What Should I Learn First in Graphic Design?

Graphic design is an art and a science that requires an understanding of composition, color theory, and even font psychology. It is the practice of creating visually appealing designs that communicate a message to an audience.

As a graphic designer, you will be creating logos, brochures, posters, and other visual elements for businesses or clients. Learning the basics of graphic design can help you create better designs and become a more successful graphic designer.

1. Color Theory: Color theory is the foundation of all good design.

Understanding how colors interact with each other and how they affect the viewer’s emotions can help you create better visuals for your clients. Learn about the color wheel and primary, secondary, and tertiary colors; how to use warm and cool colors; as well as color schemes such as monochromatic, complementary, split complementary, triadic, analogous, etc.

2. Typography: Typography is another important element in graphic design. It is vital that you understand typefaces, fonts, leading (space between lines), kerning (space between letters), tracking (overall space between words) and hierarchy in order to create effective layouts that are easy to read.

3. Composition: Composition refers to the arrangement of different elements on a page or screen. It is important to understand how to create balance in your designs by using alignment techniques such as grids and frames; how to use repetition for emphasis; as well as how to use contrast effectively.

Conclusion: Learning these three basics of graphic design will give you a strong foundation for creating visually appealing designs for your clients or employers. Understanding color theory will help you choose colors that evoke certain emotions from viewers; typography will help you arrange text so it’s easy to read; and composition will ensure that your design looks balanced and visually appealing. With these fundamentals under your belt you can begin exploring more advanced techniques such as illustration or animation.