Graphic design is all about combining images, text, and color to share information in a clear, creative, and visually compelling way. No matter if you’re designing an infographic to present your research, creating a poster for a class project, or exploring other visual assignments, strong design skills can help your ideas stand out and connect with your audience.
This page will introduce you to the basics of graphic design, from layout and typography to color choices and visual storytelling.
Tool/Software | Description | Compatibility | Cost | More Information |
---|---|---|---|---|
Canva | Drag-and-drop graphic design platform with templates for posters, infographics, flyers, social media posts, and more |
Windows, macOS, iOS, iPadOS, Android |
Free to start. Some features require a paid subscription. | |
Express (Adobe) | Aimed at everyday users, this cloud-based design platform lets you create documents, graphics, videos, and other digital assets |
Windows, macOS, iOS, iPadOS, Android |
Sign into Adobe Creative Cloud with your UDC email and password to use this software for free | |
Google Drawings |
Choose from a wide variety of shapes to create diagrams and charts Google account required |
Windows, macOS |
Free. Google account required. | Using Google Drawings |
Illustrator (Adobe) | Vector graphics editor and design software used to create a wide range of illustrations, logos, and other graphics |
Windows, macOS, iPadOS |
Sign into Adobe Creative Cloud with your UDC email and password to use this software for free | |
InDesign (Adobe) |
Publishing software used for creating and designing page layouts for print and digital publications Download required |
Windows, macOS |
Sign into Adobe Creative Cloud with your UDC email and password to download this software for free | |
Photoshop (Adobe) | Popular image creation, graphic design and photo editing software that allows users to create, edit, and manage digital images, with features like layers, brushes, and filters |
Windows, macOS, iOS, iPadOS, Android |
Sign into Adobe Creative Cloud with your UDC email and password to use this software for free | Learn Photoshop |
Use the Find Multimedia Resources page to discover images, graphics, and other multimedia content to include in your graphic design.