Here’s a list of the best resources to learn about graphic design and the competencies we discussed. These resources range from structured courses to community-driven platforms, books, and free tools, so your team can learn based on their preferences and skill levels. Online Learning Platforms
Udemy: Courses: “Graphic Design Bootcamp” and “Adobe Illustrator CC – Essentials Training” are great for beginners and intermediates. Strengths: Affordable, lifetime access to courses. Many practical exercises that cover image creation, editing, typography, and more. Link: Udemy Graphic Design Courses LinkedIn Learning (formerly http://Lynda.com ): Courses: “Graphic Design Foundations,” “Learning Photoshop,” and “Graphic Design Tips and Tricks.” Strengths: High-quality, structured video tutorials covering everything from the basics of design to advanced techniques in Photoshop and Illustrator. Link: LinkedIn Learning Graphic Design Coursera: Course: “Graphic Design Specialization” by CalArts. Strengths: An academic approach, with well-rounded coverage of the principles of graphic design, typography, and design software. Link: Graphic Design Specialization by CalArts Skillshare: Courses: “Logo Design: From Concept to Finish,” “Adobe Photoshop for Beginners,” and “Typography That Works.” Strengths: Project-based learning with hands-on projects and classes that cover both traditional design principles and modern software tools. Link: Skillshare Graphic Design Classes
Specialized Design Learning Platforms
Shaw Academy: Courses: Professional Diploma in Graphic Design. Strengths: Comprehensive and structured diploma courses. Ideal for those who want in-depth training and certification. Link: Shaw Academy The Futur: Focus: Offers design courses and business tips for creatives, covering design principles, branding, and practical skills like typography. Strengths: Real-world insights from professional designers, especially great for understanding branding and design for business. Link: The Futur Tuts+ (Envato): Focus: Extensive tutorials and courses covering everything from Photoshop, Illustrator, and After Effects to web design. Strengths: Offers thousands of in-depth tutorials, both free and paid. Link: Envato Tuts+ Design & Illustration
Free Resources and Tutorials
Canva Design School (Free): Focus: Teaches basic design principles, branding, and tips for creating professional designs with their drag-and-drop interface. Strengths: Accessible for complete beginners who want to grasp fundamental design concepts quickly. Link: Canva Design School Adobe Learn: Focus: Adobe offers free tutorials for all of their software, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Strengths: Excellent for learning specific tools and functions of Adobe software. Link: Adobe Learn GCFGlobal: Focus: Free lessons covering design software (Photoshop, Illustrator) and basic design principles. Strengths: Simple, bite-sized lessons that are easy to follow. Link: GCFGlobal Graphic Design
Books on Graphic Design
“The Elements of Graphic Design” by Alex W. White: Focus: A comprehensive guide to layout, typography, and visual hierarchy in design. Best For: Designers who want to focus on the foundations of layout and composition. “Thinking with Type” by Ellen Lupton: Focus: A fantastic resource for learning typography, one of the most critical aspects of graphic design. Best For: Anyone looking to master typography and improve their text-based designs. “Graphic Design: The New Basics” by Ellen Lupton and Jennifer Cole Phillips: Focus: Covers the core principles of graphic design with real-world applications. Best For: Beginners and intermediates who want to build a solid design foundation. “Logo Design Love” by David Airey: Focus: A book on creating impactful and timeless logos, exploring case studies and principles of logo design. Best For: Those focusing on branding and logo creation.
YouTube Channels
The Futur: Focus: Graphic design principles, logo design, branding, and client communication. Strengths: Real-world advice and tutorials by professional designers. Link: The Futur YouTube Satori Graphics: Focus: Graphic design tutorials and tips, focusing on Adobe Illustrator and general design principles. Strengths: Clear, concise tutorials on logo design, typography, and more. Link: Satori Graphics Will Paterson: Focus: Logo design, Illustrator tutorials, and branding insights. Strengths: Covers both technical design tutorials and the business side of graphic design. Link: Will Paterson Adobe Creative Cloud: Focus: Official Adobe tutorials and tips for mastering their suite of design tools. Strengths: High-quality, software-specific tutorials directly from Adobe experts. Link: Adobe Creative Cloud YouTube
Graphic Design Software
Adobe Creative Cloud: Industry-standard software for graphic design, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Link: Adobe Creative Cloud Affinity Designer (Alternative to Adobe Illustrator): Powerful vector design software with a one-time purchase option. Link: Affinity Designer Figma (Free for Beginners): A cloud-based design tool perfect for UI/UX design and collaborative projects. Link: Figma Inkscape (Free Open-Source Software): A great free alternative for vector design, similar to Illustrator. Link: Inkscape
Graphic Design Communities
Dribbble: A community where designers can showcase their work, get inspiration, and find design projects. Link: Dribbble Behance: Another platform for sharing design portfolios and discovering creative work from across the globe. Link: Behance Reddit’s /r/graphic_design: A forum where designers discuss projects, critique designs, and share learning resources. Link: Reddit Graphic Design
These resources provide a well-rounded approach to learning and mastering graphic design, whether it’s software proficiency, design principles, or branding. You can choose a combination of courses, books, and community engagement to create an effective learning path for your team. |