Top 8 Graphic Design Courses for Beginners

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Begin your graphics design career with these easy to access and all-inclusive online courses. We have scoured the internet to find you some of the top-rated courses on the web at the moment.

These courses are aimed at anyone considering a new career opportunity in graphic design. The content covered should adequately prepare you with a strong foundation in visual communications, as well as the technical skills and creative knowledge required to make a start as a design professional.

Most organizations will require the skills of a professional graphic designer at one point or another. Your role is to use your ability of conveying meaning through visual elements to enhance the company’s brand and its visual appearance.

The craft of creating visual content that effectively communicate a message requires great skill. Skills such as, page layout techniques, applying visual hierarchy, which pictures and typography to use, logically displaying elements, creating interactive designs, and optimizing the viewer’s experience.

Here are 8 graphic designer online courses for you to begin adding some awesome design skills to your skillset.

DIPLOMA IN GRAPHIC DESIGN | JOHN ACADEMY

John Academy is a well-renowned company who are known for offering awarding body accredited courses for anyone looking to take their professional lives to the next level. This Diploma in Graphic Design is definitely no exception.

The course offers the full package and was designed to help you learn the basic techniques in Adobe Photoshop, Illustration, understanding Typography and In-design in order to establish your confidence in graphic design and to begin your professional journey.

You will gain a background understanding into what graphic design is, different terms, tips, and tools used to pick colors, as well as gaining knowledge of the principles and elements of design (the building blocks of graphic design).

All learners are welcome to undertake the qualification, provided you are over the age of 16 and have a good understanding of English.

The course covers over 8 hours of video content, followed by a short final examination. There is also 24/7 student support available for any burning questions you may have.

What the reviews are saying:

“I decided to try john academy while waiting for open university degree course to start and I was very impressed with what it had to offer as the prices were so cheap I didn’t think it would be up to much but I am now on my 6th course and cannot fault them and its accredited so it’s not a pretend certificate it’s a recognized body and qualifications” – Michelle Wright

“A well-polished course and the contents are very very updated, upgraded and rich.” – Anna Forster

GRAPHIC DESIGN MASTERCLASS – LEARN GREAT DESIGN | UDEMY

This is the ultimate graphic design course offered by Udemy and is one of their bestselling courses.

The course was developed by Lindsay Marsh and covers exciting aspects such as Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Design Theory, Branding and Logo Design. Lindsay is an industry expert with over 15 years of experience in creating brand experiences for clients.

Over 16 hours of on-demand video content, you will master important graphic design skills through her and develop the confidence needed to work through the entire package design process on your own!

Lindsay also offers all of her students the opportunity to join her Facebook group which is dedicated to helping her students thrive and start new freelance design businesses.

By the end of the course you should be able to understand graphic design basics and theory paired with real world projects and applications, techniques and execution of logo design and branding, and even learning a few of the upcoming design trends for 2020 and how to create them.

If you’re interested in creating compelling and excellent designs, as well as looking for a solid graphic design course with the depth of an intermediate course, then this is definitely the course for you!

What the reviews are saying:

“This course was exactly what I needed to reignite my creativity and passion for illustration and design. Highly recommend this course for anyone who wants to learn artistic software, but doesn’t know where to start.” – Matthew David Walker Jones

“Great course The best way to start a design carrier.

The instructor is clear, patient and friendly, showing you real projects and trends. There is always a field to improve, you will rarely find looking in applications to follow certain projects. The instructor proves to be a master in the field, and most importantly, She loves design.” – Andre Tobar

TCH030: IMAGE DESIGN AND EDITING | K12

The K12 Image Design and Editing course was created for all students who want to create compelling, professional-looking graphic designs and photos.

Throughout this course you will learn the basics of composition, color, and layout while applying your newfound skills to hands-on projects. This allows you to use your creativity while developing fundamental design skills in an interactive and exciting manner.

You will make use of GIMP software to create your very own graphic design portfolio with a wide variety of awesome projects that require the mastery of technical topics such as, working with layers and masks, adding special effects, and effectively using typefaces to create a visual impact. You will also develop your own skills needed to create and edit images in your own way.

The course runs for the duration of one semester and you have the option of enrolling for the course through a school of your choice, or as an independent study.

Be sure to check out this incredible opportunity to begin your graphic design journey!

BEGIN YOUR DESIGN CAREER – COURSE BUNDLE | E-COURSES 4 YOU

Total Training have brought you an all-inclusive design course bundle in order to kick start your design career.

With this Begin Your Design Career course bundle you will get professional guidance on navigating a career in design, insider tips and advice on how to build your portfolio, how to gain clients, managing jobs, and so much more!

The course covers over 40 hours of expert instructions on how to begin and excel on this journey, as well as essential guidance that will lead you on a successful path with in-demand skills and techniques.

You will learn important theories and design concepts and how to make use of some of the most popular design tools used in the industry today, such as Adobe Photoshop CC, InDesign, After Effects, etc. Every step of your journey will be met with advice from both recent students and career professionals, offering insider advice on making money by doing what you love!

If you are looking to begin your career in the design industry and would like a leg up when it comes to making your mark and building your very own business, then this is definitely the course for you.

GRAPHIC AND WEB DESIGN DIPLOMA | JOHN ACADEMY

Graphic and Web Design have become two of the most demanding areas in the world of technology and the demand continues to rise! This Graphic and Web Design Diploma Course was designed to tailor the needs of any individual looking to pursue this lucrative career.

Throughout the course you will learn valuable skills such as, how to effectively use Photoshop and Illustrator in designing logos, how to design a web page and e-commerce website, landing page plugin and more. The course is broken up over 69 units and covers over 2 days’ worth of video content and quizzes. There is also 24/7 support available via email for all students.

Anyone from any academic background is welcome to enroll for this course, provided you are over the age of 16 years and have a proficient understanding of the English language.

Be sure to check out this exciting and jam packed course that will surely give you the head start you need to begin your design career.

What the reviews are saying:

“The amount of effort and hard work given behind this course is extremely commendable. This is great and I am so happy and elated.” – Charlie Thorpe

“I am very satisfied with the likings of this course. This is a well decisive and very well accredited course.” – Kieran Sims

“Kudos to the people who developed the course material for its new updated techniques.” – Kiera Wade

GRAPHIC DESIGN ONLINE SHORT COURSE | THE UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN (UCT)

This all-encompassing Graphic Design short course from the University of Cape Town (UCT), has been provided to you in order to equip you with the technical skills and creative knowledge required to kick start your design profession.

The course follows a self-paced learning approach and runs for a period of 10 weeks, excluding a short orientation, and requires approximately 7-10 hours of committed work each week.

You will learn valuable skills in Adobe Illustrator, working with digital images, and how to choose the most effective typefaces in order to create compelling content for both print and web platforms. Along with gaining incredibly insightful knowledge about design and being proficient in the relevant software, you will also gain insights into the business of graphic design and how to create professional portfolios.

On completion of this course, the skills acquired will be sure to set you apart from the rest.

You will have a much deeper understanding of visual communication and aesthetic principles, the necessary skills required to execute design projects, the knowledge required to produce captivating designs for both print and digital mediums, and the practical business skills that can then be applied in a design-orientated career.

GRAPHIC DESIGN WITH PHOTOSHOP (SOFTWARE INCLUDED) | ED2GO

Get the best possible graphics design training with this well recognized training course that has been designed to teach you the fundamentals of Adobe Photoshop.

Adobe Photoshop is considered the gold standard for image creation and editing. The course will bring you graphic design basics, while building your skills step-by-step.

You will also learn to master the terms and processes used in the professional field, understanding the rules and standards for effective graphic design, and discovering strategies for creating graphics that will effectively convey a desired message, style, and tone.

The course runs for 9 months, with approximately 200 course hours. During this time you will be given the opportunity to practice your skills on real-world examples, challenges, and thought-provoking assignments, as well as determining a client’s needs and designing marketing materials to meet these needs.

You will also have the opportunity to create your own designs and assemble them in an online portfolio showcasing your professional skills.

If you are looking for a course that will help you create images that stand apart from the competition, while positioning you for a rewarding career in graphic design, then this is the course for you!

THE COMPLETE GRAPHIC DESIGN THEORY FOR BEGINNERS COURSE | UDEMY

Another one of Udemy’s best-selling courses where you can learn the theory of graphic design and the basic principles of color theory, typography, branding, logo design, layout, and so much more!

This course is proudly brought to you by Lindsay Marsh and Jeremy Deighan through Udemy. Lindsay and Jeremy are industry professionals who form an important part of the Udemy team of instructors. They are both looking to help you build your knowledge base and to achieve your goals.

Over 6 hours of on-demand video content you will learn intermediate and advanced terminology that can be incorporated in graphic design, user interfaces, mobile app design, logo design, t-shirt design, and other digital or print mediums. The course will equip you with the skills required to work with programs such as Adobe Photoshop CC and Canva.

These skills are transferable and can be applied to many other applications, both digital and physical.

Many people looking to become a designer don’t understand the basic fundamentals of design and it can take years for them to piece together the different ideas and to truly begin to understand how it works. By the end of this course you will have a solid understanding of the important foundational aspects of design.

No matter what your experience level, whether you’re a beginner or an expert, this is the perfect course for learning graphic design theory in the most effective way possible.

What the reviews are saying:

“This course is great for beginners and intermediate designers. I have studied graphic design for a while now but doing this course I have learned a lot I did not know. For example, the different terms for text (kerning, orphan, leading, etc), why certain fonts do and don’t work together, color theory and much more. I am excited to finish this course and take others from the instructors.” – Stephen Pearson

“I really enjoyed taking this course. I have learnt a great deal from both Lindsay and Jeremy. Thank you both for an enjoyable experience. Looking forward to the next courses! Keep up the great work.” – Gulsin Akkaya