A big part of what we do here at The Futur is teach creative professionals how to make a sustainable living doing what they love. Whether you’re a “late bloomer,” a young gun, or a career switcher looking to break into the creative industry, you’re in the right place.

Many people think they can’t become designers without any formal training or education from a specialized design program. But in this video, Chris and Mr. Ben Burns share how you can learn design without a degree from design school.

The Essentials for Design Education

Chris shares the curriculum he went through as an ArtCenter student in the 1990s. Of the classes he took, he notes the most important ones he feels every designer should learn.

The more formal courses:

- Lettering I, II

- Typography I, II, III

- Identity Design

And the more conceptual courses:

- Communication design

- Advertising

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Regardless of where you choose to pick up a design education, these are the courses you should seek out.

The Best Way to Learn Design

There’s really no right or wrong way to go about learning design. We believe that you’ll get out what you put into it. And if you’re ready to become a designer, there’s one skill that’s the most essential of them all: Typography.

Typography is the foundation of graphic design. The same principles of typography are coincidentally the same for graphic design as a whole. They are:

- Contrast

- Repetition

- Balance

- Scale

- Composition
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Each of these fundamentals all work together to significantly impact design’s form and function. Beyond just looking good, design serves a specific purpose to communicate information. Typographic principles are what make the information digestible and appealing to the eyes.

We often say that the best graphic designers start with typography because it’s the linchpin that holds all of design together.

Kick Off your Design Education

If you’re serious about pursuing your design education, know that whatever path you take—formal or informal—is the right one. And if you’re considering the self-taught route, we have a whole suite of creative and design courses specifically for you.

Our Designer’s Bundle contains all the essential courses to teach you everything from the fundamentals to the finishing touches. The Designer’s Bundle includes:

- Typography 01

- Lettering 01

- Logo Design 01

- Stylescapes

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Each course will help you jumpstart your design education so you can take your creative skills to new heights. Ready to get started? Click here to enroll in the Designer’s Bundle.