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Want to learn a new skill, or refresh your basic graphic design knowledge? We’ve previously brought you some great graphic design tutorials, not to mention some excellent free ebooks. But maybe you’re looking for something a little more interesting and more in-depth?
We all don’t have the time and money to spend three years taking a university design degree, or even taking evening classes at the local community college. But in today’s internet age, it is possible to conduct fairly sophisticated design studies online, led by academics and other experts. And some courses are actually free!
In this post, we round up the best free online graphic design courses, from leading design course providers Coursera, Kadenze, and Udemy. However, if there’s a great free course that you think we missed, please let us know on Facebook or Twitter.
Course course : Graphic Design Courses Online
Coursera is an education-focused, venture-backed technology company founded by professors Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller, that offers online courses from top schools like Stanford and Yale.
And best of all, for some of them you can get course materials without spending a dime.
But be warned: you won’t be able to get your work marked, or get a certificate in the end, without paying. But if you just want access to related lectures and quizzes, you can get them all for free.
To do so, ignore the ‘Free trial’ offer, as it means that you start paying after seven days. Instead, select ‘Audit this course’, which will allow you to access the material for free, with no time limits. (If you’re still confused about how to get lessons for free, check out this blog post from Class Center).
01. Ideas from the History of Graphic Design
Louise Sandhaus and Lorraine Wild explore the history of design as a practice
This California Institute of the Arts course is intended for beginners entering the field, or students interested in learning more about culture and visual analysis.
Taught by Louise Sandhaus and Lorraine Wild, she traces the emergence of design as a recognized practice, explaining why things look the way they do, and how designers approach certain design issues in their work. No previous design experience is required to take this course.
02. Graphic Design : Graphic Design Courses Online
David Underwood explains the basics of good graphic design
Taught by design and media teaching consultant David Underwood, this course from the University of Colorado, Boulder, teaches the essentials of good graphic design.
You’ll learn to use contrast, repetition, affinity, and tension in the slide design of presentations, professional reports, business websites, and more. You’ll need some presentation software, such as Microsoft PowerPoint or Apple Keynote, to take the course.
03. Basics of Graphic Design : Graphic Design Courses Online
Michael Worthington explains the basics of graphic design, and helps you create something
In this California Institute of the Arts course, taught by Counterspace LA founding partner Michael Worthington, you’ll learn basic graphic design skills, including image creation, typography, composition, and working with color and shape.
This course is not just about listening but doing and creating, so it also offers practical exercises and projects.
04. Introduction to Typography : Graphic Design Courses Online
Anther Kiley explains how to choose and combine typefaces
This course from the California Institute of the Arts explores the characteristics of typefaces, how to select and combine typefaces, and conventions and best practices in typesetting.
Taught by LA-based graphic designer Anther Kiley, this is not a software course, so basic knowledge of and access to Adobe InDesign or similar page layout software will be required.
It follows a similar model to Coursera, so select the ‘Audit Course’ option and you will get access to the following course material for free.
05. History of Graphic Design: Introduction – Graphic Design Courses Online
Brockett Horne and Ellen Lupton introduce the history of graphic design
This course from the Maryland Institute College of Art asks: where did graphic design come from, and where to next?
This introduction to the history of graphic design covers everything from fonts and typefaces to posters and branding. Taught by Brockett Horne and Ellen Lupton, this self-paced course is aimed at the beginner level.