Nate Update

Check out this article with 50 totally free graphic design lessons by Danny Outlaw, from his Outlaw Design Blog. It touches upon some of the basic elements of design, and expands into user interface design, logos, hierarchy, typography, color theory, and much much more.

Essential reading if you are a newbie, or in need of a refresher, like I did.

http://psd.tutsplus.com/articles/web/50-totally-free-lessons-in-graphic-design-theory/