11 Best Free Online Classes for Graphic Design

Are you an intending graphic designer? This blog post on free online classes for graphic design is just for you.

The internet has made life very easy with the introduction of free online classes. Students who want to venture into one field or the other do not need to go through the hurdles of going to classes or attending scheduled lectures to get the information they need.

These days, you just need your mobile phone or laptop and sit at the comfort of your home and learn any course of your choice online. You do not need to spend money on tuition fees or spend four years in design school or any other school to learn these skills.

We have written articles on the free online courses you can do at the comfort of your home and also courses that give out certificates at the end of each Course for free or for a charge.

We also have articles on other design courses asides from graphic designing that you can learn at the comfort of your home too.

There are so many skills to learn for free online but for this blog post, we will be giving detailed information on free online classes for graphic design.

Learning graphic designing doesn’t have to be costly, you can learn it at the comfort of your home at your own pace too.

Graphic design plays a major role in the marketing of any type of business. The ID bureau of labor statistics shows that graphic design keep over 200,000 people employed.

A graphic designer who means business and works well in their field will have a complete edge over their colleagues in the design industry.

What is Graphics Design?

Graphics design also known as visual design is the art of visual communication that combines images, ideas, and words to convey information to an audience.

It is simply a communication design. It is a way of conveying information, visuals, and ideas through design.

This design can be as simple as a business logo or as complex as page layouts on a website. Graphic design Coveys the message of an event, product, or campaign. It is also a means of artistic expression.

Can I Learn Graphic Design Online for Free?

There are so many websites where you can learn graphic designing free of charge. Some websites offer free classes with paid certificates while others are not 100% free. You pay to learn for the class.

Where Can a Graphic Designer Work?

A graphic designer can work in the following areas.

  • Creative director
  • User experience designer (UX)
  • User interface designer(UI)
  • Production artist
  • Product developer
  • Art director
  • Marketing specialist
  • Multimedia artist or animator
  • Freelancer
  • Photo editor
  • Apparel graphic designer
  • Logo designer
  • Packaging designer
  • Web designer
  • Advertising designer
  • Publication designer
  • Brand Identity Developer
  • Visual Image Developer
  • Visual Journalist
  • Broadcast Designer
  • Exhibition designer
  • Fine artist
  • Game artist
  • Interior and spatial designer
  • Medical illustrator
  • Urban designer
  • Animator
  • Art worker
  • Concept artist
  • Creative director
  • Illustrator

How to Become a Graphic Designer

To become a graphics designer, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree in graphic design or any related art course.

If you studied another course, you can gain technical knowledge or skill in graphic designing to meet hiring qualifications or acquire certifications in graphic designing. This gives you an edge over others in the same field as you.

Also, high school students who are interested in graphic designing can take basic subjects in art and design.

Free Online Classes for Graphic Design

Skillshare, Coursera, Udemy, Shaw Academy, and many others are some of the websites that offer students short but in-depth knowledge of graphic designing. Most of their courses are free while some others need a subscription before you can access them.

Below are some of the free online classes for graphic design offered on these platforms. They include:

  • Graphic Design Basics: Core Principles for Visual Design
  • Creating Brand Systems: An Overview of Combining Logos and Type
  • Typography That Works: Typographic Composition and Fonts
  • Learn Graphic Design Online by David Underwood
  • Fundamentals of graphic design
  • Introduction to Topography
  • Professional Logo Design in Adobe Illustrator
  • Canva Graphic Design School
  • Shaw Academy-Adobe Certified Online Graphic Design Course
  • Piktochart-Free Fundamentals of Visual Storytelling
  • Envato-tuts+- Adobe Illustrator for Beginners

1.       Graphic Design Basics: Core Principles for Visual Design

This is a beginner course for anyone with any level of experience in graphic designing. It is a 36 minutes class where how to identify and define the 5 basic principles of graphic designing are learned, how to use a balance to critique your work and how to each of the concepts to your future design projects.

The class contains 9 short videos and it is one of the free online classes for graphic design.

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2.       Creating Brand Systems: An Overview of Combining Logos and Type

This course is offered by skillshare and taught by Mike ski and Jesse jay. They are designers from True hand. This seven video course shows students what a great logo and brand design is supposed to look like.

In this class, students will be taught how to create a dynamic logo that can be used for different applications.

The class lasts for 18 minutes and it is one of the free online classes for graphic design.

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3.       Typography That Works: Typographic Composition and Fonts

This course is also offered by skillshare and taught by Ellen Lipton a curator of temporary design at Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum.

This course teaches you the importance of good typography and how it will be beneficial to your clients. You’ll also learn Sans and Structure, Serif and Details, and Slab and Customisation.

It is a 36 minutes class with 10 videos and it is one of the free online classes for graphic design.

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4.       Learn Graphic Design Online by David Underwood

This course is offered by Coursera and taught by David Underwood. It is one of the free online classes for graphic design that is available.

During this lesson, students will learn how to generate outstanding reports, resumes, PowerPoint presentations, and presentations using refined techniques.

The class has four modules that will be taught for 27 Hours.

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5.       Fundamentals of graphic design

This course is taught by Michael Worthington, a member of the faculty at the California Institute of Arts.

He will put you through the basics of visual, rhythm, and pattern in a design. You will also learn how to make your images using the available tools in your project.

It is a 4 weeks course that will take 15 hours to finish and it is one of the free online classes for graphic design.

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6.       Introduction to Topography

This course is also offered by Coursera and taught by Anther Kiley, an LA-based graphic designer.

This course is for students who already have a solid foundation on the basic principles of graphic designing, and had access to Adobe InDesign and how to make use of the tools there.

The course gives an in-depth study on the different areas of topography in graphic designing.

It is a 4 weeks course that takes 8 hours to complete. It is also one of the free online classes for graphic design.

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7.       Professional Logo Design in Adobe Illustrator

This course is offered by Udemy and taught by Rawson Uddin. It is an advanced course on Adobe Illustrator and therefore the student much have basic knowledge on how to use the Adobe Illustrator application.

A certificate of completion is issued at the end of this course and throughout the course, you will learn different topics that will help you design your logo or even start a logo design business of your own.

The course contains 45 lectures for 2 hours 22 minutes. It is one of the free online classes for graphic design.

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8.       Canva Graphic Design School

Canva is a graphic design application for students who don’t have much experience with graphic design to learn the basics of graphic design with useful hints.

This is a great beginner course for inexperienced and intending graphic designers. Their classes are divided into different modules for easy learning and understanding.

It is also one of the free online classes for graphic design.

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9.       Shaw Academy-Adobe Certified Online Graphic Design Course

Shaw academy also offers free online classes for graphic design to students who need to learn all there is to graphic design.

The courses are free for the first 4 weeks and if you wish to continue, you have to pay for them. But if you don’t wish to continue, You can decide to cancel the subscription after the 4 weeks have elapsed.

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10.   Piktochart-Free Fundamentals of Visual Storytelling

This course is focused majorly on Visual storytelling. This is also another aspect of graphic designing. Students get to learn how to create beautiful posters, flyers, presentations, and slides.

The course is taught by Sarah Kim and it is divided into 7 lessons which are taught for 1 hour 30 minutes. It is one of the free online classes for graphic design.

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11.   Envato-tuts+ – Adobe Illustrator for Beginners

This is a free Adobe Illustrator course taught by Daniel Walter Scott for beginners who want to learn the basics of graphic designing.

If you have no idea how to use the Adobe illustrator application, this course will teach you how to make use of it and develop illustrative and design skills.

There are different modules and you get to choose the ones you specifically want. It contains 20 lessons and lasts for 3 hours 30 minutes. It is also one of the free online classes for graphic design.

Take Course

Thanks to the internet, you can become a graphic designer in the comfort of your home and at no cost at all. We hope you had a swell time reading this article. Check our website study abroad nations for more related blog posts.

Free Online Classes for Graphic Design – FAQs

Can I learn graphic designing at home?

Yes, you can. You just need your mobile phone or laptop and you’ll learn graphic designing in the comfort of your home.

How much do graphic designers earn?

Graphic designers earn an estimated median annual salary of $31,000-$93,000.

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