How It Works

Course outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
 
  1. Start a layout with confidence, using strategic planning and spatial awareness.
  2. Apply professional grid systems—such as column, manuscript, and modular grids—to bring consistency and structure to design work.
  3. Use focal points and leading lines to guide the viewer’s attention and create strong visual flow.
  4. Integrate various forms of negative space to improve clarity, balance, and breathing room.
  5. Set up design documents correctly with appropriate margins, bleeds, columns, and guides in Adobe InDesign and Illustrator.
  6. Create polished, intentional layouts that work across print and digital formats, combining aesthetics with effective communication.

Course objectives

By the end of this course, you’ll have all the tools to create layouts that not only look polished but also guide the viewer with purpose and clarity. You’ll learn how to use focal points, leading lines, and various types of negative space to shape visual flow and highlight key content. From setting margins and bleeds to mastering grid systems—like two-column, three-column, manuscript, and complex multi-column layouts—you’ll gain a solid foundation in layout principles that bring structure, consistency, and impact to your designs.

About Online Learning

Online learning is a fun, enjoyable and very productive way to learn. Millions of people are learning online each year. You will engage with the instructor and other participants. You will get to know your instructor and other participants. You may make friends. It's easy. It's fun.
 
UGotClass Refund Policy:
We are happy to offer a full refund through the second week of a class or certificate. After the second week of class no refund will be provided. Please email info@ugotclass.org with any questions. 

How the Course Works

It is easy to participate in your online course. After you register, you will be given a web address to go to get into your online classroom. You will have a password and use your email address and password to gain access. Once inside the online classroom, here's what you can expect.

What You Will Do

For each Unit, you will:

  • Access the online readings
  • Listen to the audio presentation for the Unit and view the slides
  • Take a self-quiz to see how much you have learned
  • Engage in written online discussion with your instructor and other participants

For best learning, you should make one or more comments at 2-3 different times each day.

The content (readings, audio lectures, slides) and self-quizzes are accessible for the entire course, so you can work ahead, or go back and review again, at your convenience.

Participate When You Want

You can participate any time of day or evening. The online classroom is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There are no live real-time requirements or meetings. You decide when you participate.

For the best learning, participants should log into the course on 2-3 different days of the week.

Discussion

The Discussion for each Unit lasts one week. All comments are made in writing and can be made at any time of the day or night.

Your instructor will log into the Discussion area at least once a day and answer questions, make comments, and respond to comments by you and the other participants.

We encourage you to make 2-3 comments each day to maximize your learning and enjoyment of the course.

Learn about the other courses which are part of the same certificate:

Next start date

Mar 2 – 27, 2026