focusing only on theory, learners complete realistic graphic design exercises and projects.
Students can develop experience with:
Images
Fonts
Layouts
Logos
and
Visual identities.
Who Is the Course For?
The course is specifically designed for people beginning to explore graphic design.
UAL says it may be suitable for people interested in understanding how:
Words
and
Images
work together to communicate.
Potential learners can include:
Complete beginners
Small business owners
Creative professionals
Corporate professionals
and
People considering further design study.
Graphic Design for Small Business Owners
The program may be particularly useful for small business owners who want to understand:
Brand identity
Visual communication
Logo development
and
Online graphic identity.
Having design knowledge can help business owners communicate more effectively with:
Designers
Marketing teams
and
Customers.
Graphic Design for Career Changers
People considering a new career direction can also use the course as an introduction to the field.
It can help learners understand:
What graphic designers do
and
How professional design thinking works.
Graphic Design Portfolio Development
The four projects can be tailored to individual needs.
UAL states that students may relate projects to:
Current professional projects
where appropriate.
This can make the course particularly useful for learners wanting to develop portfolio material.
What Will You Learn?
The course covers a wide range of graphic design fundamentals.
These include:
Layout Design
Typography
Kerning
Tracking
Leading
Image Use
Scale
Spacing
Positioning
Grids
Logo Design
and
Visual Hierarchy.
1. Layout Design
Layout design focuses on how information is arranged on a page or screen.
Students learn how to organize:
Text
Images
White space
and
Graphic elements
so that information is clear and visually effective.
2. Typography
Typography is one of the most important elements of graphic design.
The course covers how typefaces and fonts can influence:
Meaning
Mood
and
Readability.
Kerning
Kerning refers to adjusting spacing between individual letter pairs.
Small changes in kerning can significantly improve:
Legibility
and
Visual balance.
Tracking
Tracking adjusts spacing across a larger group of letters.
Designers can use tracking to change the overall appearance of:
Words
Headings
and
Blocks of text.
Leading
Leading refers to the vertical space between lines of text.
Good leading improves:
Readability
and
Page structure.
3. Working With Images
Students also explore how images can communicate:
Ideas
Emotion
and
Information.
Graphic designers often need to combine images and typography into one clear message.
4. Scale, Spacing and Positioning
The course teaches students how different visual elements interact.
Changing the size or position of one element can alter:
Hierarchy
and
Attention.
5. Using Grids
Grids help designers create consistent layouts.
They can provide structure for:
Magazines
Posters
Web content
and
Editorial design.
6. Logo Design
Students learn about:
Effective logo design
and create several logos of their own.
This is useful for learners interested in:
Branding
Visual Identity
and
Marketing Design.
What Makes an Effective Logo?
Strong logos are usually designed to communicate:
Identity
and
Recognition
clearly.
The course helps learners explore how design decisions influence brand perception.
7. The Graphic Idea
UAL includes exploration of the:
Graphic Idea.
This involves using visual concepts to communicate messages rather than simply making something visually attractive.
8. Communicating Through Images
Students explore how images can communicate:
Words
Ideas
and
Feelings.
This is central to visual communication.
9. Physical and Digital Processes
The course also explores combining:
Physical
and
Digital
design methods.
Students are not required to rely entirely on computers.
Hands-On Graphic Design Without Software
One unusual feature of this course is that students do not need to use specific graphic design software.
UAL explicitly states that:
Graphic design software is not taught.
Projects can be completed using:
Software of the learner’s choice
or
Traditional hand tools.
Can You Take the Course Without Adobe Photoshop?
Yes.
The official course information says projects can be completed without design software.
Students can use tools such as:
Pens
Pencils
Paper
Scissors
and
Glue.
Can You Use Adobe Software?
Yes.
Learners who prefer digital tools can use software of their choice.
However, the course itself does not provide software instruction.
This distinction is important.
The program focuses primarily on:
Design principles
rather than
Software operation.
Magazine Layout Design
One of the learning outcomes involves understanding how:
Magazine layouts
are created.
Students develop their own layouts with creative freedom.
Double-Page Spread
The curriculum also includes:
Executing a double-page spread.
This can help learners understand editorial design and publication layouts.
Visual Hierarchy
Visual hierarchy determines what the viewer notices:
First
Second
and
Third.
Designers use:
Size
Position
Contrast
and
Spacing
to control attention.
White Space
White space is the unused space surrounding design elements.
It can make layouts feel:
Cleaner
More organized
and
Easier to understand.
Colour
The course also explores:
Colour
alongside symmetry and consistency.
Colour can influence:
Mood
Brand identity
and
Visual emphasis.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students should have developed a clearer understanding of:
What graphic design is
and
What graphic designers do.
Technical Graphic Design Terminology
Learners also become familiar with professional design terminology.
This can help students communicate more effectively when working with:
Designers
Agencies
or
Creative teams.
Visual Communication
Students learn how graphic design can be used to communicate ideas.
This is one of the central goals of the course.
Typography Knowledge
Learners study:
Typefaces
and
Fonts
before creating their own typography.
Logo Development
Students examine the characteristics of effective logos and create several designs themselves.
Weekly Tutor Feedback
Another strong feature of the program is:
Weekly personalized feedback.
Students have their work reviewed by the tutor throughout the course.
Why Tutor Feedback Matters
Feedback can help learners identify:
What is working
What is unclear
and
How a design can improve.
For beginners, direct feedback can be particularly valuable.
Digital Badge and Certificate
UAL states that learners receive:
A digital badge
and
Certificate of Attendance.
This should be described accurately.
It is not presented as:
A university degree
or
Professional design certification.
It is a certificate confirming participation in the short course.
Materials Required
Students need several basic materials.
These include:
Black ink pen
A4 sketchbook
Coloured pens or pencils
Camera or camera phone
External USB webcam
and
Printer.
Additional Materials for Hand-Based Projects
Students choosing to work manually may also need:
Scissors
Glue stick
A3 tracing paper
Cutting mat
Metal safety ruler
and
Precision cutting tools.
Online Study
The course is delivered:
Online.
This allows students to participate without attending the University of the Arts London campus in person.
September 2026 Course
One of the current course sessions runs from:
2 September 2026
to
23 September 2026.
The schedule is:
Wednesdays
from:
18:30 to 20:30 BST.
September 2026 Price
The September session is currently priced at:
£420 including taxes.
The course page indicates:
Last places
for this session.
Availability can change quickly.
October 2026 Course
Another session runs from:
1 October 2026
to
22 October 2026.
Classes are held:
Thursdays
from:
18:30 to 20:30 BST.
October Course Price
The listed price is:
£430 including taxes.
Saturday October Course
A second October option runs:
10 October 2026
to
31 October 2026.
The schedule is:
Saturdays
from:
11:00 to 13:00 GMT.
The current price is:
£430 including taxes.
November 2026 Course
Another course session runs from:
9 November 2026
to
30 November 2026.
Classes are held:
Mondays
from:
18:00 to 20:00 GMT.
The current listed price is:
£430 including taxes.
Additional 2027 Dates
UAL currently lists further course sessions starting in:
January 2027
February 2027
April 2027
June 2027
July 2027
and
September 2027.
Learners should check the live booking page because availability and pricing can change.
Course Tutors
The course currently lists:
Shernette Daly
and
Urjuan Toosy
as tutors.
About Shernette Daly
Shernette Daly has extensive experience as an:
Art Director
and
Designer.
Her professional work has included:
Branding
Advertising
Packaging
Editorial Design
Book Publishing
Illustration
and
Photography.
Her previous brand work includes organizations such as:
Sony Europe
Sony BMG
Universal Music
ITV Publishing
and
Channel 4.
She also works as an Associate Lecturer at the University of the Arts London.
About Urjuan Toosy
Urjuan Toosy is a:
Freelance Graphic Designer
Associate Lecturer
and
Design Mentor.
Her portfolio includes work involving brands such as:
FARFETCH
Dickies
Dr. Martens
NIKE
The North Face
Sony
and
Lululemon.
Is This Course Suitable for Complete Beginners?
Yes.
The course is specifically presented as:
Graphic Design for Beginners.
It is designed to introduce fundamental design principles rather than assume professional design experience.
Do You Need Graphic Design Experience?
The official information does not specify previous professional design experience as a requirement.
The course is positioned as an introductory program.
Do You Need Photoshop Skills?
No.
The course does not teach or require one specific design application.
Students can work digitally or manually.
Is the Course Good for Business Owners?
Yes.
UAL specifically identifies:
Small business owners
among the learners who may benefit.
Design knowledge can help entrepreneurs improve:
Brand identity
Marketing materials
and
Visual communication.
Is the Course Good for Social Media Creators?
The course is not specifically marketed as social media training.
However, fundamentals such as:
Typography
Layouts
Images
Visual hierarchy
and
Brand identity
can be applied to social media design.
Is It a Professional Qualification?
The official course information says participants receive:
A digital badge
and
Certificate of Attendance.
It should not be promoted as equivalent to an undergraduate degree or accredited professional qualification unless UAL states otherwise.
Is the Course Free?
No.
The course is paid.
Current prices start from:
£420.
Is the Course Fully Online?
Yes.
The listed mode is:
Online.
How Long Is the Course?
The currently listed 2026 sessions generally run over approximately:
Four weeks.
For example, the September session runs from:
2 September to 23 September 2026.
How Many Hours Are the Classes?
The listed sessions generally run for:
Two hours per class.
Schedules vary according to the selected course date.
Can International Students Join?
Because the course is online, learners do not need to attend the London campus for the sessions described.
However, prospective international learners should confirm:
Booking eligibility
Payment requirements
Time-zone differences
and
Terms and conditions
before enrolling.
Does the Course Require a Student Visa?
The supplied course information does not indicate that an online short-course participant needs a UK student visa.
Learners outside the UK should nevertheless rely on current official UAL information if they have immigration-related questions.
What Time Zone Does the Course Use?
Current course times are shown in:
BST
or
GMT
depending on the date.
International participants should convert class times to their local time zone before booking.
Career Areas Related to Graphic Design
Graphic design training can support development toward areas such as:
Graphic Design
Brand Design
Editorial Design
Visual Communication
Digital Design
Marketing Design
and
Creative Direction.
Graphic Designer
Graphic Designers create visual material used to communicate information.
They may work on:
Brands
Advertisements
Publications
Web content
and
Marketing campaigns.
Brand Designer
Brand Designers help companies develop a consistent visual identity.
This can involve:
Logos
Typography
Colour
and
Brand guidelines.
Editorial Designer
Editorial Designers work on:
Magazines
Books
Reports
and
Other publications.
The course’s magazine-layout exercises provide useful introductory experience in this area.
Marketing Designer
Marketing Designers produce creative assets for:
Campaigns
Advertisements
Websites
and
Social media.
Visual Communication Designer
Visual communication combines:
Words
Images
and
Graphic systems
to communicate ideas effectively.
How to Build a Graphic Design Portfolio
Coursework can form the beginning of a design portfolio.
Learners should consider documenting:
Initial concepts
Design iterations
Final outcomes
and
The reasoning behind design choices.
Portfolio Projects From the Course
The four practical projects may help learners generate work that demonstrates:
Layout
Typography
Logo development
and
Visual communication.
Opportunities Feed Assessment
The University of the Arts London Graphic Design for Beginners Online Short Course is particularly suitable for people who want to understand design principles before becoming dependent on software.
Many beginner courses start by teaching:
Photoshop
Illustrator
or
Canva.
UAL takes a different approach.
The course focuses first on:
How design works.
Learners study:
Layout + Typography + Hierarchy + Images + Logos + Visual Identity.
This can provide a stronger conceptual foundation before moving into specific software platforms.
The project-based structure is another strong feature.
Students complete four practical projects and receive:
Weekly personalized tutor feedback.
The ability to tailor projects toward professional needs may also be useful for:
Small business owners
Creative professionals
and
Career changers.
However, prospective students should understand two limitations.
First:
This is a paid short course.
Current prices start from:
£420.
Second:
It does not teach graphic design software.
Anyone specifically looking for training in:
Adobe Photoshop
Illustrator
InDesign
or
Canva
would need complementary software-focused learning.
For learners who want a strong introduction to the principles behind good visual communication, however, this UAL short course provides a structured online pathway from a globally recognized arts and design institution.
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