10 Sites to Find Free Graphic Design Courses Online
Free online courses in graphic design are offered by real schools. Learn which graphic design courses are available, what topics they cover and which ones lead to real college credit.
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Online Course Info and Requirements
Graphic design tutorials are typically found on designer websites and through blogs; however, some colleges may offer graphic design courses online. Colleges and universities offering courses typically do not offer credit, and students may need to have access to specific software, such as Adobe Flash, Illustrator or Photoshop, to get the full benefit of the tutorial.
African Virtual University
One of the schools listed in the Open Courseware Consortium, African Virtual University offers a course that provides an overview of graphic tools. Multimedia Design and Applications is available in a full module and offers further readings. The course examines digital resources, web design and 3D objects.
About.com
About.com offers a variety of free lessons on graphic design. Graphic Design Basics teaches users the fundamentals of graphic design by demonstrating the elements and principles of the field through two basic classes. Introduction to the Elements of Design teaches users about shapes, lines, texture, mass and color. Within the course, students will create a folder of design samples to use throughout the individual lessons.
Absolute Cross
Absolute Cross offers users free tutorials on graphic design and Photoshop. How to Use Drupal's Contemplate Module requires users to download a module before beginning the tutorial focused on learning how to detail aspects of HTML code. Within the Typewriter tutorial, students will learn to use Adobe Flash to create an animated graphic typewriter effect without using Actionscripts.
Palomar College
Independent learners at Palomar have access to lessons, examples and projects. Users will learn through the completion of projects and will have access to student work to use for examples. The Design and Composition program is broken down into five different parts. Topics include color, the design process, symmetry and linear perspective.
Planet Photoshop
Planet Photoshop offers various tutorials and videos to users for free on a variety of subjects related to Photoshop. Long Exposure Slap Zoom Effect is focused on creating a zoom effect for images using Photoshop. This tutorial takes users through a step-by-step process of creating this visual effect. Proper use of the pen tool is the focus of the Your Pen Tool tutorial. Learners receive instruction on using the pen tool to create various shapes.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
For this course, MIT offers lecture notes, exams and assignments with no solutions. The Computer Graphics course includes 23 lectures that are offered in PDF format. The course covers topics like transformations, animation and color effects.
University of California - Berkeley
The UC - Berkeley offers a wealth of digital media tutorials through the KDMC. These free tutorials feature several lessons. CSS Layout with HTML5 trains learners to structure a document and create gradients and floating images; the tutorial also explores typography on the web. Multimedia Storytelling examines concepts in storyboarding and editing, along with using video and graphics. In Building Flash Templates, learners complete 11 different lessons examining topics in background creation, button editing, sections and setup.
W3schools.com
W3schools.com instructs users on the basics of HTML through a variety of web tutorials that offer several different lessons. Course materials for HTML Tutorial include quizzes, references and exams. Within the tutorial, students explore concepts in formatting, blocks, layouts, elements and links.
Web Design from Scratch
Web Design from Scratch offers free tips and tutorials to use to design more efficient websites. How to Learn Web Design goes over the essentials of learning how to design a web page and offers resources users can use to learn more. What is the Relationship Between Graphic Design and Web Design? describes what makes an effective website while teaching visitors the difference between graphic design and web design.
Youthedesigner.com
Youthedesigner.com offers free online graphic designer tutorials that feature a variety of lessons and step-by-step instructions. Adobe InDesign Tutorials for Beginners includes 11 lessons covering type, frames, graphics and layouts. The 5 Amazing Vector Portrait Tutorials! course demonstrates how to create vector portraits using a variety of styles, such as geometric styles, textured effects and layering, using Adobe Illustrator software.
Earn Real Credit from Free Courses
While the free courses above don't award credit directly, you can earn credit by passing an exam and transferring credit to your college. There are two widely recognized and affordable options for exams that award credit.
Option #1: CLEP Exams
The College Board's 33 CLEP exams allow you to test out of your general education requirements. Credit is accepted at 2/3 of colleges and universities in the U.S.
Option #2: Excelsior College's Credit-by-Exam
Excelsior College offers over 40 exams that lead to transferable credit. You can also earn three full degrees by taking free online courses and earning your credit by exam.
Learn how Education Portal Academy will pay you to earn credit!
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13 Popular Schools
The schools in the listing below are not free but are popular choices among our users. Tuition and costs will vary across programs and locations. Be sure to always request tuition information before starting a program.
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
Online Programs
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Master
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- MA in Design Strategy & Innovation
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Bachelor
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- BA in Graphic Design
- BFA in Animation - 3D (Online)
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- BFA in Interior Design (Online)
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Online Programs
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
- Currently not accepting applications from Texas residents
Online Programs
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
Online Programs
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
Online Programs
- Bachelor
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
Online Programs
- Bachelor
- Associate
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
Online Programs
- Bachelor
- Associate
- Non-Degree
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
- Currently not accepting applicants from Minnesota or Tennessee
Online Programs
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Bachelor
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- BS in Information Technology - Multimedia and Web Development
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be 18 years of age or older
Distance Learning Programs
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Non-Degree
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- Certificate - Undergraduate in Graphic Design
- Career Diploma: Computer Graphic Artist
- Career Diploma in Artist: Comprehensive
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
Online Programs
- Associate
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