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10 Free Graphic Design Online Courses With Certificates

In today’s world, no business dynamics can be completed without some touch of the art of illustration. This has made creative designers consider improving their skill set by enrolling in Graphic Design Online Courses with Certificates.

The high quality of these courses makes them an ideal way to learn graphic design and thus produce visual expertise that is highly valued and essentially sought after by individuals, companies, and cooperative organizations.

If you are aspiring to join the league of these top experts but don’t know how to choose the best course for you, no worries, we’ve got you covered.

We will connect you with the best free online graphic design courses to help you brush up on the foundations of typography, colour, essential graphic design software, and lots more.

Carefully follow the contents outlined below and apply for the option that best suits your demand.

Table of contents

Why Choose Free Graphic Design Online Courses?

Graphic designers create visual concepts using computer software or by hand, to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, and captivate consumers.

On the other hand, learning visuals online allows you to study most or all of a course without attending a campus-based institution.

You can communicate with your Instructor via e-mail, electronic forums, videoconferencing, social media chat rooms, and other forms of computer-based interaction.

Many online graphic design courses can help you perfect your design talents, offered by universities, graphic design experts, and online course hubs like Alison and Udemy.

In case you have a double mind about enrolling in art or design school to become an expert in graphics, consider the following reasons;

  • Graphic Designers are the highest in-demand freelancers in the world today.
  • In 2015, Peerhustle listed design in spot number two in their “Top 12 Paying Freelance Careers,”.
  • Graphic design opens doors to many work opportunities in advertising, public relations, and even manufacturing.

 It may interest you that Graphic Design is one of a hundred careers that allow you to use your background and training to build your own company.

Following is everything you need to know about the Graphic Designer career in detail. As a first step, take a look at how Graphic Design classes work and how you can get started.

Check this out: 20 Best Colleges With Graphic Design Majors In 2023

How Do Free Graphic Design Online Classes Work?

Just like every other distant program, an online Class in Graphic Design uses the Learning Management System.

LMS method includes the use of Blackboard, Canvas, and Moodle, which provides an accessible exchange of information between you and your Instructor.

You receive your study materials, lectures, and assignments via email or file transfer system during online classes. You submit course assignments through LMS by posting on discussion forums and submitting tasks through appropriate links.

Another option for online classes involves the use of an online proctoring service.

This helps to monitor students as they work. It also permits degree candidates to take assessments away from campus and gives schools confidence that students honestly earned their grades.

The service may alert the school if you exhibit any form of cheating or malpractice.

Read also; 10 Frequently Asked Questions About Online Colleges and Online Education.

How do I Apply For Free Graphic Design Online Courses?

Taking an online course to learn a new skill, or even just as a refresher for the skills you already have, is a very honourable thing to do.

However, there are numerous graphic design courses online, but not all are worth it.

Therefore, before you try your luck at online learning, ensure you seek advice from a good source.

The enrollment steps and considerations outlined below will help you on how to get started.

Select the school that offers Graphic Design Course

The first step you need to take is to choose an online graphic Design course. Thereafter, you obtain a form and complete the registration process. See the list and details of the available programs below.

Complete the online application

During the registration process, you’ll be required to set up an account that includes some personal information.

Unlike other online courses, a Graphic design class may involve uploading the electronic versions of your Passport photograph, Curriculum Vitae, Personal Statement, and any other documents.

Interview

Most online courses with Certificates in Graphic Design may require an interview, which can be conducted over the phone or online on Skype.

An interview on Skype is just like a traditional interview. In this case, ensure your computer camera works well, and you have a good internet connection. Also, ensure you dress formally just like you would for an offline interview.

Start Lectures

Once you’ve completed the online registration and interview, you will be granted access to select your degree level and course of study then you can start enrolling in any classes.

Explore more: 15 Best Trade Schools for Graphic Design in 2023 | Apply Now

What Is The Duration For Graphic Design Online Course?

The length of online classes in Graphic Design varies according to schools or course providers. However, some schools offer coursework that can be completed in as little as five weeks, while others don’t have to be finished within a year.

A typical free online course with certificates in Graphic Design lasts 8 weeks; some may take up to 10 weeks, depending on the type of program.

You have to understand that the duration of your online courses lies in your power. For instance, most instructors post assignments at the beginning of the program, so if a course lasts eight to nine weeks, you can complete the work and submit it as you choose.

How Much Does It Cost To Take Graphic Design Online Courses?

A few graphic design online courses with certificates are free, While others require tuition. This means you can access the video lectures, discussion forums, and course readings for free.

The cost of Individual courses and Specializations varies. The prices usually appear when you click the Enroll button on the left of the course information page.

However, to obtain a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design degree from a University, you should budget Tuition and fees of about $385 per credit hour.

Most online schools offer a 7-day free trial, after which you will be billed. You will not be charged if you cancel within the free trial time.

List of Free Graphic Design Online Courses

Do you know that an educational background in graphic design opens doors to many work opportunities in advertising, public relations, and manufacturing? 

In this regard, we have compiled a list of 10 free online programs for you. These free online digital creative design courses cover various digital design topics, from graphic design and Photoshop to 3D modelling and design thinking.

Our selection criteria for these programs are focused on the duration and nature of the coursework offered. We also considered the quality of education, average earnings of graduates, accreditation, and other relevant factors.

As you read further, you will get detailed information on the various programs offered by the free online schools listed below.

  • Core Principles for Visual Design(Basics)
  • Introduction to Graphic Design
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Canva Design School
  • Envato Tuts+ Illustration and Design Courses
  • Graphic Design from the University of Colorado
  • ADMEC Multimedia Institute
  • Creative Pro
  • CreativeLive
  • Fundamentals of Creative Design from CalArts

Check out 15 Masters in Graphic Design Programs

#1. Core Principles for Visual Design (Basics)

Core Principles for Visual Design is the basic Graphic Design online course that will walk you through 5 basic principles within a 35-minute class.

In this course, you will learn the following;

  • How to identify and define the 5 basic principles of design
  • How to critique your work looking for balance and effectiveness
  • Learn how you can apply each concept to your future projects

Apply

#2 Introduction to Graphic Design

 This is a graphic design online course with certificates that is suitable for beginners or professionals. Udemy provides it.

There are 16 lectures and over an hour of free content. You’ll learn many graphic design skills like Canva that will prove useful in real-world projects like Logo Design or Business Card Design.

You don’t need any special software or hardware to take the course; all you need is to watch the videos and take action.

Apply

#3 Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop is one of Udemy’s online Graphic Design courses created by Eduonix Learning Solutions.

This free program will provide eight hours of on-demand video and doesn’t have any specific requirements to take the class other than already having Photoshop installed on your computer.

 The course is structured to provide you with hands-on training in the software while sharing tips and tricks that pros use. You will learn the following;

  • Use different manipulation, and creation tools
  • Learn workflow tools
  • Master Photo correction techniques
  • Learn to add different effects using photoshop
  • Use Photoshop in professional projects

Apply

#4 Canva Design School

Canva Design School offers lessons, tutorials, resources, and articles on a variety of topics that will be helpful to graphic design Beginners and professionals.

Furthermore, each course lesson contains helpful information, example designs, and links to resources.

Canva School also offers articles that contain places you can find some quick tips or inspiration for your next design project.

Apply

#5 Envato Tuts+ Illustration and Design Courses

This is one of the best graphic design online courses with certificates created by Envato.

In this course, you will have access to a variety of topics, including Illustrator, Photoshop, Cinema 4D, Rhino, and many more.

There are over 1,000 courses in Envato’s design and illustration database. Interestingly, the database lets you choose categories such as the specific software or design process. Also, you can filter the results by skill level.

Apply

#6 Graphic Design from the University of Colorado

The University of Colorado offers this online graphic design course through Coursera. It is part of a four-course program on effective communication.

Once registered, you can access all the videos, readings, and exercises for free.

The lessons in this course expose students to some design “tricks” that will make it easier to start design projects confidently.

It also includes practice exercises where students are presented with example designs and then have to use what they’ve learned to identify the designs’ strengths and weaknesses.

Apply

#7 ADMEC Multimedia Institute

ADMEC graphic design offers an online diploma course identical to the real program regarding content and real-time learning.

Unlike other online courses, ADMEC has no pre-recorded materials. Within around 6 to 8 months, you get to attend live sessions with the Instructors, thus obtaining an opportunity to interact and learn.

The certificate courses, however, cover the broadest range of topics and can be wrapped up within 2 to 4 months.

Apply

You may also like to learn How to become a Videogame Designer? Schools, Salary, and Cost.

#8 Creative Pro

This is an online design magazine that will help you to learn graphic design for free. They provide over 30 videos and articles for both beginners and experienced designers.

These articles focus on common challenges that designers face and provide pro tips on overcoming them. They have articles on how to move vector graphics between Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, and many others.

Apply

#9 CreativeLive

CreativeLive is another recommendable platform that offers a range of graphic design online courses. They offer a wide range of free video lessons to help you learn graphic design.

Coursework covers topics including Colors and Their Relationships and What Makes a Successful Book Cover.

Apply

#10 Fundamentals of Creative Design from CalArts

This course is provided by the California Institute of Arts on Coursera. They offer online courses from a wide range of universities and companies.

The school has five different free graphic design courses available on the site under its graphic design specialization section.

The Fundamentals of Creative Design is a great starting point. It covers the basics of topics from typography and image-making to shape, color, and composition.

Furthermore, all of the CalArts graphic design specialization courses are worth checking out, as they present each of those topics in more detail.

Apply

Check out 10 Great European Distance Learning Universities

List of Universities That Offer Free Graphic Design Online Courses With Certificates

The following schools feature the best online graphic design courses for distant learners. These schools motivate their students by providing assignments via the Learning Management System method.

What Are The Benefits Of Free Online Courses?

Online education has a lot of benefits which is why many students consider it more advantageous than on-campus learning. Some of these benefits are listed below.

  • First, online learning gives you time and space to go deep and master a new skill.
  • The online program provides various programs and courses: As a student, you can earn every academic degree online, from a career certificate to a doctorate.
  • Online education proves a more affordable option than traditional schools; There are no commuting costs, and sometimes required course materials, such as textbooks, are available online at no cost.
  • Students can take online courses and even complete entire degrees while working while in-between jobs; This helps improve career advancement.

Where Can I Find a Job As A Graphic Designer?

Finding a Job as a Graphic Designer is not difficult. In fact, you can get a well-paid job that allows you to offer at the comfort of your home by utilizing market platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, and many others.

With a career in graphic design, you have the choice of working in advertising, publishing, public relations, media, industrial design, and a range of other industries.

Apart from working independently as a graphic designer, you can work for specialized graphic design firms as part of a design team. And also, you can collaborate with other graphic designers or work with clients on projects.

Check this out: Best Graphic Design Internships For International Students

How Much Do Graphic Designers Earn?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for graphic designers was $43,500.

Graphic designers’ schedules can vary depending on workload and deadlines.

If you are self-employed may need to adjust your workday to meet with clients on weekends.

In addition, you may spend some time looking for new projects or competing with other designers for contracts.

What is Graphic Designers Job Prospect?

 Employment of graphic designers is projected to grow 3 percent over the next ten years, slower than the average for all occupations. Graphic designers are expected to face strong competition for available positions.

Conclusion

Getting graphic design certification online is possible. If you carefully follow the guidelines we’ve provided in this article. You learn in a way that benefits you. 

Frequently Asked Question On Free graphic design Online Courses With Certificates In 2023.

What will help me study remotely without distraction?

The following tips will help you to study remotely without distractions.
> Set aside time for online learning just as you would for attending on-campus classes.
> Identify the time of day you will devote to studying.
> Give yourself quality time to sit down and read through your materials so you understand everything clearly.
> Turn off your phone notifications.

Where can I work with online course certificates?

You can get to work in the media, studio, or even as a freelancer.

Are free online programs for everyone?

The free online program is open to anyone. All you need is a computer that has an internet connection.

Do universities offer graphic design courses?

Yes! A Lot of Universities Offer Graphic Design courses. 

References

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