Learn Design Theory

Discover the principles and practices that make great design with our design theory tutorials. Master everything from color theory to design trends.
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Getting started with Theory

  • Teach Yourself Graphic Design: A Self-Study Course Outline

    Teach Yourself Graphic Design: A Self-Study Course Outline

    Sean Hodge
  • Rebellious Design: Brutalism Meets 90s Graphic Design

    Rebellious Design: Brutalism Meets 90s Graphic Design

    Laura Keung

    • All Theory content:

    1. Inspiration: Stars, Planets, and Galaxies

      Inspiration: Stars, Planets, and Galaxies

      Tutorial • Beginner

      We've gathered some resources that will inspire you to look to the sky and beyond. This article will have you grabbing a telescope or heading over to NASA....

    2. 7 Principles of Effective Icon Design

      7 Principles of Effective Icon Design

      Tutorial • Beginner

      Before approaching icon design, there are some guidelines and principles that are worth studying. If you want to create effective icon designs, then you...

    3. Web Ads via BuySellAds.com

      Web Ads via BuySellAds.com

      Tutorial • Beginner

      A quick announcement today: we're switching our advertising over to a new system via the recently-launched BuySellAds.com. Previously, I'd been running a...

    4. Maciej Hajnrich Interview

      Maciej Hajnrich Interview

      Tutorial • Beginner

      Maciej Hajnrich, AKA Valp Nietylko, is a designer who embraces the merging of chaos and color. He has a great sense of free-flowing composition. Look at his...

    5. Numbers, schmumbers

      Numbers, schmumbers

      Tutorial • Beginner

      Well, March is coming to an end and it's been a real record-breaker month here at Psdtuts+. I love statistics and spend hours looking through them, so this...

    6. Core Principles for Rapidly Attaining Creative Flow

      Core Principles for Rapidly Attaining Creative Flow

      Tutorial • Beginner

      Consistently achieving a state of focused concentration can be difficult. There are some simple techniques you can employ that will have you rapidly entering...

    7. 12 Ways to Tap Into an Endless Well of Creativity

      12 Ways to Tap Into an Endless Well of Creativity

      Tutorial • Beginner

      There is no reason to ever run out of ideas. The world, our minds, history, and the Internet offer an infinite realm of artistic exploration. Consider the...

    8. Even More Updates

      Even More Updates

      Tutorial • Beginner

      This has been a big couple of weeks for Psdtuts+, as I've pretty much only been working on this site the whole time, fixing things and adding new features....

    9. Inspiration: Fire, Flames, and Infernos

      Inspiration: Fire, Flames, and Infernos

      Tutorial • Beginner

      Ignite your creative fire with inspirational artwork and ideas. Jump off to tutorials that will teach you how to fire up your own work. Get your creative...

    10. 5 Important Criteria that Make a Great Photoshop Tutorial

      5 Important Criteria that Make a Great Photoshop Tutorial

      Tutorial • Beginner

      Deciding what is great is not arbitrary. While some opinions will vary, norms are arrived at through a common criteria by which something is evaluated. So...

    11. Top 4 Alternatives to Photoshop For Mac Users

      Top 4 Alternatives to Photoshop For Mac Users

      Tutorial • Beginner

      Deciding on an alternative for Photoshop depends a lot on what you use Photoshop for. There are five apps that I'll give you some information about that are...

    12. Inspirational Business Card Designs

      Inspirational Business Card Designs

      Tutorial • Beginner

      As some of you may know, Psdtuts+ has a couple of sister sites, including a design inspiration gallery called FaveUp, which showcases logos, business cards,...

    Related Categories

    Adobe Photoshop
    Adobe Illustrator
    Drawing
    Adobe InDesign