The Complete Guide to Graphic Design
“Design is everything. Everything!” Legendary Graphic Designer Paul Rand’s words are as iconic as his numerous highly recognizable corporate logos of the 1950s and 1960s, including ABC, IBM, and UPS. Even as AI-generated imagery becomes increasingly ubiquitous in Facebook feeds and beyond, graphic design continues to be everything in the 2020s, as the demand for skilled masters of visual communication continues to grow across industries. IBISWorld anticipates that despite the wide availability of Canva and other user-friendly software, profits in the global Graphic Designer market will remain healthy as it continues to grow through the 2020s.
Enrolling in a high-quality graphic design class can be the first step for aspiring Graphic Designers in a rewarding career journey—or for practicing Graphic Designers, an advanced graphic design class can help them level up and remain relevant and in demand in their field. Meanwhile, as appreciation, desire, and need for good design continue to grow throughout businesses across sectors, countless professionals in adjacent fields can benefit their own careers and their place of business alike by growing graphic design skills by attending a graphic design course that fits their specific needs. While no graphic design class can be labeled “the best” option to help every learner meet their personal goals, this article will help you find the best fit for you and your graphic design learning needs.
Why is Learning Graphic Design Useful?
Bookshelves, social media feeds, signage, magazines—the list of places where graphic design takes up our visual space is seemingly endless. With this ubiquity of graphic design, it’s no wonder many learn the tools and techniques of the field to launch a rewarding, in-demand Graphic Designer career. However, studying graphic design offers benefits for professionals and others who don’t necessarily aspire to become Graphic Designers. Some reasons to learn the principles, tools, and techniques of graphic design include:
- Building visual communication skills: From user interface web design to slide deck presentations, graphic design skills can help professionals across industries make their visual communication projects more effective and aesthetically pleasing.
- Developing digital literacy: Graphic design knowledge can help anyone develop their digital literacy in the twenty-first century, an invaluable skill in creating standout social media posts, engaging data visualizations, effective internal reports, and otherwise communicating their ideas clearly across digital formats.
- Enhancing problem-solving skills: Design thinking skills have applications far beyond graphic design, enabling professionals in various sectors to foster creativity and innovation in themselves and within their organizations.
- Personal and creative development: Attending a graphic design class can improve artists’ confidence and understanding of principles like color theory and balance while allowing anyone to improve their aesthetic sensibilities and add more creativity to their daily lives.
Graphic Design Training Locations
Graphic Design Classes Onsite
If you like the idea of blending technical skills with creative expression, look no further than graphic design. It's a versatile skill that opens doors to a wide range of opportunities -- and not just in traditionally creative fields. Graphic design is used extensively in marketing and advertising, which means virtually any company that aims to reach a specific audience or consumer base will need Graphic Designers. From educational and financial institutions to medical systems and even government agencies, graphic design is a worthwhile skill to have. Being in a physical classroom is a great way to learn this skill, especially since many of the concepts require a more hands-on approach to learn. If you want to learn graphic design in an interactive space, consider onsite training to get your career started, to advance your skills, or to diversify your current design skills!
Graphic Design Classes NYC
185 Madison Avenue, 3rd Floor, NYC, New York, 10016
The Big Apple is a marketing and graphic design dream. For proof, look no further than Times Square and the hundreds of billboards and screens placed all around. With the country's largest concentration of global agencies and publishers, learning graphic design in NYC is a no-brainer. Brands like Estée Lauder, Ralph Lauren, and Tiffany & Co. are among the many companies with headquarters in NYC that hire graphic design experts with creative and unique styles, but graphic design is needed beyond traditional retail stores. NYC-based companies in the finance, education, telecommunications, and tourism industries hire Graphic Designers to design their marketing materials, from posters on the subway to social media content. Noble Desktop, a leading training center in NYC, offers graphic design training in person or online, as well as onsite training. They'll arrive at your location and deliver lessons in graphic design techniques, tools, and technologies. Whether you want to learn graphic design from the very beginning or just need to brush up on any previously acquired skills, it's valuable to learn graphic design in a world that increasingly relies on multimodal communication.
Graphic Design Classes San Diego
3904 Groton Street, San Diego, CA, 92110
California's coast is a great place to be -- particularly San Diego. With a variety of industries growing in the area, like tech, healthcare, and defense, and the already well-established industries such as tourism and hospitality, there are graphic design opportunities at every corner. Some of these opportunities are standard, whereas others may be more niche. For instance, tech and healthcare companies will hire Graphic Designers as part of their marketing teams, but even the U.S. Navy, which has a large presence in San Diego, may hire graphic design experts to improve their advertisements, web designs, and social media presence. VDCI offers an online Graphic Design Certification, but they also provide onsite training to those in the area. To improve your visual design and communication skills, graphic design training can help you become more effective in reaching your audience and give you a distinct creative edge.
Graphic Design Classes Washington, D.C.
600 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, D.C., 20024
There's also demand for graphic design professionals in Washington, D.C., particularly in the digital media, branding, and visual communication areas. Many people who work in D.C. as Graphic Designers produce marketing materials, but may also work with agencies on reports and various digital content. Graduate School USA offers a wide range of courses, some in graphic design and related fields. They also offer group training in digital marketing, where graphic design is used extensively. Whether you're aiming for a role in public affairs, communications, or various forms of public service, learning graphic design can position you to thrive in any design or marketing-adjacent setting.
Graphic Design Classes Chicago
29 E. Madison Street, STE 1620, Chicago, IL, 60602
Chicago is a major center for marketing and design professionals mainly because there are so many businesses operating in the region. For example, the Windy City is a well-known finance center, and with so many financial institutions competing for attention, the demand for skilled Graphic Designers is relatively consistent. Graphic design skills are needed for branding materials, both print and digital, as well as websites, presentations, and social media content. Banks, investment agencies, and insurance companies rely on multimodal forms of communication to not only reach their intended audience, but also to convey complex financial information in a way that's easily digestible for the average consumer who may not have as high a financial acumen as a professional in the field would. Practical Programming, located in the Hayworth Building in downtown Chicago, offers classes and onsite training in a variety of topics, so you can get started with your graphic design career right away.
Graphic Design Classes Los Angeles
In Los Angeles, learning graphic design can get you further than in the average city. Major production companies, marketing agencies, and various companies and clients within the entertainment industry hire graphic design professionals to curate social media pages, develop marketing campaigns, and create unique branding materials. L.A. has a notoriously competitive job market, which is why acquiring this skill can set you apart from others in the application pool. Plus, many in the region mix their graphic design training with other relevant skills, such as motion graphics, animation, or web design. In a creative city like L.A., it pays to have a creative skill in your professional toolkit.
Graphic Design Classes Dallas
The Dallas-Fort Worth region is one of the fastest-growing in the U.S., so much so that major tech and telecommunications companies, like AT&T and Texas Instruments, already call the city home. However, other companies are following suit and relocating their corporate headquarters to Dallas. For instance, John Paul Mitchell Systems announced in June that they would relocate their headquarters from Beverly Hills to the Dallas region. With many major companies relocating or starting up in Dallas, it's easy to see how more competition means an increased need for design and marketing professionals to help get the word out and remain relevant against competing businesses. Graphic design is a skill used in all of the major Dallas industries, so it's worth exploring this skill in more depth if you're interested in tech, creative expression, digital design, or marketing.
Graphic Design Classes Boston
Boston has an increasingly large tech presence that draws in graphic design professionals. Beyond the average marketing materials, Graphic Designers can also work on product design, web design, and other forms of branding. Plus, there are opportunities for Graphic Designers to work in publishing as well, since there are numerous educational institutions in the area, such as Harvard University and Boston University. Overall, Boston is a great place to be if you want to expand your graphic design career and go beyond the traditional forms of marketing.
Graphic Design Classes Miami
When you think of Miami, you often think of tourism; people travel from all over just to see those beautiful beaches and experience the never-ending nightlife. It's such a popular place for tourism that two of the biggest cruise lines in the world, Royal Caribbean and Carnival, are based in Miami. Both of these companies, and many others, use graphic design extensively to market their trips and services to potential travelers. Plus, with its proximity to Latin America, Miami offers a unique opportunity that many other states don't, which is a wider range of potential clients. It's worth learning graphic design in such a unique and creative city -- it's a skill that reflects the city itself.
Graphic Design Classes Philadelphia
Philadelphia has a strong economy that's supported mainly by education, healthcare, and finance. These institutions have a considerable demand for design experts who can create publications, social media content, catalogs, and other branding materials. Hospitals especially need Graphic Designers to help create a warm, welcoming presence through their brochures and digital pages. Institutions like the University of Pennsylvania will hire Graphic Designers to further establish the Ivy League as respectable and esteemed. No matter the reason, visual communication is done with intent and purpose, so acquiring graphic design skills can help accomplish the overall goal.
Graphic Design Classes Phoenix
Many of Phoenix's primary industries rely on graphic design to connect with the community as well. For instance, Banner Health, one of the largest medical systems and employers in the state, would hire Graphic Designers, UX/UI Designers, and Web Designers to improve its online presence. Likewise, GoDaddy is based in Phoenix and has some iconic and easily identifiable branding throughout the years. This is thanks in part to graphic design teams and other departments that may focus on digital design. With less competition compared to other cities in the West, Phoenix is a great place to acquire graphic design skills for professional gain.
What Can You Do With Graphic Design Skills?
While all applications of graphic design skills involve creating effective visual communication, professionals use these skills to communicate through dozens of different media. Graphic design’s remarkable versatility allows professionals to adapt their skills to uses ranging from infographics and data visualizations to wayfinding signage and environmental design. Brand identity and logo design, web and user interface design, marketing and advertising materials, and print media and publishing are a few of the most common and in-demand areas where the public sees graphic design in action today.
Brand Identity and Logo Design
From the smallest startups to the largest corporations, standing out in the visually saturated landscape of the twenty-first century is more challenging than ever. The necessity of being seen and immediately recognizable across all branding and marketing materials has made the demand for strong graphic design skills higher than ever. Aspiring Graphic Designers interested in branding and logo design have nothing to fear from low-budget freelancers, depending on user-friendly design applications, as creating logos and other visual elements that represent a company’s identity requires extensive graphic design skills.
Those looking for graphic design classes to help them prepare for work in brand identity and logo design should look for curricula that stress typography and color theory—two essential design principles for understanding how to select visual elements that accurately represent businesses and effectively communicate their values and messages. Vector graphics creation and scalable design techniques are also a must, as logos and other brand designs often appear across screens and print materials of various sizes and formats. Finally, logo design principles and brand style guide development are two graphic design skills specific to this area that aspiring branding experts will want to ensure they develop during their graphic design training.
Marketing and Advertising Materials
While they prominently feature brand identity and logo designs, marketing and advertising materials use visuals to communicate more specific messages and sell products to potential clients and customers. Professionals working on marketing and advertising materials use graphic design skills to transform complex information about services and products into social media posts, posters, magazine ads, and other digital and print advertisements. Whether they work for an agency or in-house for a single organization, Graphic Designers specializing in marketing and advertising materials can count on ample work as businesses across industries will always need their services to create compelling visual communication that engages customers, enhances brand visibility, and drives sales.
Marketing and advertising materials are among the most common media that pay the bills for Graphic Designers, so the content of many graphic design classes is ideal for preparing to launch a career in this area. Some of the most essential graphic design skills for advertising and marketing include design principles like composition and visual hierarchy, layout design, Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, and social media graphics optimization. The basics of motion graphics, ad banner expertise, and persuasive design techniques that depend on some understanding of customer psychology and behavior are a few specialized graphic design skills with a place in a marketing and advertising toolkit.
Web and User Interface Design
Individuals primarily interested in the digital application of graphic design have ample opportunity to apply their skills in the web and user interface design sector. While Graphic Designers will sometimes work directly in this area, Web Designers and UI Designers with graphic design skills more commonly focus on creating visually appealing and user-friendly digital experiences. Whatever their title, a professional working in web and user interface design focuses on creating engaging and intuitive web pages. Graphic design skills are essential for crafting websites and other digital interfaces that are as pleasing to the eye as they are easy to use.
Current Web Designers and UI Designers can take graphic design classes to level up their technically correct designs with mastery of graphic design principles that can help them create color schemes, layouts, and menus that communicate beautifully and effectively with their users. Meanwhile, those learning graphic design to work primarily on websites and user interfaces will want to ensure that, in addition to these principles and the core Adobe Creative Cloud applications for Graphic Designers, they also master the more technical skills of web and UI design. These include a basic understanding of HTML and CSS, interactive design elements like buttons and menus, responsive design, and wireframing and prototyping.
Print Media and Publishing
As undeniable as the rapid growth of the digital landscape is, print media and publishing are still thriving sectors where Graphic Designers are in high demand. Another of the more popular media where professionals apply their graphic design skills today, print media and publishing include selecting and arranging typography and creating layouts, often to support long-form reading. They may also draw and arrange illustrations for printed materials, such as books, magazines, and newspapers.
A solid knowledge of design principles is a must when applying graphic design skills in print media and publishing, as is Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator. Additionally, graphic design skills exclusive to print and publishing are essential for Graphic Designers who plan to work primarily with this medium. Print production knowledge is a must, such as an understanding of CMYK and crop marks, so designers are able to confidently handle prepress file preparation. Magazine and book layout design skills allow designers to organize text and images for readability on a physical page, while understanding areas such as image resolution optimization and paper stock allow Graphic Designers to ensure the final printed products meet quality standards.
How to Decide Which Graphic Design Class is Right for You
The vast number of graphic design classes available today can be overwhelming for those wishing to find the best fit for their specific learning aspirations. Below, learners will find a manageable number of factors to consider so they can choose the graphic design class that most aligns with their circumstances, preferences, and goals with confidence.
Course Content
A learner should start their search for a graphic design class with confidence and clarity in their personal goals before closely examining and comparing course content to find the one that best aligns with their specific aspirations. While some students will need a comprehensive program that provides all the training required to launch a Graphic Designer career, a simpler short course on foundational design principles may be all others need to reach their goals of improving the aesthetics of a current work project. Closely reading course descriptions and syllabi will help prospective graphic design students determine which classes most closely align with their needs. Learners will also want to ascertain whether they meet any course prerequisites, or they can enroll in a beginner-friendly class if they are new to graphic design.
In-Person vs. Online
The variety of course formats available today makes graphic design classes more accessible than ever. For many, the choice between an in-person or online class will be easy to make based on the courses offered in their local area. Meeting in brick-and-mortar classrooms or computer labs, in-person graphic design classes provide the most traditional learning experience. Many will always prefer this learning style when it is an option, but those outside of major metropolitan areas may struggle to find in-person classes that align with their needs and schedules within their geographic regions.
Fortunately, live online graphic design classes provide a very similar learning environment to in-person classes and are available anywhere in the world without the hassle of a commute. Live online classes differ from on-demand classes in that they feature regular meeting times led by a live instructor in a teleconferencing classroom, mirroring the experience of in-person students meeting with a teacher in a traditional classroom. On-demand graphic design classes—also known as asynchronous or self-paced classes—offer the most flexible experience, as they provide a fully prepackaged curriculum for students to work through at their own pace. However, they lack a set schedule of sessions with a live instructor to provide real-time guidance and feedback, which can be a considerable drawback for most learning a topic as nuanced as graphic design.
Budget and Schedule
A learner’s personal budget is an essential factor to keep in mind when looking for the graphic design class that best aligns with their needs and goals. Schools offer graphic design classes at a variety of price points, though prospective students should keep in mind that professional skill development is well worth the necessary expense. On-demand courses can be cheaper as their overhead is less without a live instructor to pay and with less frequent curriculum updates. The school's reputation, the instructor's experience level, the class's length, and the curriculum's depth are some factors that will influence the price of a graphic design class. When looking at comprehensive certificate programs and bootcamps, learners will find that the quality and extent of these programs’ career support can also affect tuition significantly.
The most significant benefit of on-demand classes is their ability to fit any learner’s calendar, though at the expense of the structure and accountability of a set schedule. Short courses on graphic design—whether introductory or advanced—tend to be easily squeezed into most people’s calendars, as these range from a few hours to a few days. However, comprehensive graphic design bootcamps and certificate programs can require extensive planning, as full-time versions of these courses are intensive, requiring students to dedicate their time exclusively to their studies anywhere from four to eight weeks. Those who need to continue to work or attend to other responsibilities while attending a graphic design bootcamp can look for part-time options. Part-time graphic design bootcamps feature the same comprehensive training for aspiring Graphic Designers as full-time ones, but at a slower pace, often stretched to four to eight months of class sessions, meeting two or three evenings a week.
Reviews
When comparing two or more graphic design classes with curricula, locations, price points, and schedules that align with a learner’s needs, former students’ reviews are essential reading material for narrowing down options to the best one. Reviews may reveal the quality of instructors and career support, the exact skill set learners acquired, and the impact of the course on their careers. Integrating these insights with official course information can empower prospective students to confidently identify the best graphic design class for their educational and professional aspirations.