Design for Video: Essentials for Non-Designers

Meet your instructor and get an overview of what to expect from the course. We’ll walk through the key features and benefits of the program, explain the different types of homework, and share tips on how to get the most out of your learning experience.

– Meet the instructor
– Course overview
– What kind of assignments to expect

Let’s bust a few myths and look at what design actually is – and why it matters, especially if you’re working with video. We’ll explore design as function, aesthetics, and communication, and look at how it shows up in media like films, series, music videos, and ads.

– Design as aesthetics, function, and communication
– Design in everyday life
– Why understanding design matters in video
– How design supports personal branding

We’ll break down design as a system that solves specific problems. This section gives you the building blocks for understanding how visual choices affect how viewers perceive your content.

– Point
– Line
– Shape and character
– Bouba-Kiki effect
– Texture

What grabs a viewer’s attention? How do you guide the eye? Why does composition matter? We’ll answer these questions by exploring types of composition, rhythm, symmetry, hierarchy, proportion, and optical balance – with visual examples and checklists to help you structure your thinking.

– Rhythm and symmetry
– Dynamic composition
– Open vs. closed composition
– Visual weight
– Gestalt principles
– Visual hierarchy
– Proportions

Here we treat color as a system. We’ll explore hue, saturation, brightness, and luminosity, plus the color wheel and how to spot mistakes. You’ll also get some practical color tips and examples of what not to do.

– Hue, saturation, brightness, luminosity
– The color wheel
– Common color mistakes
– Practical tips

Text is a key part of visual composition, especially in video. We’ll cover how to make type readable, where to find fonts legally, and how to use them ethically and intentionally. We’ll also touch on layout, stylization, and combining typefaces effectively.

– Stylization vs. imitation
– Practicing stylization
– Working with blocks of text
– Placing text in frame
– Readability principles

Everything you’ve learned so far leads up to this. You’ll learn what a Fictional User Interface (FUI) is, how it functions in visual media, and how to design one. We’ll explore FUI types, screen logic, design rules, and walk through a practical step-by-step process.

– What is a Fictional User Interface
– Websites and mobile apps in film
– Key principles of FUI design
– Practical FUI checklist
– Where to start: step-by-step guide

How does your design interact with real footage? In this section, we’ll look at the integration of interfaces and graphic elements into live-action shots – and how it affects the final image. You’ll also get a checklist and learn basic compositing principles.

– How interfaces interact with real environments
– Presenting information clearly
– Key parameters that affect the image
– Fundamentals of compositing

Let’s talk about using AI not as an enemy, but as a creative partner. We’ll cover how to use it ethically, where the human touch still matters, and what happens when AI is used without care or awareness.

– Benefits of using AI in design
– Ethics of AI in creative work
– Risks of poor AI usage

This bonus section is a small guide to strengthening visual thinking. We’ll look at daily exercises, reflection questions, and common beginner mistakes – plus how to fix them.

– Daily visual thinking exercises
– Questions for self-reflection
– Typical design mistakes and how to solve them