9 Best Graphic Design Courses Online For 2024

Graphic design plays a major role in the world of design. Whether it’s branding or online advertising, graphic design is very crucial for every business. 

You can use this skill for different kinds of creative work such as logo design, banner design, branding, and a lot more. 

With today’s technology, being a graphic designer has become very easy and accessible. There are thousands of resources online where you can learn graphic design.

But a better way to learn graphic design is by following a well-defined process where you not only learn design but also understand it. 

And that is only possible through courses. In this list, I’ve compiled the best graphic design courses you should check out to become a good graphic designer. 

I’ve hand-picked each and every course so that whichever course you select, you’ll learn from the best. 

Best Graphic Design Courses 

In this list of the best graphic design courses, I’ve selected courses that focus on multiple different aspects of graphic design. 

Some of them are all-in-one graphic design courses while others specialize in teaching one particular aspect of graphic design. 

Let’s get started. 

1. Graphic Design Bootcamp: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign – Derrick Mitchell

This course by Derrick Mitchell is the ultimate and the best selling graphic design course on Udemy for beginners. 

The course will help you understand the basics of graphic design and help you build up your skill which will allow you to work professionally as a creative graphic designer. 

Graphic Design Bootcamp begins with understanding the different design tools such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. 

In each section of the course, you’ll learn graphic design through practical examples. The course goes through creating different projects such as a logo, business cards, magazine ads, and more. 

By the end of the course, you’ll have a clear understanding of graphic design and how to use different tools for designing. 

You Should Watch This If 

You are a beginner who wants to enter the world of design. Whether you want a graphic design job or work as a freelancer, this course is a good starting point to get familiar with graphic design. 

2. Graphic Design Specialization – CalArts

Graphic Design Specialization by CalArts is a collection of 5 courses on Coursera that will help you start your career as a graphic designer. 

In this specialization, you’ll learn the fundamentals of graphic design, typography, image-making, history of graphic design, and brand building. 

Every course in the specialization consists of different projects aimed to help you attain practical skills. You also get a certificate after completing each project. 

You Should Watch This If 

You want to learn graphic design and equip yourself with all the skills needed to start your career in the industry. 

3. Graphic Design Masterclass: Learn GREAT Design – Lindsay Marsh

Graphic Design Masterclass by Lindsay Marsh is a very detailed and well-explained course to learn graphic design. 

This course covers almost all aspects of graphic design including design theory, branding theory, and all the different tools used for graphic design. 

The course starts with an introduction to graphic design and graphic design theory. You’ll then learn about different tools such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.

There are practical projects included in the course where you’ll learn how to design a book cover, YouTube thumbnail, logos, flyers, and more. 

You Should Watch This If 

You are a beginner who has no prior experience in graphic design and want to build up your skills through practical projects. 

4. The Complete Graphic Design Theory for Beginners Course – Lindsay Marsh & Jeremy Deighan

This is another course by Lindsay Marsh which takes on a more theoretical approach to teach graphic design. 

With this course, you’ll be able to gain an intermediate level of knowledge on graphic design theory and common graphic design practices. 

You’ll learn about different concepts such as color theory, typography theory, layout theory, and more. There are also videos about logo design and more importantly the ideation process of logo design. 

Lastly, the course also glosses over some of the popular graphic design trends and how you can create them. 

You Should Watch This If 

You have some experience in using the different design tools and want to gain more knowledge about the theoretical aspects of design. 

5. Color for Creatives – Gregg Gunn

Struggling to work with colors? This course by Gregg Gunn will help you go beyond color theory and understand how to use color. 

The course answers some very common questions like how to create color palettes, how to pair colors and more. Gregg Gunn answers all these questions and more through practical examples in this course. 

You’ll also learn about color harmony and how to use color with type. 

You Should Watch This If 

You are someone who is struggling with using color in your work. Whether you’re a beginner or an intermediate, this course will answer some very common questions that will improve your work tremendously. 

6. Illustrator CC 2020 Masterclass – Martin Perhiniak

This course will help you master Adobe Illustrator CC and be able to design logos, vector illustrations, infographics, and a lot more. 

With over 108 videos, this course goes in-depth to help you learn how to use Adobe Illustrator. From working with objects to advanced techniques, the covers everything. 

The knowledge you gain from this course will help you use Illustrator more professionally and confidently. The course is easy to understand and the instructor is very engaging which makes learning Illustrator more fun. 

You Should Watch This If 

You want to learn how to use Adobe Illustrator professionally and be able to work on different design projects. 

7. Learn Adobe Photoshop from Scratch – Eduonix Learning Solutions

For people who want to learn Photoshop, this course is a perfect start as it will help you learn to use the tool. 

The course goes through the different workflow tools in Adobe Photoshop and how you can use them for different purposes. 

You’ll also learn photo correction techniques, using effects, and other creation and photo manipulation techniques. 

With a hands-on training approach with practical tips and tricks in every video, this course will help you easily learn Adobe Photoshop. 

You Should Watch This If 

You are a beginner who wants to learn Adobe Photoshop and be able to use it for professional projects. 

8. Learn the Entire Affinity Suite: Photo, Designer & Publisher – Lindsay Marsh & Jeremy Hazel 

The Affinity Suite is becoming more and more popular in the creative industry as more professionals prefer it over Adobe CC. Not to mention the crazy pricing of Adobe CC which is not suitable for designers just starting out. 

This course will help you master the Affinity Suite which includes their three tools Photo, Designer, and Publisher. 

Although these tools are very similar to their Adobe Counterparts, you will still have to learn a lot as they have their differences. 

The course goes through each tool in the Affinity Suite in detail. The course instructors walk you through some practical projects in each tool to you give an idea of the workflow and techniques used. 

Moreover, the course also teaches you how to use the Affinity apps on iPad as well. 

You Should Watch This If 

You want to learn how to use the different Affinity apps to create practical projects. Even if you’re familiar with Adobe CC tools, this course will help you add another software to your design arsenal. 

9. Practical Photoshop: Create 40 Graphic Design Projects – Cristian Doru Barin

Want to flex your creative muscles? Then check out this course by Christian Doru Brian where he goes over 40 practical projects in Photoshop. 

With this course, you’ll learn many new techniques in Photoshop that can be applied in many projects. It will also help you sharpen your Photoshop skills and understand different workflows that will help you professionally. 

The course includes creating projects such as YouTube thumbnails, Facebook Ads, business cards, newsletters, and more. 

You Should Watch This If 

You want to gain practical experience in designing common projects in Photoshop that can help you get a design job or work as a freelancer. 

Conclusion 

Graphic design is a very vast field and these graphic design courses will help you get started in this industry. 

Whether you’re a beginner or an intermediate who wants to brush up on your skills, the above list of courses will help you a lot. 

Before you decide which course you select, ask yourself what you want. This will help you understand the skills you want to learn and how you plan to use those skills. 

Whether you want a job as a graphic designer or enter the world of freelance, it’s important to incorporate both theoretical and practical knowledge of the subject you learn. 

If you are having trouble deciding the course to pick, feel free to comment below. I’ll help you out in making the right decision for you. 

Related: 8 Best Logo Design Courses You Should Check Out