22 Best Free Online Graphic Design Courses [April 2024 Update] (2024)

Our Favorite Free Online Graphic Design Course

Graphic Design

Graphic Design

The course is in English and has subtitles in 9 other languages. Effective visual communication is the primary key to attract audience, build business relationships and to assist in closing sales. You will learn how to apply design ideas to your own work. In the first week you will be exposed to the importance of recognizing good designs and the creation of professional designs. You will build your design vocabulary and find inspiration in doing so. In the second week you will look at an empty rectangle or blank canvas. You will learn how to navigate this space using a grid, appropriate margins and negative space. You will also look at type, colour, images, and graphic elements used in design. In the third week you will learn some tricks of the trade enabling you to compose your work. The last week you will learn to accept and work with criticism. Erworbene Fertigkeiten: Graphics, Typography, Presentation and Graphic Design. Dauer: Approx 29 hours over 4 weeks. Bewertung: 4.8/98%

What are the Top Free Online Graphic Design Courses

After much research on all online Graphic Design Courses on offer, we have found the top 22 Graphic Design courses to make it easier for you to choose

22 Interactive Computer Graphics

Interactive Computer Graphics

This course is in English and is an intermediate course. It has subtitles in 10 other languages. Computer graphics supports visual problem solving and the interactivity essential to draw out the users creativity. Thus course introduces interactive tools used in graphics with their design rationales and algorithms. You will look at examples of enhancements to graphical user interfaces, authoring tools for 2D drawings and 3D animations as well as interactive computer-aided design systems. Demonstrations and assignments will give you insight and skills to design and use these tools for your own problems. Over this course you will explore graphic user interfaces 2D drawings and animations, 3D geometric modelling, deformation and animation, fabrication, computer-aided design and real world interaction. Erworbene Fertigkeiten: 3D Computer Graphics, Algorithms, Robotics and Computer Graphics. Dauer: Approx 28 hours over 7 weeks. Bewertung: 4.1/94%

21 Fundamentals of Graphic Design: Build your own Logo Design

Fundamentals of graphic design

This is a guided project in English in which your will learn to create a logo for your brand incorporating colour, text and images to reflect your identity and to convey your business message to the audience. The logo will be very simple yet attractive, inviting and comprehensible using the principal of negative space. You will learn about colour psychology and practice the basics of Inkscape as a design software.

No download is required and is done on desktop only. Erworbene Fertigkeiten: Logo, Inkscape and graphic Design. Dauer: Approx 1,5 hours. Bewertung: 4.2

20 Creative and Design Digital Products using Canva

Create and design Digital Products using Canva

This is an advanced course in English and best done on a desktop. In this free guided project you will create a workbook for digital courses and create a simple e-book cover using graphic design principals and to create digital journal pages. By the end of the course you will be able to create a template for digital products that you can sell using Canva. You will be taught to incorporate colors, images and other design elements. It will also include intermediate to advanced skills in using the free version of Canva. You will create high quality digital products to display your own design and build a business without a huge capital outlay. Erworbene Fertigkeiten: Marketing and Graphic Design. Dauer: Approx 2 hours. Bewertung: 4.5

19 Use Canva to Create Social Media Visuals for Business

Use Canva to create social media visuals for business

This course is in English and is a beginner-friendly course. By the time you have complete this course you will have created 6 social media visuals (a Facebook cover, a Facebook post, a YouTube thumbnail, YouTube channel art, an Instagram post, and a Twitter header) for your business. An introduction to canva and how to create social media visuals from step 1 are included in the course, while keeping one business theme in mind and preparing them for publishing. A video will walk you through these steps: creating your Canva account, getting to know the dashboard, creating your Facebook cover and preparing it for publishing. Next you will create a Facebook post and prepare for publishing. You will create your YouTube thumbnail and prepare for publishing, and create your YouTube channel art. You will be taught how to add social media links to your YouTube channel art and prepare it for publishing and finally, you will create an Instagram post and create a Twitter header which will both be prepared for publishing. Erworbene Fertigkeiten: Digital Marketing, Graphic Design,and Social Media Marketing. Dauer: Approx 2 hours, no downloaded needed. Bewertung: 4.5

18 Introduction to Imagemaking

Introduction to Imagemaking

This course is in English and has subtitles in 8 different languages. If you are a student new to Imagemaking, or if you are a serious maker, Imagemaking is a very exciting area of graphic design coming out of practice and process. For the sake of the course some structure has been applied to our investigation, however for the most part Imagemaking is loose and unstructured. The only rule is that you will not become a graphic designer by watching videos alone. The focus is on you making, and you are expected to apportion time and energy to the activity. By the time course is complete you will have experimented with a lot of materials and techniques to make images for graphic design: You will have expanded your vocabulary in making and talking about work and you will have learnt to manipulate and arrange images to create compositions resulting in the design and production of an image-based book. The first part of the course is dedicated to experimentation and exploration of image making to build your vocabulary and you will create articles that are expressive, meditative, or design-y, as a means of experimenting and trying out media. Second half of the course deals with using the images to deliberately and intentionally carry meaning and communication through their relationships in the design. Erworbene Fertigkeiten: Adobe Indesign, Art, Creativity and Graphics. Dauer: Approx 12 hours over 4 weeks. Bewertung: 4.5/98%

17 Create Animated Social Media Posts using Canva

Create Animated

The course is in English and is an intermediate course. IN this free guided project you will develop an animated social media post using Canva, you will also learn to utilize the elements tool to create a backdrop for your social media post. You will have prepared an animated social post media post using the text tool. Animated posts are prime graphic designs pulling the attention of your followers and customers to the information you are sharing. Finally, you will be taught how to plan and organize your design ideas and utilize graphic design tools as you create your animated post. Erworbene Fertigkeiten: Social Media, Marketing and Graphic Design. Dauer: Approx 2 hours, no downloads required. Bewertung: 4.6

16 Branding the Creative Journey Specialization

Branding: The Creative Journey Specialization

This course is in English a beginner course with subtitles in 8 different languages. Closely linked to your graphic design journey, branding concepts work together hand in hand. This course provides you with the tools to enable understanding of brand behaviour, to understand language, and to learn about the rational and emotional element behind the brand. The course will help you to understand the language of images and with the amount of audio visual advertising you receive daily it makes it difficult for new brands to emerge through the noise. Finally, you will be taught to understand branding effort in the contents of customer experience. When creating brands strategic thinking is a must and it is about co-creation and discussion between audience, customer, and user. Brands are a personality, culture, and story of an organization ie The intangible elements that form it. The course includes a project to give you the opportunity to apply your newly learnt skills. Erworbene Fertigkeiten: Creativity, Journalism, Branding, Communication, CX, Advertising, Logo, Brand, Brand Identity, Employment, Leadership and Management. Dauer: Approx 5 months at a pace of 2 hours per week – 4 week course. Bewertung: 4.6

15 The Language of Design: Form and Meaning

The Language of Design

This course is in English and is a beginners course. It has subtitles in 8 different languages. One of the key integral parts of the designers’ process is critique which is not only a determination as to the success of the design but it is also how your work is moved forward. Further, it is a space where other opinions are brought into the design process. The course will expand your vocabulary so that you can be clearer and more considered in your critique of graphic designs. Through this expanded vocabulary and the provided Critique and Framework you will practice describing how well design function works based on pacific criteria. By distilling this skill you will increase your communication ability with peers and colleagues and clients about design. This course is perfect fro practicing graphic designers of all levels, future and current students of art and design, teachers and stakeholders in design projects who need to communicate effectively with designers. Erworbene Fertigkeiten:Visual communication and Graphic Design. Dauer: Approx 8 hours over 4 weeks. Bewertung: 4.6/98%

14 Create Eye – Catching Logos using Canva for an ebrand

Create Eye -Catching Logos

The course is in English and is an intermediate course. This is a 2 hour long guided projected where you will learn about logos and the design process followed to create one according to this specifications given in a project brief. You will apply your knowledge to develop different logos from scratch and you will have an opportunity to create the design that aligns best with your brand and prepare them for publishing. You will incorporate colour, shapes, fonts, and further design elements. Your design will be shareable across social media, team, organizations, and audience who you wish to market to. A high quality, outstanding logo is the perfect way to present your design expertise and build your brand without a large capital outlay. The course will include intermediate to advanced log design and branding skills using the 3 Canva. You should have an outstanding of basic design principals, colour theory, and be familiar with working with templates in Canva. Acquired: Logo, Banding, Graphic Design, Creative Thinking, Design and Product. Dauer: Approx 2 hours – no downloading necessary. Bewertung: 4.7

13 Print and Digital Elements of Design: Branding and User Experience

Print and Digital Elements of Design

This course is a beginners course in English and has subtitles in 8 different languages. Graphic design can be delivered in painted form, digital form or both. This course looks at working with creative professionals to get the best out of a design which is to be used in print media like Logos, Brochures, and larger printed projects which will carry over into the digital world of websites and social media. You will also learn about your user experience and how to keep the end result in mind when working with creatives. By the end of the course you will relate to graphic designers, printers, and web designers optimally; understand the printing elements of graphic design and finally observe online elements of graphic design. Erworbene Fertigkeiten: Graphic Design, Print and Digital Elements. Dauer: Approx 10 hours over 3 weeks. Bewertung: 4.7

12 Graphic Design Elements for Non-Designers Specialization

Graphic Design Elements

This beginners course in English and has subtitles in 8 different languages. Students should have computer proficiency and access to computer programs or online sites to work on projects. Basic graphic design elements, colour theory, images, publication design and layout techniques will be covered and you will also learn about typography, the creativity process, brain storming and how to discuss and critique your design in a professional environment. You will, through page layout software and online sites, incorporate and manipulate text, colour, photographs and images. This course is paramount if you want to learn about design process, would like to work with a team of designers and be able to speak their language. As the learning project, you will design a business card of flyer, an advertisem*nt, a brochure and an outline for a website. Erworbene Fertigkeiten: Textual Elements and manipulation, Colour Theory, Online Design, Graphic Design, Print Design and Textual Element. Dauer: Approx 4 hours per week over 4 months. Bewertung: 4.7

11 Graphic Design Specialization

Graphic Design Specialization

This course is in English and is a beginner level with subtitles in 9 different languages. Graphic design surrounds us in nearly everything on screen and in print and is always composed of images and words to create a communication goal. This course is teaches you the essential skills needed to make advanced graphic design: Process, Historical context, and Communication through Image – making and Typography. You will be required to complete a project that applies the skills taught in this course. You will learn a set of formal and conceptual tools for creating and communicating in graphic design. This skill set will serve as an adequate precursor to any formal study in graphic design, interface design, motion graphics, and editorial design. Erworbene Fertigkeiten: Visual Communication, Branding Communication, Graphic Design, Art History, Typography, Creativity, Graphics, Design Theory, Colour Theory, Adobe Illustrator, History and Adobe Indesign. Dauer: Approx 3 hours per week for 6 months. Bewertung: 4.7

10 Design and Make Infographics (Project-Centered Course)

Design and Make Infographics

This course is in English and has subtitles in 8 different languages. In this course you will create a content-rich Infographic on your own topic using Adobe (which is downloaded for free for 30 days trial) You many choose to create a visual picture of data from the sporting world, entertainment, science or environmental issues, a real estate trend, or a development from your personal life. The infographic will engage your audience and convey the information through effectively using the elements of design like typography, colour and structure. You will learn what an infographic is and what makes a good one, working within your own limits or working with a team; why infographics are effective; 6 steps to plan an effective infographic and using maps, charts and flow charts and how to use them effectively in building your infographic. You will also cover how data can be visualized to give it more structure and clearer understanding. You will also acquire some free or reasonably priced online tools for making different types of infographics. Erworbene Fertigkeiten: Infographics, Illustration, Communication Design and Graphic Design. Dauer: Etwa 9 Stunden über 4 Wochen. Bewertung: 4.7/97%

09 Graphic Elements

Graphic Elements of Design

This is a beginners course in English and has subtitles in 8 different languages. This course will focus on the examination and exploration of the various image and graphic elements. Initially color theory will be looked at to distinguish between CMYK, Pantone and RGB colour options and how they are used. Thereafter, the various types of images used in print and digital projects will be reviewed and finally logo designs will be looked at to determine what makes for the best type of image and graphic element for Corporate branding and image. In week 1 you will understand color theory; in week 2 classification of images and graphics will be covered: week 3 is combining images with type.

Erworbene Fertigkeiten: Color Theory, Online Design, Textual Elements, Graphic Design and Print Design

Dauer: Approx 12 hours over 3 weeks. Bewertung: 4.7/96%c

08 Ideas from History of Graphic Design

Ideas from the History of Graphic Design

This course is a beginners level in English and has subtitles in 9 different languages. This is a very condensed course covering 4 key periods from the history of Western design. The development of design as a recognized practice is followed together with why things appear the way they do and how designers approach design problems. You will explore the process of how graphic design moved to become today’s creative demanding career choice. The course is taught from a contemporary design viewpoint connecting ideas which formulated today’s practice. The relationship between words and pictures is observed through social and cultural contexts technologies and politics etc. In week 1 you will look at early mass marketing, week 2 – The Bauhaus, week 3 covers modernism in America and the 4^th week graphic design radicalism. Erworbene Fertigkeiten: Art History, History, Graphic Arts and Graphic Design. Dauer: Etwa 10 Stunden über 4 Wochen. Bewertung: 4.7/98%

07 Character Design for Video Games

Character Design for Video Games

This course is in English and has subtitles in 8 different languages. If you are wanting to create a successful character design that can be applied to video games and the like then this is the course you need. The 1^st week takes an indepth look into some basic concepts for successful character design and each of the remaining 3 weeks are structured like a master class where you will observe 3 professional character designers working in the studio. Who will they be? Andy Ristaino (Adventure Time), Jacky Ke Jiang (Journey), and Robertryan Cory (SpongeBob SquarePants). These designers will each take on 2 different design challengers and address the issues in designing characters for games for example movement, expression, and limitations. At the end of each week you will be able to try out the concepts from that weeks lesson on your own characters. This course is useful for those interested in film animation, TV, games, and suitable for learners of any drawing capabilities.

Erworbene Fertigkeiten: Character Design, 2 D and 3 D modes. Dauer: Approx 9 hours over 4 weeks

Bewertung: 4.7/99%

06 UI/UX Design Specialization

UI/UX Design Specialization

This beginner level course is in English and has subtitles in 8 different languages. This specialization offers a design based approach to visual communications the user experience design and is a practical, skilled-based instruction rather then one focused on marketing or programming. The 4 courses cover all stages of UI/UX development from the research to defining strategy, scope and information to develop site map and wireframe in the project. You will be learning the latest, best practice and conventions in UX design to apply when creating effective and compelling experiences for websites and apps. User interface and user experience design skills are high in demand. The knowledge you will learn here is applicable to a variety of careers. Students enrolled in this specialization will be eligible for an extended 1 month free trial of a full suite of UX tools from Optimal Workshop. You will participate in several short visual and non-visual exercises to apply the knowledge taught.By the end of this specialization course you will have compiled a digital prototype with simulated functionality as well a comprehensive plan for a complexed website. Erworbene Fertigkeiten: Website Wireframe, Strategy, User Interface Design (UI Design), User Experience (UX), User Research, Graphic Design, Adobe XD, Adobe Illustrator, InVision, Marvel, Adobe Indesign, Treejack. Dauer: Approx 4 months to complete – approx 5 hours per week – 4 courses. Bewertung: 4.8

05 Introduction to Typography

Introduction to Typography

This course is a beginners level in English with subtitles in 8 different languages. Manipulating the visual form of language to enhance and control its meaning has become an art form. This is typography, it is an essential skill required for all graphic designers and predates modern design by approximately 500 years. This development of typography has resulted in its own specific rules, conventions, and arcane terminology. But it is an exciting area for expression and invention. In this course you will learn the terminology and measuring system used to describe type, explore how different type faces tell stories , conduct an exercise and finally design a full scale typographic poster.

Erworbene Fertigkeiten: Creativity, Adobe illustrator, History, Graphics and Adobe Indesign. Dauer: Etwa 9 Stunden über 4 Wochen. Bewertung: 4.8/98%

04 Google UX Design Professional Certificate

Google UX Design

This course is beginner level in English requiring no degree or prior experience to enter. UX designers are very highly sought after, and focus on the interaction that users have with websites, apps and physical objects. They make these interactions useful, enjoyable, and accessible. These 7 courses will give you the skills required to prepare you for an entry level job. You will create design on paper and in design tools like Figma, and Adobe XD, by the end of the program you will have a UX portfolio which includes 3 end-to-end projects. You will be receiving over 200 hours of instruction with many practice-based activities and assessments simulating real-world UX scenarios critical for success in the workplace. You will learn to complete the design process from beginning to end. You will also become proficient in Figma and Adobe XD through a mix of videos, readings, assessments, and activities.

Erworbene Fertigkeiten: User Experience, UX Research, Wireframe, Prototype, User Experience Design, Usability Testing, Mockup, Figma, Adobe XD, and finally UX Design Jobs. Dauer: Approx 10 hour per week for 6 months – 7 courses. Bewertung: 4.8

03 Fundamentals of Graphic Design

Fundamentals of Graphic Design

This is a beginner level course in English with subtitles in 7 languages. Words and ;pictures are the essential of graphic design, and these elements the bulk of the content in both the digital and printed world. Graphic design is all around us. The practice of graphic design is becoming more and more important in our culture as design and designs become more visible and prevalent in our society. You will learn to implement the principals of color being visual, rhythm, and pattern. You will also learn to use scale, weight, direction, texture and space. You will learn to experiment with letters and letter forms and typeset text. Finally, you will create your own series of images using different image making techniques. The course will cover the following items: Fundamentals of Imagemaking, Fundamentals of Typography, Fundamentals of Shape and Colour, and finally Fundamentals of composition. Erworbene Fertigkeiten: Colour Theory, Creativity, Graphics, and Design Theory. Dauer: Approx 15 hours over 4 weeks. Bewertung: 4.8/98%

02 Innovation Through Design: Think, Make, Break, Repeat

Innovation Through Design Think, Make, Break, Repeat:

This beginner course is in English with subtitles in 8 different languages. Design has evolved to become a innovative pathway for solving complexed, nonlinear problems. It is no longer limited to singular specific domains. Design is helping people with abilities to deal with uncertainty, complexed issues, and failure. You will learn how design can be used as a method of thinking to provide strategic and innovative advantage in your profession. If you curious about design and translating the process and tools of design thinking into new opportunities, then this course is designed for you. Over the 5 weeks you will examine, apply and practise design process: Think, Make, Break, Repeat. Through the medium of introducing theoretical concepts and case studies you will investigate design as learning about the context, building prototypes as representations and testing the potential solutions. By moving through the process quickly and often you will learn to improve ideas and develop new insights. You will be learning from practising designers and leaders in design. As well as when completed this course will have equipped you with practical tools and techniques to apply within your own professional context. You will be able to translate problems into solutions and opportunities and to innovate through design. Erworbene Fertigkeiten: Graphic Design. Dauer: Approx 16 hours over 5 weeks. Bewertung: 4.8/98%

01 Graphic Design

Graphic Design
The course is in English and has subtitles in 9 other languages. Effective visual communication is the primary key to attract audience, build business relationships and to assist in closing sales. You will learn how to apply design ideas to your own work. In the first week you will be exposed to the importance of recognizing good designs and the creation of professional designs. You will build your design vocabulary and find inspiration in doing so. In the second week you will look at an empty rectangle or blank canvas. You will learn how to navigate this space using a grid, appropriate margins and negative space. You will also look at type, colour, images, and graphic elements used in design. In the third week you will learn some tricks of the trade enabling you to compose your work. The last week you will learn to accept and work with criticism. Erworbene Fertigkeiten: Graphics, Typography, Presentation and Graphic Design. Dauer: Approx 29 hours over 4 weeks. Bewertung: 4.8/98%