Anyone interested in learning graphic design can easily sign up to a site like Udemy or Skillshare and start their learning journey. Plus, graphic design is an evolving field that beginners and advanced learners should continue learning, even if these learners are not practicing graphic design pros. Luckily, anyone can learn or improve their skills without spending too much, thanks to these free online graphic design courses.
Free Online Graphic Design Courses
1. Alison Online: Graphic Design - Visual and Graphic Design
It's best to start with the fundamentals. And those who want to learn graphic design without having to spend a penny can sign up for an account on Alison Online. The site promises that anyone learning there can do it for free.
This course from Alison Online is ideal for beginners who want to learn about terminologies and design concepts. It covers topics such as design principles and elements, drawing systems, and production processes.
2. Udemy: Adobe Illustrator-CC Logo & Graphic Design Crash Course
This course by Rahsaan Boone is one of the free online graphic design courses from Udemy. Most graphic design courses on Udemy focus more on tips and tricks to help you create better graphic design.
This one stands out because it teaches you how to use Adobe Illustrator, a premier graphic design software. Plus, you learn the basics of graphic design terminology using Adobe Illustrator, such as vector and raster, and how to create a simple logo for your business.
3. Canva: Graphic Design Basics
The Graphic Design Basics by Canva is another excellent beginner graphic design course to consider when starting your journey with design. Of course, beginners will use the Canva software to create graphic design work.
Similar to some graphic design courses here, you’ll learn design principles. Canva teaches students things like proximity, alignment, and font and color combinations.
4. Great Learning: Intro to Graphic Design with Photoshop
Photoshop is a must-use software for anyone interested in graphic design. Most experts and pros use Photoshop to create compelling graphics. And beginners should have some experience using the software as well.
Here, beginners will learn the fundamentals of graphic design, such as layout (balance, space), typography, color theory, and elements (lines, shapes, illustrations). This is a great course to try because of its hands-on approach to using Photoshop.
5. Duke: Graphic Design Principles Index
Maybe you’re better off learning through text than a video? Here’s one free graphic design course from Duke. Yes, that prestigious university offers a free course about graphic design principles. It’s a great course for those who have an idea of principles but want to further their knowledge. Some topics they cover are:
- Balance
- Color
- Typeface/Fonts
- Rhythm
- Icons
- Form
If you’re not averse to blue and outdated design, you can check out this course.
6. Design History
While not exactly an actual course, Design History is a look at designs of the past. Both beginners and advanced learners should give this one a try because it explains how design has evolved over the years. Plus, it could serve as inspiration for graphic design pros, especially for those with clients and businesses that observe nostalgic-themed or retro-themed styles.
7. Appypie: Introduction To Graphic Design | Learn Graphic Design Free
An alternative to Canva’s Graphic Design Basics course is this one from Appypie. Instead of touching on principles and elements, learners will have a more hands-on approach to designing logos, banners, and social media posts.
8. YouTube: The Ultimate GIMP 2.10 Guide
Gimp is a rival photo editing software to Photoshop. It being free makes it an attractive reason to use instead of the Adobe software. However, GIMP has a reputation for having a higher learning curve than Adobe Photoshop, and this one, by “Graphic Design for Free,” guides beginners to using the Gimp software. You can learn design techniques using brush tools, colors, and layering.
9. Kadenze: Introduction to Graphic Design
Those looking for an alternative graphic design history course and more technical discussions of graphic design can check out this course, which is best for beginners. Other topics of discussion include form, styles, abstractions, and text. It’s one to consider if you want to nerd out on graphic design.
10. LinkedIn: Become a Graphic Designer
This LinkedIn learning path is one of the best free online graphic design courses anyone can take. For one, if you’re serious about becoming a graphic design pro, this course can help you learn about every detail of the foundations of graphic design. Two, there’s also a practical approach, and the software applications used are Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator.
11. Teach Yourself Graphic Design
Although this course should fall under the Envato Tuts+ course, which will be discussed below, this one focuses on helping newbies find resources during their graphic design journey learning. Even if the “course” is already 10 years old, it remains relevant because the discussion provided context on what type of lessons new graphic designers should learn.
It’s not just fundamentals, and design principles taught there, but also how to set up your portfolio and find a community or work as a freelancer.
12. Alison Online: Interaction Design
Interaction design is another discipline in graphic design, which tackles most interactive online or digital products. Those looking to branch out to this field can try their hand in Alison Online’s Interaction Design free online course. This one’s best for graphic design pros.
It’s a detailed course tackling the basics like Interaction Models and Paradigms, goal-directed design process, modeling, and design framework.
13. Envato Tuts+
Any pro in the graphic design industry should take advantage of the free online graphic design courses from Envato Tuts+. The site has 17 courses ranging from beginner to advanced levels. It’s hard to pick one course to highlight, but here are some courses for you to choose from:
- Advanced Photoshop Course
- Poster Designing
- Composting
- 3D Text and Elements
14. Kadenze: Typography in Graphic Design
Advanced graphic designers that want to improve their typography skills can enroll in this Kadenze course. It’s free, but you will pay for the certificate. You’ll learn vernacular, styles, nuances, and combinations in this course. Students are required to have the Adobe Creative Suite and other font-related software.
15. Hack Design
The lessons at Hack Design are for any experience level. But advanced learners will definitely enjoy one of the best free online graphic design courses on this list, considering the variety of lessons they provide for experts. Different instructors teach the classes, and you will surely learn different insights and perspectives from each one. Some topics they discuss here are:
- Typography
- User Experience
- User Interface
- Design Principles
- Design Systems
