Self Taught Graphic Design Course – Disclosure: Class Central is supported by the student. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
What comes to mind when I say “graphic design”? For me, it’s the banners for our articles (like the one above). But graphic design can be anything: posters, book covers, YouTube thumbnails, ads, logos, and more. It’s all about unleashing your imagination!
Self Taught Graphic Design Course
In this guide, I have selected the top 10 free and paid online Graphic Design courses for you from over 820 Graphic Design courses, from comprehensive college-level graphic design majors to YouTube tutorials for beginners, there are options for every need!
Graphic Design: Where Art And Technology Meet
But if you want to jump right into the results, here are my top 10 picks. You can click on a course to jump to the corresponding section:
According to the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), graphic design can be defined as “the art and practice of planning and designing ideas and experiences with visual and textual content”. One way to think about it is that graphic design means taking graphic and textual elements and creating meaningful visuals from them (mostly using technology).
Graphic designs often serve a purpose, like commercial advertisements, but they can also be used just as a form of artistic expression. The main intention is to convey a message to the viewer to connect with them.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for graphic designers was $50,710 as of May 2021.
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Employment of graphic designers is expected to grow 3% from now to 2031, while on average, about 24,800 US graphic design jobs are projected each year throughout the decade.
However, while the need for digital graphic design is growing, a decrease in print media may limit opportunities for graphic designers creating print publications.
In a 2021 article, Forbes said that AI is entering the world of graphic design. Technology is bringing sophisticated design tools to us, replicating human human work and providing a more efficient result. However, as long as we make the right use of technology, AI cannot replace the human touch and graphic designers will still be in business.
I love graphic design. Even though I have a technical background, that doesn’t stop me from expressing myself through art. Previously, I created presentations, posters, logos, thumbnails, book covers, birthday cards and nameplates using Adobe Photoshop, Canva and Microsoft PowerPoint. I am constantly influenced by professionals and I aspire to become one of them.
Top 50 Graphic Design Schools And Colleges In The U.s.
I recently started creating banners and visuals in Figma for my BCGs: Email Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, English Grammar, Adobe Lightroom, Photography and this one. After joining Class Central, I was inspired by my friend @kiri, our designer, and together we created banners for my BCGs Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Power BI.
In addition, I am a Guided Project Instructor and Beta Tester on Coursera, having tested several courses before they were officially released. I have taken more than 50 online courses in various disciplines.
My experience as an online student and teacher has given me some perspective on what to look for in an online course. I used my experience to rate each course on this list.
I built this ranking following the tried-and-true methodology I’ve used in previous rankings (you can find them all here). It involves a three-step process:
The 9 Best Ui Design Courses To Consider In 2023
The end result is a unique selection of courses that combine a decade of Class Central data and my own experience as an online learner to try to get the best of both worlds. So far I have spent over 17 hours building this list and will continue to update it.
My top pick for the best online Graphic Design course is Become a Graphic Designer on LinkedIn Learning.
This is a collection of 11 graphic design courses. Each course teaches a specific aspect of graphic design, from basics and technicalities to graphic design software such as Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign. After completing all 11 courses, you will receive a LinkedIn Learning certificate.
The first two courses (short and introductory) offer a free LinkedIn Learning certificate! Check out this link to discover more free courses available for graphic designers on LinkedIn Learning.
How To Become A Self‑taught Ui/ux Designer (2023)
In this introductory course, you will learn about graphic design and how it is used to convey ideas and concepts. You will understand how good design affects your success and that of your company.
In this course you will discover the most important skills, tools and techniques for graphic designers and where to find training to start your career as a graphic designer.
In this course, you will explore key design skills in color, typography and layout. You’ll learn how to apply these important skills to your projects.
In this course, you will understand how, why and when to layout and composition to make your designs stronger, clearer and more attractive.
Diy Branding Design On A $0 Budget (2023)
In this course, you will explore good typographic practices. You’ll learn how to select and use type to add impact, how type is measured, and how factors like spacing and alignment affect your design.
In this course, you will learn about the practical application of color theory. This includes how to create color palettes, manipulate colors in Adobe tools like Photoshop and Illustrator, fix color issues, and much more.
In this course, you will learn about one of the best page layout applications in the world, Adobe InDesign. You will learn to use the 2021 version of Adobe InDesign.
In this course, you will learn to work with Adobe Photoshop 2021. You will explore the main features of Adobe Photoshop, including the main image concepts.
Excellent Free Online Graphic Design Courses
In this course, you will explore the world’s leading illustration and vector drawing application, Adobe Illustrator. You’ll learn how to create artwork for print, the web, or use in other apps.
In this course, you will learn how to design collectively with your team. You’ll learn the latest approaches to creative collaboration so you can create better designs together.
In this course, you will understand everything about colors. You’ll learn how to use the Pantone Color of the Year 2020 – Classic Blue – and other color trends in your projects.
The course is divided into 11 subcourses. Each module involves about 15 to 20 minutes of work. Concepts are taught through a combination of videos, quizzes and hands-on exercises.
Graphic Design 101
Sean Adams, Cara St.Hilaire, Tony Harmer, Sean Adams, Ina Saltz, Jim Krause, David Blatner, Julieanne Kost, Tony Harmer, Denise Jacobs, Nicte Cuevas
If you are interested in this course, you can find more information about the course and how to apply here.
My second choice for the best online Graphic Design course is the free Beginners Guide to Graphic Design course offered by Gareth David Studio on YouTube.
This is one of the most popular graphic design courses on YouTube taught by designer Gareth David. And it’s free! Although aimed at beginners, no matter where you are on your graphic design journey, this course will be very helpful to get you started as a graphic designer.
Graphic Design Skills You Need To Be Hired [infographic]
You will start the course by understanding what graphic design is. You’ll learn about visual elements like line, color, shape, texture, space, form, and typography, and design principles like contrast, hierarchy, alignment, balance, proximity, repetition, simplicity, and function.
Next, you’ll learn whether you should do graphic design and why. You will know what practical skills, psychological skills and talents you need to be a graphic designer, how to get started as a graphic designer by learning and researching, collecting, being inspired, practicing and pursuing education.
Then you’ll take a look at books to read and education needed as a graphic designer, whether you need to go to university, qualifications and equipment needed to be a graphic designer, and programs needed for a graphic designer.
After that you will learn about graphic design portfolio, whether to do print or digital graphic design portfolio, graphic design curriculum, career change to graphic design, starting as a graphic designer applying your skills and finding a job in graphic design.
Learning Graphic Design: 9 Easy First Steps For Beginners
Finally, you will explore interview preparation for being a graphic designer, questions asked and to ask in a graphic design interview, interview tips for being a graphic designer, what the industry is like for a graphic designer, and how to improve your graphic design career and necessary education.
The course is divided into 46 videos. Each video involves about 5-10 minutes of work. Concepts are taught only through video lessons.
My third pick for the best online Graphic Design course is the free Graphic Design offered by the California Institute of the Arts on Coursera.
This four-part specialization will teach you everything you need to know to create compelling designs: process, historical context, and communicating through imagery and typography. These skills will prepare you to pursue formal studies in graphic design, so you can take your graphic design skills even further.
Best Graphic Design Degree Programs Of 2023
In this course, you will learn fundamental graphic design principles such as creating images, typography, composition, working with colors and shapes – fundamental skills that form the foundation in all areas of graphic design.
In this course, you will study, name and measure the characteristics of letters. You will take a look at the history of typefaces,
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