Do you want to start your design journey, or do you just need to take your current skills to the next level? Today, there are no barriers to gaining knowledge in this exciting field because you can enroll in various online courses.
All you need to do is pick the course that best suits your current design skills and your goals for future career development.
I have searched for the 10 best courses to help you become a professional-level or successful designer. So let’s take a look at them!
1. Innovation Through Design
Specifications
- Difficulty: Beginner.
- Duration: Approx. 16 hours.
- Price: Free trial, and pay to get the certificate.
- Provider: Coursera.
Course highlights
It is one of the best online innovation courses, great for beginners without prior experience or knowledge.
The course will be useful for anyone curious about design and transform the tools and processes of design thinking into innovative opportunities.
By the end of this course, you should have the tools and practical techniques to apply to various situations in the professional context and turn all issues and problems into solutions and opportunities.
Enroll Here: https://www.coursera.org/learn/innovation-through-design
Pros
- You can access the free trial.
- The course is well structured.
- Apply for financial aid.
- Earn a certificate upon completion.
- Can be applied to daily use.
Cons
- Knowledge is not too in-depth.
2. Introduction to UI and UX Design
Specifications
- Difficulty: Beginner.
- Duration: 5 Hours.
- Price: $13.99 monthly for Pro Lite and $19.99 monthly for Pro.
- Provider: Codecademy.
Course highlights
This course is an excellent option for both the practice and theory of UI & UX.
Learning what UI & UX design is and what the main methodologies within the industry are, like Design Thinking, will let you collaborate and communicate effectively with other designers.
You will start by establishing a foundation of professionals’ core methodologies and concepts. You will then implement these methodologies in a hands-on exploration of the techniques, tools, and deliverables designers utilize to plan the future of products.
Enroll Here: https://www.codecademy.com/learn/intro-to-ui-ux
Pros
- No prerequisites.
- Short duration.
- Earn a certificate of completion with Pro.
- The course is well structured.
Cons
- Just include basic knowledge.
3. Become a UX Designer
Specifications
- Difficulty: Beginner.
- Duration: 3 Months.
- Price: $399 per month.
- Provider: Udacity.
Course highlights
According to the opinions of many learners who took the UX Designer course by Udacity, it is one of Udacity’s best courses.
Those who already took the course were surprised by its consistency. They said that it had taught them everything from scratch.
In more detail, this course teaches the fundamentals of design research, user identification, basic design principles, the development of solutions, etc.
Furthermore, you will be able to explain the differences between UX and UI – just in case someone asks what it is that you do.
Enroll Here: https://www.udacity.com/course/ux-designer-nanodegree–nd578
Pros
- Beginner-friendly.
- Technical mentor support.
- No prior experience is required.
- Real-world projects from industry experts.
Cons
- Pricey
4. The Language of Design
Specifications
- Difficulty: Beginner.
- Duration: Approx. 8 hours.
- Provider: Coursera.
- Price: Try for free.
Course highlights
This course introduces a vocabulary (or lexicon) for you to demonstrate clearer and more considered ways of discussing graphic design in the critique context.
Through that lexicon and a Critique Framework, you will model before practice objectively describing how well a work of design functions based on clear, specific articulated criteria. By refining this skill, you can enhance your ability to communicate about design with colleagues, peers, and clients.
Enroll Here: https://www.coursera.org/learn/design-language
Pros
- Short duration.
- The lesson is well organized.
- Get a certificate when you complete it.
- Short informative videos and tons of practice.
- Approachable both for beginners and advanced people.
Cons
- Many learners think it should use more simple words and structure.
5. Learn Color Design
Specifications
- Difficulty: Intermediate.
- Duration: 3 hours.
- Price: $19.99 per month.
- Provider: Codecademy.
Course highlights
Join this course; you will learn to use color more effectively on various websites.
It is the top choice for marketers who need to learn the effective usage of color to help them make better-converting landing webs.
It is also for any designer who wants to learn more about CSS and developers who need to enhance the design quality of their apps and projects.
Enroll Here: https://www.codecademy.com/learn/learn-color-design
Pros
- Great value.
- Earn a certificate of completion.
- Knowledge is highly applicable.
- The lessons are presented in an easy-to-understand way.
Cons
- Prerequisites are to learn CSS.
- No trial option.
6. Big Picture: Visual Design
Specifications
- Difficulty: Beginner.
- Duration: 31m.
- Price: $19 per month after 10 days trial.
- Provider: Pluralsight.
Course highlights
This course will help you understand how the best designers apply an understanding of structure, aesthetics, and user psychology to make a visual experience that users cannot get enough of.
First, it will teach you what visual design is and its history. Then, you will explore how it benefits individuals and organizations.
Finally, you will review the main factors of visual design, including color, composition, and typeface, and learn more about several of the standard digital tools design professionals use.
Enroll Here: https://www.pluralsight.com/courses/visual-design-big-picture
Pros
- Beginner-friendly.
- No prerequisites.
- Extremely short duration.
- Good starting point to learn Visual Design.
Cons
- Lack of in-depth knowledge.
7. User Experience (UX) Design Training
Specifications
- Difficulty: Intermediate.
- Duration: 3 days.
- Price: $2,650.
- Provider: Learningtree.
Course highlights
This course will be an excellent option for anyone involved in creating User Interfaces for website-based apps, such as developers, designers, project leads, business systems analysts, and more.
The course lets you know the importance of UX design, the input stakeholders have to deliver to the process, and the result they can expect. This course is available online and in-person options to choose the form that suits you.
Enroll Here: https://www.learningtree.com/courses/user-experience-ux-design-training-for-successful-software
Pros
- Worth the money.
- Suitable for learners of all levels.
- Lessons are well prepared.
- After-course coaching is available.
Cons
- Pricey
8. UI/UX Design Specialization
Specifications
- Difficulty: Beginner.
- Duration: Approximately four months.
- Price: $49 per month after the trial.
- Provider: Coursera
Course highlights
This specialization, delivered by the California Institute of the Arts, includes four courses that cover UI elements, UX fundamentals, and Web Design from strategy to prototyping.
It comprises design fundamentals, typography, color, design platforms, UI components, and communicating design.
This program is ideal for beginners and career transitioners, but it expects you to be eager about UI design and have some interest in tech.
Enroll Here: https://www.coursera.org/specializations/ui-ux-design
Pros
- 7-day free trial.
- Financial aid is available.
- No prior experience is required.
- Get a certificate upon completion.
Cons
- You cannot gain certification in the free tier.
9. Google User Experience Design Certificate
Specifications
- Difficulty: Beginner.
- Duration: Approximately six months.
- Price: $49 per month after the trial.
- Provider: Coursera
Course highlights
This online certificate program is designed to help learners develop the essential skills to launch a career in UX design.
This certificate is part of Grow with Google, one initiative through which Google partners with schools, libraries, and other organizations to deliver affordable and flexible online career training.
This program is entirely online, which means you can access your lectures, assignments, and readings anytime and anywhere through the web or your mobile device.
Enroll Here: https://www.coursera.org/professional-certificates/google-ux-design
Pros
- Seven-day free trial.
- Affordable price.
- A certificate of completion.
- Access to career resources.
- Taught by industry experts.
Cons
- The program seems to be overly focused on Google services and products.
- Lack of a professional grading system.
10. Fundamentals of Graphic Design
Specifications
- Difficulty: Beginner.
- Duration: Approx. 15 hours.
- Price: $49 per month after the trial.
- Provider: Coursera
Course highlights
It is among the most prevalent graphic design courses available, with about half a million enrolled learners. This course has flexible deadlines, allowing you to learn at your own pace. According to the stats, about 25% of learners started a new career after finishing their education.
I find various courses focused on covering the basics can either make the mistake of being too vague or too in-depth. It is not the case for the lessons of Michael Worthington.
The flexible syllabus will walk you through many aspects of graphic design and essential knowledge, with easy-to-consume, short activities, and videos.
Enroll Here: https://www.coursera.org/learn/fundamentals-of-graphic-design
Pros
- Can get a 7-day free trial.
- Shareable certificates.
- Self-paced learning option.
- Affordable price.
Cons
- The individual grading system can be confusing.
Learning Guide
Is Taking a Graphic Design Course Worth It?
I believe online courses are beneficial. Thanks to extensive online learning, developing your skills in any industry is much easier. Design courses can be helpful for creatively-minded pros.
Getting online certifications in graphic design will open the door to various valuable earning opportunities and new career avenues.
Should You Follow A Graphic Design Course?
Graphic design courses are not just for those who need to become graphics designers. You can use any of the courses listed above to enhance your opportunities for a high-paying graphic design job, but there are other reasons to enroll too.
For example, a graphic design course may give you the foundations to customize an eye-catching web for your business.
In addition, these courses can pave the way to your future in freelancing or make your resume stand out.
To sum up, starting with an online course is a good idea if you want to become a graphic designer or just build your graphic design skills.
Consider Knowledge Provided
Each course will target and focus on a specific niche of the Design field. So, you must determine the knowledge you need to choose a suitable course.
In addition, courses are also categorized by level of learners, including beginner, intermediate and advanced. Keep that in mind when making a choice.
FAQs
What Is Graphic Design?
Graphic design involves skills that include everything from making social media images and logos to editing photos and designing entire webs.
How Much Does A Graphic Designer Earn?
According to our report, the average annual salary for graphic designers is about $53,380. The report shows that the highest 10% earn more than $93,000, and the lowest 10% earn less than $31,500.
Do I Need a Bachelor’s Degree to Become a Graphic Designer?
Yes, you will need a minimum of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college, university, or private design school.
Final Thoughts
I recommend UI/UX Design Specialization by Coursera if you want to go from zero to a graphic designer. It is taught by an experienced instructor, offered at an affordable price, and has a long track record of satisfied learners.
Coursera courses also take several other top spots on my list; it is a great platform to browse. Generally, all courses above are reasonably priced to jumpstart careers or open new opportunities at a reasonable budget.
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