Visual content is the basic element of a website today. They catch the attention of target customers and make brands easily remembered. 49% of small businesses believe in the importance of graphic design. It helps them communicate their messages through visual content. This makes graphic designers very much in demand and highly paid. For those considering such a career shift, here are the best free online graphic design courses.
The coolest thing about becoming a graphic designer is not needing a college degree. A University degree in graphics design may be an advantage. But it’s not necessary to become a great graphic artist. The digital design process is much easier. There are lots of free online graphic design courses and tools to design online free. Anybody can take advantage of them to learn the fundamentals. Using one’s creativity, they can level up as they move forward.
Become a Graphic Designer by LinkedIn Learning – Lynda
Lynda is a LinkedIn Learning tool. The tool offers a free online course in becoming a graphic designer. Learners can take the course at their own pace. It’s divided into 11 sections totaling 22 hours of video tutorials created by experts.
- What is Graphic Design? Learn the concept of graphic design, how to use it, and its impact on success.
- Graphic Design Careers: First Steps. Discover the essential skills, techniques, and tools used by graphic designers today.
- Introduction to Graphic Design. Get to know the concepts of image editing, layout, and logo designs. Plus, learn the basics of the following graphic software – Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop.
- Graphic Design Foundations: Layout and Composition. Master the art of creating clearer, eye-catching, and stronger composition and layout design.
- Graphic Design Foundations: Typography. Explore the best practices in selecting alignment, spacing, and text to add impact on visuals.
- Color for Design and Art. Have fun creating color palettes and manipulating them in Adobe tools.
- Learning Logo Design. Solve creative problems by improving your logo design skills for brand identity.
- InDesign QuickStart. Start layout creation and editing using InDesign’s five techniques in less than half an hour.
- Introducing Illustrator. A short course in using Adobe Illustrator in digital designs.
- Introducing Photoshop: Design. A basic Photoshop course on integrating artwork and text plus replacing backgrounds.
- Takes on a Logo Design Challenge. A logo challenge from the owner of Draplin Design Co. Learners can find inspiration from Aaron Draplin as he turns ideas into sketches.
What’s best about this free online graphic design course is the experience of using the leading graphic design tools like InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop. The hands-on exercise can help one advance a career in graphic design.
CalArts Graphic Design Specialization by Coursera
The California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) is a famous game-changer for literary, media, performing, and visual arts. Their free online graphic design course is best for beginners. It teaches the basic skills needed to make advanced graphic designs. The course runs from five to six months at 4 hours per week. It’s divided into five sections:
- Graphic Design History. Get a grasp of how graphic design started and the latest developments.
- Fundamentals of Graphic Design. Understand the process of designing – ideation, graphic creation, and presentation.
- Typography. Learn how to arrange letters and text to make a graphic design visually appealing.
- Image-making. Be proficient in using visuals to communicate a message.
- Capstone Design Project. This certification process challenges learners to prototype designs that solve real-world problems. They must first complete the four courses before they are allowed to take it. A Capstone Project Design Certificate can be added to one’s portfolio.
What’s best about this free online graphic design course are the weekly assignments and practical exercises. They are conducted to apply the knowledge learned for the said week. The learner will also get feedback from the active community and peers. It’s like working as a full-pledge designer.
Graphic Design Elements for Non-Designers Specialization by the University of Colorado Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is an innovative community of learners and scholars famous for its business and marketing support. This free online graphic design course runs for three months at 3 hours per week. The course is divided into four sections:
- Graphic Design Basics. This section focuses on the basic elements, principles, and software overview of graphic design.
- Elements of Graphic Design. Learn the basic elements of graphic design, such as the color theory and types of images.
- Textual Elements of Design. Get to know the graphical elements of graphic design, including fonts, spacing, types, and typography.
- Digital and Print Elements of Design. In this section, learners will apply the knowledge in graphic design that they have learned. They’ll be designing brochures, larger prints, and logos. The course also covered a glimpse of branding and user experience.
What’s best about this free online graphic design course is the automated and peer-review grading. As such, you’ll learn to communicate the principles and strategies of design objectively. The community discussion forum included in the course allows learners to discover unique techniques in graphic design.
These are just three of the best free online graphic design courses offered today. To become a great graphic designer, let’s take the words of Milton Glaser. “There are three responses to a piece of design – yes, no, and wow. WOW is the one to aim for.”
