How Can I Learn Graphic Design?
Many resources can help you learn the skills you need to become a graphic designer. Some of these resources include design books and blogs, job boards for design jobs, and websites where you can showcase your work. This article will look at some of the best options to learn the skills you need to become a better designer.
Coursera
There are plenty of online programs if you want to learn graphic design but need help knowing where to begin. Coursera is a popular online learning platform founded in 2012 by computer science professors at Stanford University. It has grown to 77 million learners and offers over five thousand courses worldwide. Leading university professors and industry professionals teach the courses. For example, the Graphic Design Specialization course is taught by five instructors from CalArts, a prestigious art school.
The course begins with graphic design basics and progresses through image-making, typography, and history. It culminates with a capstone project requiring students to create a brand development guide from the ground up. Instructor Marti has taught this course to over one hundred and twenty thousand students from 200 countries, including Apple, Pixar, and Google.
Creative Pro
Creative Pro is an online design magazine with a great “How-To” section. The articles focus on common challenges designers face and offer pro tips to solve them. For example, one article explains how to move vector graphics from Adobe Illustrator to InDesign. In addition, many of the articles are searchable, so you can find the exact information you’re looking for.
Once you’ve learned how to use the software, you can start practicing on real clients. This is a great way to build your portfolio and gain practical experience. You can also volunteer to do design work for local organizations and businesses. This way, you’ll show prospective clients and employers what work you can produce.
YouTube
If you’re a budding designer, one of the best ways to learn graphic design is through online video tutorials. A great video tutorial will let you see what an expert does, and it will help you visualize how to approach a design problem. You can find hundreds of channels on YouTube, including those specializing in graphic design.
Swerve Tutorials: This channel offers a variety of tutorials on everything from Illustrator to Photoshop. This is a must-follow channel for any budding designer, as it’s full of videos that explain design principles and techniques. Swerve also has a collection of inspiring design examples, which you can use for inspiration.
MIT’s OpenCourseWare
If you’re interested in learning graphic design, consider taking advantage of MIT’s OpenCourseWare. This database of course materials offers free video lectures and online textbooks that you can use to learn the basics. You can learn at your own pace and take as much or as little time as you need. There are no enrollment fees and no certificates of completion.
The courses are top-rated. In addition to being free, these courses are packed with valuable content. For example, MIT’s Interrogative Design Workshop challenges students to engage in the contemporary debate over national security and civil liberties. The course asks students to create public works of art that address issues like free speech, social justice, and human rights. The system is ideal for students studying Visual Arts and Graphic Design.
Books
Many resources are available to help aspiring graphic designers learn design basics. These books usually contain sections on basic design principles and often include practical illustrations of key technical points. Using them as a guide is a great way to learn the skills you need to create effective visual communication.
Books on graphic design can be handy for beginners. They can help you understand the language and interaction between different visual elements. They can also help you improve your skills and experiment with new ideas. You can also find helpful methodological approaches and tips from well-known designers.