Introduction to Minimalist Graphic Design
A course by Rafael Bernardo , Designer, Typographer, and Author

Hone your perception skills and learn how to create clean, expressive designs using basic shapes
Do you believe less is more? Minimalism is a concept that everyone knows about in some shape or form. In this online course, learn how to achieve maximum expression with minimum resources alongside designer, typographer, and brand developer Rafael Bernardo. He takes you through his perspective on minimalism and guides you step by step to consciously simplify your design process.
Work with your hands, not the computer! All you need is black and white paper, as well as cutting and pasting tools. Design a poster with a message using only basic shapes: squares, triangles, and circles. Test your perception and sharpen your creative senses.
What will you learn in this online course?
14 lessons & 17 downloads
- 96% positive reviews (45)
- 1,137 students
- 14 lessons (2h 21m)
- 17 additional resources (4 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: German
- German · Spanish · English · Portuguese · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch · Turkish · Romanian · Indonesian
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
What is this course's project?
Design a poster with the message of your choice using only black and white paper and basic shapes: squares, triangles, and circles.

Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
Design professionals of all experience levels. Beginners can learn how to create powerful design elements with basic geometric shapes, those who haven't found their creative path yet can discover tools to create new forms, and those who work in design can adopt a fresh perspective and apply it to their everyday work.
Requirements and materials
No prior knowledge is required to take this course, just a keen interest and the eagerness to design!
To work on his project, Rafael uses photography card stock, although you can use whatever materials you prefer, as long as you can cut the shapes with a cutter and ruler. In addition to a cutting mat and glue, a sketchbook will also come in handy.

Reviews

Rafael Bernardo
A course by Rafael Bernardo
Rafael Bernardo is a typographer, designer, brand developer, creative activist, and author. He is passionate about shaping communicative spaces, and the drive to keep honing his creative voice has kept this passion alive for more than 20 years. The foundation stone of his work is minimalism. Rafael begins the design process by asking himself this question: what do you need to convey a message in a direct and simple way? He explores his methodology and creative development in his book, Be Water My Friend.
In his career as a freelance designer, he has worked with clients from a variety of industries, including Rosenthal, Porsche, and Siemens, as well as on a prevention project for a health insurance company. He also tries to make a positive contribution through his design work and collaborates with non-profit organizations, such as Viva con Agua.
Content
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U1
introduction
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About me
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inspirations
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U2
preparation
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materials and tools
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Basic geometric shapes
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geometric construction
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layout and composition
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find letters
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U3
Minimalist designed poster
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Find a statement
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The design of the poster
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creation 1
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creation 2
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creation 3
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U4
More inspiration
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Put the poster in the limelight
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stencil
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FP
Final project
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Introduction to Minimalism - Black and White Design
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What to expect from a Domestika course
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Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
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Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
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Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
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Certificates
PlusIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
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Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
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Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
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Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
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Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
This course is aimed at design enthusiasts with some prior experience who want to deepen their understanding of minimalism, typography, and analog design methods.
You’ll need basic graphic design skills and materials like a craft knife, cutting mat, ruler, cardstock, scissors, compass, set square, and a sketchbook.
You’ll learn how to create striking, minimalist posters and typographic compositions using geometric shapes, black-and-white contrasts, and reduction techniques.
The course is geared towards advanced beginners and designers with foundational knowledge looking to enhance their skills in minimalist design and typography.
You’ll learn cutting techniques with a craft knife and scissors, how to use a set square, compass, stencils, and apply grid and layout principles in an analog design process.
You’ll develop your own letters from basic shapes, learn how to use stencils, and systematically document layouts and alphabet variations.
Yes, you’ll discover how to use black-and-white contrasts deliberately to bring clarity, tension, and expressiveness to your designs.
El curso es muy interesante, sólo le añadiría dos fallos, el primero que no hay traducción de audio a otras lenguas, el castellano o español entre ellas, y segundo, la traducción a español en subtítulos es mala, a veces no se entiende lo que quiere decir el profesor porque la traducción usa expresiones que no son correctas en castellano, con lo cual no te enteras bien de qué está hablando, aún teniendo en cuenta el contexto, no entiendes lo que dice, y hablo de la traducción al español.
J'adore ce cours ! je le trouve si clair et le professeur si pédagogue !!!!
Bom
Me sorprende lo poco valorados que son los cursos como estos, me encantó la filosofía de lograr grandes resultados con poco
Good Insights!