Specialization in Graphic Design and Visual Communication by Silvia Ferpal

This specialization brings together six renowned designers to walk you through the core pillars of graphic design. You’ll start with the timeless foundations, then move through color theory, composition, visual perception, and geometry. Each module builds on the last, so by the end you’ll have a solid framework for creating visual identities that actually work.

🎯 What you’ll learn

• Apply the fundamental principles of graphic design to any project
• Use color theory to create harmony, contrast, and emotional impact
• Build balanced compositions using shape, space, and asymmetry
• Leverage the laws of visual perception for unity and movement
• Create visual identity systems from simple geometric shapes
• Think like a professional graphic designer when approaching brand projects

✅ Requirements

• Skills: No extensive prior knowledge required
• Tools: Basic graphic design software, notebook for sketching
• Hardware: Computer with internet connection

📝 Description

This isn’t a single-course overview — it’s a full program that treats graphic design as a connected system of decisions. Silvia Ferpal kicks things off with the timeless principles that apply to any brief, regardless of trends or tools. She won the 2019 Spanish National Design Award, so the foundation here is solid.

Then Leire Fernández and Eduardo Herrera take over with color. They break down how hue, saturation, and value communicate on an emotional level, and how to use harmony and contrast deliberately rather than by accident. Javier Alcaraz follows with composition — the structural glue that holds a layout together. He covers balance, asymmetry, and how to articulate space so your message lands clearly.

Pepe Gimeno’s module is where things get interesting. He uses waste materials to explore the laws of visual perception, which sounds unconventional but actually forces you to think about unity, weight, and movement in a hands-on way. Esteban Ibarra then shows how far you can push simple geometry — circles, squares, triangles — into full visual identity systems. Finally, Enric Jardí wraps up with the mindset side of the craft: how to approach brand design with clarity and logic.

The course project ties it all together. You’ll design a series of Instagram-format images that express your own visual universe, applying shape, typography, color, and composition to something personal. It’s practical, portfolio-ready work that demonstrates you can actually use what you’ve learned.

🧑‍🎓 Who this course is for

• Aspiring graphic designers looking for a structured foundation
• Art students who want to bridge academic theory and practical application
• Self-taught creatives filling gaps in their formal design knowledge
• Professionals who need to strengthen their visual identity and branding skills

🧑‍🏫 About the Author

Silvia Ferpal is a graphic designer and winner of the 2019 Spanish National Design Award. She leads the program alongside five other specialists: Leire Fernández and Eduardo Herrera, both PhDs in Fine Arts with expertise in graphic design; Javier Alcaraz, an expert in editorial, branding, and typography; Pepe Gimeno, a multidisciplinary artist known for experimental graphics; Esteban Ibarra, who focuses on geometry in branding; and Enric Jardí, a specialist in editorial design and corporate image. Together they bring decades of professional practice and teaching experience to this specialization.

🏁 Final Result

By the end of this specialization, you’ll have a series of Instagram-format images that express your personal visual universe. You’ll also have a working knowledge of color theory, composition, and visual perception that you can apply to branding, editorial, or any graphic design project.