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    • Graphic Design

    Graphic Design Courses

    Graphic design courses can help you learn how to create visual content using layout, typography, and imagery to communicate ideas and tell stories.

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    Find the Best Graphic Design Course for Your Goals

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      C

      California Institute of the Arts

      Graphic Design

      Skills you'll gain: Typography, Design Elements And Principles, Graphic Design, Graphic and Visual Design Software, Photography, Design, Visual Design, Logo Design, Design Software, Photo Editing, Digital Design, Creative Design, Color Theory, Adobe InDesign, Graphic and Visual Design, Image Quality, Style Guides, Branding, Art History, Design Research

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      22K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      Status: AI skills
      AI skills
      A

      Adobe

      Adobe Graphic Designer

      Skills you'll gain: Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Responsible AI, Logo Design, Generative AI, Graphic Design, User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) Design, Visual Design, Digital Design, File Management, Process Design, Design Reviews, Prompt Engineering, Image Analysis, Presentations, Client Services, Content Creation, Marketing Collateral, Branding, Storytelling

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      1.5K reviews

      Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      C

      California Institute of the Arts

      Fundamentals of Graphic Design

      Skills you'll gain: Typography, Design Elements And Principles, Graphic Design, Graphic and Visual Design Software, Design, Visual Design, Photography, Design Software, Digital Design, Creative Design, Color Theory, Image Quality, Photo Editing, Creativity

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      18K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      U

      University of Colorado Boulder

      Graphic Design

      Skills you'll gain: Infographics, Graphic Design, Graphic and Visual Design, Graphic and Visual Design Software, Design, Visual Design, Graphics Software, Typography, Design Software, Design Reviews, Adobe Creative Cloud, Adobe Photoshop, Design Elements And Principles, Peer Review, Color Theory, Creativity

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      3.4K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      Status: AI skills
      AI skills
      G

      Google

      Google UX Design

      Skills you'll gain: Responsive Web Design, Storyboarding, Wireframing, User Experience Design, UI/UX Research, Usability Testing, Information Architecture, Presentations, User Research, Figma (Design Software), Design Reviews, Persona (User Experience), Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, Mobile Development, User Story, Data Ethics, Usability, User Centered Design, Interviewing Skills, Professional Development

      Build toward a degree

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      94K reviews

      Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

    • C

      Coursera Project Network

      Graphic design: pop your Linkedin with 3D effect using Canva

      Skills you'll gain: Canva (Software), LinkedIn, Graphic Design, Graphic and Visual Design, Computer Graphic Techniques, Social Media Content, Professional Networking, Design Elements And Principles

      4.4
      Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
      ·
      86 reviews

      Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours

    What brings you to Coursera today?

    • Status: New
      New
      Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      S

      Skillshare

      Graphic Design Theory - Web & Digital Design

      Skills you'll gain: User Interface (UI) Design, Responsive Web Design, User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) Design, Digital Design, Web Design, Motion Graphics, User Experience, Adobe XD, No-Code Development, Wireframing, Prototyping, Style Guides, Animations, Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR)

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      U

      University of Colorado Boulder

      Graphic Design Elements for Non-Designers

      Skills you'll gain: Logo Design, Color Theory, Design Elements And Principles, Graphic Design, Design, Typography, Graphic and Visual Design, User Experience Design, Graphic and Visual Design Software, Digital Design, Image Quality, Adobe InDesign, Creative Design, Design Software, Content Creation, Design Research, Information Architecture, Adobe Photoshop, Web Design and Development, File Management

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      1.6K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      X

      Xbox

      Xbox Graphic Designer

      Skills you'll gain: Color Theory, User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) Design, Logo Design, Typography, User Interface (UI), Interaction Design, Figma (Design Software), Adobe Illustrator, Design Reviews, Wireframing, Usability, Graphic and Visual Design, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, Adobe Photoshop, User Experience, Graphic Design, User Centered Design, Photo Editing, Peer Review, Game Design

      4.5
      Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
      ·
      61 reviews

      Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      A

      Adobe

      Design Fundamentals with AI

      Skills you'll gain: Typography, Logo Design, Responsible AI, Creative Design, Visual Design, Graphic and Visual Design Software, Graphic Design, User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) Design, Color Theory, Content Creation, Generative AI Agents

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      1.1K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • C

      Coursera Project Network

      Build your business brand using Canva

      Skills you'll gain: Canva (Software), Logo Design, Branding, Brand Strategy, Graphic Design, Target Audience, Social Media Content, Marketing Materials, Social Media, Scheduling, Presentations, Content Creation, Social Media Marketing

      4.4
      Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
      ·
      73 reviews

      Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours

    • Status: New
      New
      Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      S

      Skillshare

      Graphic Design Theory - Print Design

      Skills you'll gain: Graphic Design, Adobe InDesign, Graphic and Visual Design, Logo Design, Design, Typography, Color Theory, Adobe Photoshop, Style Guides, Design Elements And Principles, Proofreading, Adobe Illustrator, File Management, Creativity

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

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    In summary, here are 10 of our most popular graphic design courses

    • Graphic Design: California Institute of the Arts
    • Adobe Graphic Designer: Adobe
    • Fundamentals of Graphic Design: California Institute of the Arts
    • Graphic Design: University of Colorado Boulder
    • Google UX Design: Google
    • Graphic design: pop your Linkedin with 3D effect using Canva: Coursera Project Network
    • Graphic Design Theory - Web & Digital Design: Skillshare
    • Graphic Design Elements for Non-Designers: University of Colorado Boulder
    • Xbox Graphic Designer: Xbox
    • Design Fundamentals with AI: Adobe

    Why Learn Graphic Design?

    Graphic design is the art of visual communication—using images, typography, and layout to convey ideas and tell stories. It’s essential in marketing, branding, and digital content, shaping how people engage with information every day. Whether you’re building creative skills or expanding career options, graphic design supports versatile, impactful work across industries.

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    Frequently Asked Questions about Graphic Design

    Browse the graphic design courses below—popular starting points on Coursera.

    • Graphic Design: Adobe
    • Fundamentals of Graphic Design: California Institute of the Arts
    • Graphic Design: University of Colorado Boulder
    • Graphic Design Theory - Web & Digital Design: Skillshare‎

    Consider whether you're starting from scratch, building a portfolio, or learning tools like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, or Figma.

    • For a comprehensive design foundation, explore the Graphic Design Specialization by CalArts—it covers design principles, typography, and branding.
    • If you're focused on tools and technical skills, try Adobe Illustrator for Beginners or Getting Started with Figma.
    • For branding and real-world application, consider Brand New Brand from CalArts. ‎

    If you're new to graphic design, these beginner-friendly options offer foundational skills and hands-on experience:

    • Fundamentals of Graphic Design by CalArts – A strong entry point that introduces core design principles and visual literacy.
    • Graphic Design Elements for Non-Designers by the University of Colorado – Great for learning layout, color, and typography basics.
    • Create a Business Marketing Brand Kit Using Canva – A quick Guided Project to build a design portfolio piece with beginner-friendly tools.‎
    • A course focuses on a single skill such as Fundamentals of Graphic Design.
    • A Specialization builds creative and technical depth across multiple areas—like the Graphic Design Specialization from CalArts.
    • A Professional Certificate prepares you for creative roles through hands-on work and career-focused content—such as Adobe Graphic Designer Certificate or the Xbox Graphic Designer Certificate, which includes UI and visual design skills relevant to graphic designers.‎

    Take a quick quiz to discover which graphic design course best aligns with your interests—whether you’re learning the basics, building a portfolio, or diving into tools like Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop. Take the quiz to find your ideal starting point.

    Want to compare top options first? Use ChatGPT to explore and compare courses before you dive in.‎

    Yes. You can start learning graphic design on Coursera for free in two ways:

    • Preview the first module of many graphic design courses at no cost. This includes video lessons, readings, graded assignments, and Coursera Coach (where available).
    • Start a 7-day free trial for Specializations or Coursera Plus. This gives you full access to all course content across eligible programs within the timeframe of your trial.

    If you want to keep learning, earn a certificate in graphic design, or unlock full course access after the preview or trial, you can upgrade or apply for financial aid.‎

    You can learn design basics like color, typography, layout, and composition, as well as how to use tools like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and Canva. Some courses also cover portfolio design, branding, and working with real-world client briefs.‎

    No experience is needed to get started. Many Coursera courses are made for beginners and walk you through the core principles and tools at your own pace.‎

    Yes. Graphic design is a skill used in many creative and marketing roles. Taking a course on Coursera can help you learn how to design professional visuals, build a portfolio, and show employers that you’ve developed real, practical skills.‎

    Color theory is the study of how colors interact and the visual effects they create when combined. It includes principles like the color wheel, complementary colors, and color harmony, and is essential in art, design, and branding. Courses like Fundamentals of Graphic Design from CalArts on Coursera cover color theory as part of visual communication skills.‎

    This FAQ content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

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