A hundred years ago, when people wanted to learn something, they usually had to travel to a place where there were schools specialized in a certain trade or science or go to a university. Usually, neither of the two options was easy to do or cheap. However, the situation today is completely different, thanks to our computers and the Internet, which allow us to access almost all human knowledge and quickly learn about anything that we find interesting, from growing avocados to civil engineering or how to hack online casino (not recommendable). If you look hard enough, you can find anything. And the situation is the same when it comes to graphic design, which is especially easy to learn with numerous courses, online magazines and websites dedicated to it that can help you get to know more about this form of art.
1. Skillshare
If you watched any YouTube videos recently, chances are that you have run into a Skillshare ad. Even though it sounds too easy, it is a great platform for beginners, as there are plenty of graphic design courses that can help you learn the ropes, if you have enough free time for learning.
2. Alison Online
This is another great website that you can visit in order to find courses that will improve your skills. This one is great not only for beginner graphic designers, but also for more experienced designers who want to go a step further and additionally hone their skills, or just learn to use a new program for their art. You can choose courses like Visual And Graphic Skills, Photoshop Essentials, and numerous others, all based on your preferences.
3. DesignLab
This website gives you the opportunity to learn through hands-on engagement in projects, which will not only enable you to learn graphic design but also how you can apply your newly acquired knowledge to real projects and problems. You can have your very own mentor that can help you with your progress through weekly Skype sessions. If you like to learn through working, this is the ideal platform for you.
4. CreativePro
The one of two entries on this list that does not include online courses, CreativePro is an online magazine where you can find everything related to graphic design, from articles written by experts in the field, to videos that can come in handy in those situations when nothing seems to be moving forward.
5. The Elements of Graphic Design
This is a book that is best suited for beginners. Also available as an ebook, it provides an excellent insight into the basic notions of graphic design including page architecture, typography, and many other elements that graphic designers need to know about. Aside from technical terms, it also features a part dedicated to the history of graphic design.
