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An 11 Course Series That Will Help You To 

 make your design look
instantly more professional

COMPOSITION | COLOR | CONTRAST | TYPOGRAPHY | UNITY | HARMONY
HIERARCHY | LAYOUT | BALANCE | SPACE | PROCESS | PRINT | WEB

amaze clients, win competitions

The Graphic Design Theory Series was made to help you evolve from a mere user of design applications to a true expert of effective visual communication. Whether you are a seasoned creative professional or just starting out as a graphic designer, this course will give you the knowledge to always make the right choices and make every single design project a success. 

By knowing how people react to visuals, what grabs their attention and what they find appealing, you can give exactly what your clients pay for - effective, powerful design.

Level-up with the most in-depth learning program on Theory

Design theory is a vast subject, but everything you learn will make everything you already know even more valuable.
With this series, you never need to look elsewhere.

  • More than 80 inspiration boards,
  • Over 500 definitions and principles covered,
  • We'll be analyzing more than 1000 design examples,
  • You can test your knowledge with analysis worksheets, term glossaries, quizzes,
  • And practice on over a 100 exercises!

12

courses

100+

exercises

500+

terms

1000+

references

Training series, handbook or resource library — your choice!

You can use this vast resource of knowledge as your own graphic design theory library, where you will always find answers and inspiration whenever you feel stuck with a creative project.

  • you can watch any lesson in any order, it will make sense on its own
  • you can start with any course, each will supplement one another
  • you can quickly look up a subject on the go as you need it

Boost your confidence by understanding how to make engaging, clear and effective compositions!

Liam C. Kelley

I've taken courses from Lynda, Skillshare, etc. and know my way around the various Adobe products. However, I am really learning a ton from Martin. Even when I watch basic videos like "drawing" in Illustrator, I find myself saying
"Oh! I did not know that!!

This series is very well designed, and Martin is an excellent educator."

Main topics we cover in this series:

Color & Contrast

Hue, chroma, saturation, value, tone, shade, tint, color spaces, color wheel, color temperature, meanings of colors, color harmonies, perception of color, color blindness, types of contrast, etc.

typography

Type anatomy, pairing fonts, legibility, readability, alignment, justification, ligatures, calligraphy, handlettering, leading, tracking, kerning, rags & rivers, orphans & widows, using text for visual interest, etc.

psychology of design

Gestalt principles: closure, continuity, figure-ground, common fate, simplicity, symmetry, past experience, similarity, uniform connectedness, common regions, proximity, etc.

unity & harmony

Repetition, consistency, visual tempo, random rhythm, alternating rhythm, flowing rhythm, progressive rhythm, variety, framing, pattern, motif, grouping, containers, holding devices, etc.

space

Depth, overlap, overlay, shape, form, texture, perspective, leading lines, negative space, white space, proximity, foreshortening, implied space, vanishing point, volume, micro/macro space, etc.

composition & layout

Rule of thirds, golden ratio, golden spiral, direction, flow, silhouette, contour, outline, profile, line, tangent, reading gravity, primary optical area, open/closed composition, masthead, running head, etc.

balance

Visual weight, reflectional symmetry, radial symmetry, asymmetry, alignment, modular grids, spatial zones, colum grids, baseline grid, optical movement, medium disturbance, illusory motion, orientation, viewpoint, etc.

hierarchy

Focal point, entry point, information prioritization, dominance, emphasis, scale, position, proportion, exaggeration, propositional density, accent color, deep propositon, etc.

process of design

Stages of creative process, tools of the trade, creative brief, contract, research, moodboards, sketching, brainstorming, ideation, mind maps, presentation, client feedback, iteraton, delivery, design contests, creative portfolio, etc.

print design

Resolution, color separation, bleed, offset printing, digital printing, screen printing, foil stamping, coating, embossing, bindery, paper types, color management, logo design, brochures, posters, editorial design, packaging, etc.

web & digital design

Navigation, usability, file formats, screen sizes, responsive design, UX/UI design, app design, design systems, icon design, banner ads, social media design, digital publishing, motion design, AR & VR, etc.

graphic Design theory series

Available as a bundle for single purchase:

or access with our

PLUS Membership

MONTHLY

subscription

  • Access to the entire Graphic Design Theory Series
  • Access all our Graphic- & Motion Design MasterClasses
  • Access the Graphic Design Bootcamp and the Starter Community
  • Follow along with Exercise Files
  • Get Certifications when completing courses

Real design projects with feedback from the instructor? That is our Pro Membership for just $67/month!

"Martin is a fantastic instructor and this course really helped me grasp the nuances of using color/contrast effectively." Chris

"This is super informative and helps me build on knowledge I already have!"
Leonie

Great. Such clear explanations of complex concepts!" Monica

"I would recommend it to everyone who  like drawing, painting, photography or design. It is a great foundation."
Tanya

The Graphic Design Theory Series is available as a single bundle purchase with Lifetime Access to all chapters. It is also included in our Plus and Pro Memberships.

Plus Membership

Access to all of our MasterClasses and Theory series

$35/ month

Included in the Plus Membership

  • Everything from the Starter Membership, plus
  • Our new Graphic Design Theory MasterClass Series
  • All Graphic Design MasterClasses on Photoshop*, Illustrator*, Lightroom and InDesign
  • All Motion Design MasterClasses on Premiere Pro, After Effects and Cinema4D
  • A preparation guide to the Adobe ACA Exam

* These Applications have both a desktop and iPad version with seperate MasterClasses for each

Single purchase

Lifetime access to the entire
Graphic Design Theory Series

$197

What you will get

  • Lifetime access to our new Graphic Design Theory MasterClass Series (12 Courses)
  • All future updates and added lessons
  • You won't need an active membership to access the Theory MasterClass Series
  • Certifications upon each course completion

30 Day Money Back Guarantee

We want you to get the most from your learning experience with Yes I'm a Designer. However, if you change your mind for whatever reason, we offer a full refund within 30 days of purchase. Just get in touch with us so we can either help you get the results you need or give you a swift refund.
(We cannot process refunds to students who have completed more than 10% of any selected course.)

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creatives, artists, bloggers, marketers -

PROFESSIONALs & HOBBYISTS 
alike


who would benefit the most by learning Design Theory

This training series is a perfect fit for any field where visual communication and aesthetic harmony are important.

  • You are a freelance graphic designer and you want to win clients over every single time.
  • You have a hobby, which requires creating visuals (blog, vlog, social media profile, publication etc.)
  • You are an ambitious entrepreneur or marketer and you want to get the best value for your money when working with creative freelancers or agencies.

Some of the brands learning from our courses

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Martin hosting a Behance Portfolio Review

Meet Your Instructor...

Martin Perhiniak

Martin is a graphic designer, illustrator and an Adobe Certified Instructor. He was recently voted one of the Top 10 Adobe Instructors in the World.

Before launching Yes I'm a Designer, Martin worked as a designer for Pixar, BBC, Mattel and Accenture, and taught teams at Transport for London, Google, Ben & Jerry's and Oxford University Press.

Martin regularly speaks at industry events; most recently Adobe MAX, the ultimate creative conference.

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