Bang Ti Lenydoor

Graphic Design with Free Tools (Canva, GIMP, Inkscape) Professional Certificate

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Course cover: Graphic Design with Free Tools

About Course

NewThis certificate just launched and is open for enrollment now.

This beginner course teaches graphic design using tools that cost nothing to start with: the free plan of Canva, and the free and open source programmes GIMP and Inkscape. It is written for young people and small-organisation staff in South Sudan and East Africa who often work on phones or shared computers and have limited data.

You begin with the foundations that make any design work: purpose, visual hierarchy, layout, typography, colour and the technical differences between screen and print. You then learn to make designs in Canva, edit photographs in GIMP and draw logos and icons in Inkscape. Because menus and features change between versions, the lessons teach what each tool does so that you can find the equivalent option on your own screen.

The fifth module applies these skills to real needs of community groups, NGOs and small businesses: posters, flyers, social media posts, certificates and brochures, together with accessibility, ethical use of photographs, copyright and free-image licences, file management and print preparation.

The course has 24 written lessons, a quiz after each of the first five modules, a capstone project and a 12-question final examination. It is designed for about 20 hours of study at your own pace. On completion you receive a Bang Ti Lenydoor certificate of completion; it is not an accredited qualification.

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What Will You Learn?

  • Plan a design with a clear brief, audience and visual hierarchy
  • Use layout, typography and colour to make materials readable and professional
  • Create posters, social media posts and certificates in the free plan of Canva
  • Edit and export photographs in GIMP with layers, selections and colour correction
  • Draw a simple logo and icons as vector graphics in Inkscape
  • Prepare files correctly for phones, low data use and print shops
  • Use images, fonts and photographs of people responsibly and respectfully
  • Produce a mini brand kit and two materials as a finished portfolio project

Course Content

Module 1: Design Foundations (Weeks 1-2)

  • How Design Works: Purpose, Audience and Visual Hierarchy
  • Layout, Alignment, Proximity and Whitespace
  • Typography and Colour Basics
  • Designing for Phones, Low Bandwidth and Print
  • Module 1 Quiz: Design Foundations

Module 2: Canva on the Free Plan (Weeks 3-4)

Module 3: Photo Editing with GIMP (Weeks 5-6)

Module 4: Vector Graphics and Logos with Inkscape (Weeks 7-8)

Module 5: Practical Design for NGOs and Small Businesses (Weeks 9-10)

Module 6: Capstone Project and Final Examination (Weeks 11-12)

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