The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best Graphic Design Course

In recent years, with digital transformation kicking into the scene, the graphic design industry has encountered remarkable growth substantiated by several growth factors including the role played by visual content in marketing strategies. As per a recent market survey, this transition towards a video-based marketing approach has signalled significant growth in the graphic design industry to an impressive figure of $45.8 Billion by 2026.

This trend is a by-product of the overlapping of design skills with a specific set of industry requirements. For instance, similar principles of graphic design are applied across organizations to design their brand identity through logos and visuals. In contrast, another utility of graphic design can be observed for a brand's marketing initiatives. Likewise, the list goes on to incorporate other applications of visual arts in motion graphics, product design and UI design among others. This article serves as a comprehensive guide to those looking to make a career in graphic design but lacking the perspective on the types of design courses available in the market.

First Thing: Understanding the Goal for Learning the Graphic Design Course!

Before we introduce you to the vast opportunities ahead of a successful career in graphic design, it becomes essential to identify the individual goals for different skill levels. For this purpose, knowing which type of course option will land you on the right career path for your graphic design career.  Here is a detailed breakup of the course options which are as follows:

Fundamental Courses

These types of courses are ideal for learners who are just starting their journey in graphic design and are not very familiar with the latest happenings in the industry. Introductory courses impart primitive knowledge of some of the fundamental graphic design concepts like principles of design and colour scheme, software and tools that enable a hands-on learning experience for the learners.

Intermediate Courses

The type of courses aligned with this skill level match up with an individual's competence in graphic design and would like to enhance their skills further. In other words, these courses are specifically curated for someone looking to master the advanced concepts associated with design such as colour theory, typography and user experience design.

Specialized Courses

Specialized courses are ideal for professionals who show exemplary knowledge and work experience in the field of graphic design and wish to extend their learning to its parallel sub-disciplines like UI/UX, motion graphics and VFX.  Individuals pursuing this type of course generally consider graphic design as their mainstream career and show immense aspirations in learning advanced topics like branding, UX design and 3D illustrations which are key functionalities to contemporary industries.

Types of Graphic Design Courses

Now, after getting acquainted with the level of skills you possess it’s time to dive into the pool of graphic design courses available in the market. We have curated a list of design courses with their unique offerings that result in creating differentiation and a significant value for each type of course.

Certification Course  

These are usually short-term courses that primarily focus on specific aspects of graphic design with the focus on getting terms to skills that are relevant to mastering a particular area of a graphic design project. This type, of course, is deemed ideal for beginners or working professionals in different domains, who wish to make graphic design their secondary career option.  The time duration for such courses generally falls in the range of 1-6 months with a primary focus on making someone adept at the fundamentals of design principles and work-specific skills. Below is an illustration of the types of certification courses and their USPs:

Certificate in DTP & Video Editing:  This course focuses on Desktop Publishing (DTP) & Video Editing imparting fundamentals of software proficiency in Adobe In Design, QuarkXPress, and basics of image manipulation and print production.  This course blends theoretical knowledge with practical aspects of DTP thereby building a strong work portfolio for the media & entertainment industry. Given the short span of this certification program, it is the best graphic design course in Ghaziabad.

Certificate Course in Motion Graphic Design: This course covers the fundamentals of animation principles through its applications using keyframing techniques, compositing and Visual Effects (VFX).  This course usually spans a timeline of 3 months with the initial few weeks working on the proficiency of cinematic tools like Cinema 4D and After Effects, and later weeks covering practical aspects of Advanced VFX techniques such as compositing and sequencing.  MAAC Institute is one such institute that offers advanced certification courses in motion graphics design.

Diploma/ UG Courses

A diploma course serves as a more detailed alternative to its counterpart covering the technical aspects of design opening a gateway to a much wider scope of opportunities across industries. With the average duration for such courses being between 1-2years, they cover a wide array of subjects including topics like wire framing, layout design, User Experience (UX) design and fundamentals of HTML/CSS.  Moreover, Diploma or UG courses alike offer ample time for learners to absorb the intricate design concepts and make them job-ready. Here is a list of a few diploma courses with the corresponding design areas covered within them:

Advanced Diploma in Graphic & Web Designing:  This course brings technology and design together by binding the concepts of design with web-based rendering to expect responsive design across devices.  It is a perfect option for someone already having a background in web development and willing to switch between the two options i.e. graphic and web design.  With an average course duration of 1-2years, the course offers a comprehensive learning roadmap for beginners as well as intermediate learners

Diploma in Corporate Identity and Visual Communication:  As the name suggests, the course aims at developing skills in branding, visual communication and corporate identity design among others. The course offerings, it is well suited for someone looking to streamline a company's marketing efforts through core branding strategies.

Online Courses

Online courses serve as a more potent alternative to graphic design courses given the vast degree of flexibility and accessibility that they offer making it a ubiquitous mode of learning. These types of courses play a major role in supporting learners with portfolio development during practical learning. Below is a list of a few online courses that offer great value along with a comprehensive curriculum.

Graphic Design Master Class for Intermediate by Udemy: This course covers some of the advanced topics in the curriculum including UI/UX, motion graphics and VFX. It is specifically catered to intermediate-level learners who already have some understanding of the basics of graphic design principles.

Graphic Design for Marketing by University of Colorado: This course equips you with designing effective marketing materials like flyers, social media graphics and posters helping in getting you closer to the marketing principles and target audience analysis.

Evaluating Graphic Design Course Content & Syllabus

Comparison between different Graphic Design Courses

Now, upon getting a better perspective on the different types of courses available let’s take a bird eye view to evaluate them based on their key offerings.  The table below performs a comparison between the different types of courses discussed above:

Certificate Course

Curriculum: Short-term, specific to a particular topic in the entire course. Thus, offering limited scope in terms of projects.

Career opportunities: It generally offers entry-level positions, which only need a basic skill level.

Cost: These courses usually are affordable given the short span of the course.

Diploma/UG

Curriculum: It includes broad topics that are detailed and work best in the full-time learning mode. Provide hands-on experience that the other two may lack.

Career opportunities: It involves roles spanning across major industries with mid-scale opportunities ahead.

Cost: Diploma and UG courses are generally moderate to expensive given the vast course curriculum that it entails.

Online

Curriculum:  It shifts its focus from specific skills to comprehensive courses covering every aspect of the visual elements. Self-paced mode of learning is one thing that is indeed sought by many.

Career opportunities: This involves playing key roles in top-notch design positions which include specific skill enhancements including UI/UX, and product packaging among others.

Cost: They are generally more affordable given the choice of easy finance options available to ease the burden on learners.

Final word!

As we reach the end of this article, here is the gist of the key insights that have surfaced from the analysis of the different choices of graphic design courses available in the market. When choosing between a certificate, diploma and online courses in graphic design, it is essential to identify the goals before pursuing the type of skills corresponding to each. Upon evaluating the key offerings of each course type, we recommend taking up certificate courses for a quick skill acquisition whereas diploma courses offer a balance between in-depth education and the time constraint.  Lastly, online courses offer a more flexible mode of learning which also comes with affordability.