Course
Design Tools and Techniques
DSGN-40001
Design Tools and Techniques: A Hands-on, Online Course
10 Weeks | No Prerequisite
Enrollment for this course opens on May 2, 2025, with classes beginning on July 1. To join the waitlist or learn more, contact us at unex-digital@ucsd.edu.
Unlock the full potential of modern design with our course on Design Tools and Techniques, where you’ll gain comprehensive, hands-on experience with the essential software used by industry professionals today.
Whether you’re looking to refine your skills or learn new tools, this course covers a wide range of design platforms and techniques to equip you for real-world projects. From photo editing and vector graphics to UI/UX design and 3D modeling, you’ll learn about relevant and current design tools for digital media.
Course Details
In this project-based course, you’ll be introduced to industry-standard tools like Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign), Figma, Sketch, and more.Learn the ins and outs of Adobe Photoshop for photo manipulation and compositing, create vector artwork and logos in Illustrator, and become familiar with digital layouts in InDesign. You’ll also delve into the fundamentals of UI design with Figma, where you’ll practice building interactive mockups and prototypes. By the end of the course, you’ll understand the diverse skill needed for a wide range of design applications, including web, print, and mobile media.
Beyond traditional design tools, this course introduces you to essential aspects of user experience (UX) design. You’ll gain valuable skills in user research, persona development, and wireframing, ensuring that your designs are not only aesthetically pleasing but also user-friendly and functional. As part of the curriculum, you'll explore 3D design tools like Blender and SketchUp, adding depth to your creative toolkit. Additionally, you’ll learn about foundational web design skills, including HTML, CSS, and responsive design principles, that will allow you to create designs that adapt across various devices and platforms. Each week’s exercises and projects will integrate these tools and techniques, giving you the opportunity to apply your knowledge to real-world design challenges.
This course is intended to be both comprehensive and practical, preparing you for the dynamic demands of the design industry. Whether you’re interested in graphic design, or plan to pursue specialties like web design, UI/UX, or 3D modeling, this course will expand your knowledge and make you a more versatile, market-ready designer.
What You'll Learn
- Gain proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) for graphic design, photo editing, and layout.
- Understand vector graphics and logo design skills with Adobe Illustrator.
- Learn print and digital layout techniques using Adobe InDesign for both static and interactive media.
- Learn UI design principles and create interactive mockups and prototypes in Figma.
- Understand and apply UX design principles, including user research, persona development, and wireframing.
- Explore 3D design tools such as Blender and SketchUp, expanding your creative toolkit.
- Get hands-on experience with HTML and CSS to design responsive websites.
- Investigate video editing tools like Premier and Movavi for multimedia projects.
- Complete project-based exercises that integrate multiple design tools and techniques, enhancing your portfolio and real-world application skills.
Course Information
3.00 units
TBD
Notes:
Quarters Offered: Winter, Summer
Equipment/Software: Adobe Creative Cloud for Students. Instructor will provide information regarding software.
Flexible Enrollment: This course is a requirement for the Digital Design and Creative Strategy Professional Certificate but is open to all students, even if you're not enrolled in the Certificate Program.
Academic Calendar: The Academic Calendar shows the open enrollment dates and term start dates for each quarter. Courses do not necessarily start on the first day of the term.
Equipment/Software: Adobe Creative Cloud for Students. Instructor will provide information regarding software.
Flexible Enrollment: This course is a requirement for the Digital Design and Creative Strategy Professional Certificate but is open to all students, even if you're not enrolled in the Certificate Program.
Academic Calendar: The Academic Calendar shows the open enrollment dates and term start dates for each quarter. Courses do not necessarily start on the first day of the term.