Skip to content
EXCELLENCE
Excellence Creative
EXCELLENCE CREATIVE

Design Basics for Everyone

0/15STARS
LEVEL 1 · 0/3LEVEL 2 · 0/3LEVEL 3 · 0/3LEVEL 4 · 0/3LEVEL 5 · 0/3START
0/15 stars lit

The few principles behind every clear poster, slide, résumé and page, with contrast and readability measured against the accessibility guidelines.

2h 53m5 constellations
AT THE SUMMIT, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO

01Fix layouts with proximity, alignment, contrast and repetition

02Build a clear visual hierarchy for scanners

03Set readable type and accessible contrast

04Design slides, résumés and forms that people understand fast

Every lesson of Design Basics for Everyone

15 lessons in 5 levels, about 3 hours. Level 1 is free.

Level 1Four PrinciplesFree · 3 lessons
  1. Proximity and alignmentGroup related things and line everything up: the two fastest fixes for messy layouts.11 min
  2. Contrast and repetitionMake different things clearly different, and repeat styles so a design feels consistent.11 min
  3. Checkpoint: redesign a flyerApply all four principles to redesign a real page.13 min
Level 2Visual HierarchyMembership · 3 lessons
  1. What should they see first?Create a clear visual hierarchy with size, weight, color, position and space.11 min
  2. Design for scannersFormat pages so people who scan still get the key points.11 min
  3. Checkpoint: let it breatheUse whitespace to make designs clearer and calmer.11 min
Level 3Type That Reads WellMembership · 3 lessons
  1. Two fonts are enoughChoose and combine fonts that are readable and consistent.11 min
  2. Line length and spacingSet line length, line spacing and alignment so long text is comfortable to read.12 min
  3. Checkpoint: a readable pageApply type choices, scale and spacing to one real page.12 min
Level 4Color and ContrastMembership · 3 lessons
  1. Contrast you can measureCheck text contrast against the WCAG 4.5:1 and 3:1 thresholds.12 min
  2. Never rely on color aloneDesign charts and interfaces that work for people with color vision deficiency.11 min
  3. Checkpoint: a simple paletteBuild a small, accessible color palette you can reuse.11 min
Level 5Everyday DesignMembership · 3 lessons
  1. Slides that support you, not replace youDesign slides with one idea, big text and a clear focal point.11 min
  2. Documents, résumés and formsApply design basics to the everyday documents people judge you by.11 min
  3. Capstone: your design checklistTurn the path into a checklist you'll run on everything you make.14 min
FREE

Level 1 is open.

Membership opens every other level of this path.

See membership
AFTER THE CORE

Keep going where this path leads.

Write So People Keep ReadingThe words on the page · 3h 20m
Make Videos People FinishDesign in motion · 3h 31m