Can I Be a Graphic Designer Without a Degree? » 3 Great Courses

How to Become a Graphic Designer Without a Degree

Whether you want to change careers or don’t want to go to college, you probably want to choose a career that doesn’t require a ton of education. Graphic design is a popular field, and you can enter it if you have the right skills and tools. Of course, a degree can help, but don’t worry if you don’t have a degree.

• Learn as much as you can about design. That includes design principles, methods, and design programs.
• Consider specializing in one area of design. Specialists usually have more skills in one area, so they are more in demand than general designers.
• Practice designing to come up with your own style. Use personal projects and this practice to build your portfolio.
• If you want to do some freelance design work, learn some essential business skills. That way, you can stand out to potential clients, and you won’t have to rely on someone else to find work for you.

Becoming a graphic designer is pretty simple if you follow the right steps. While some jobs may require a degree, you can create an amazing portfolio to show off your skills. Some employers may only want someone with a degree, but some might be convinced to hire you just by your work.

Thanks to the internet, more people can learn about graphic design than ever, and that includes you. You can then take those skills and build a career in design. If you want some more ideas of what to do to become a graphic designer without a degree, click here.

Why Take Courses to Be a Graphic Designer

Even if you don’t go to a formal graphic design school, you should still take a course or two to improve your skills. Of course, you learn about design through trial and error. However, some skills are much easier to learn when you have some direction.

• The basics of graphic design are an essential part of almost everything you create. Because of that, you should learn the basics through a course that walks you through all of the steps.
• Some graphic design courses cover topics like different design programs. You can use those classes to learn about how to use Adobe Illustrator and other software.
• If you decide to specialize in one type of design, taking a course in that area can further your experience and credentials. Niche design classes can go more in-depth than general courses, so you can learn even more about the subject.

The right graphic design courses can help you learn more about the world of design. While you may not need to take a course to land a job, it will only help you in your career. After all, you want to be knowledgeable about your field, even if you don’t specialize in anything.

“If you don’t go down the degree route, you can focus your attention on a specific niche or specialty.” -Creative Bloq

Graphic Design Bootcamp: Part 1

When you first start to become a graphic designer, you need to learn about the basic principles of design. The course Graphic Design Bootcamp: Part 1 is an excellent option for learning the basics. You can take the skills you learn in the class and apply them to other courses or projects.

• This course teaches you how to work with print and web design projects. You’ll also learn how to use a few popular design programs, like Photoshop and Illustrator.
• You can also learn how to build your skills and make yourself more employable as a designer. This can help you land clients or a full-time job.
• The course will also teach you how to create a variety of designs, including business cards and web graphics. You can use this course to figure out what you’re interested in, and that could help you decide on a specialization.

While there are other basic graphic design courses out there, this particular course is affordable and includes tons of information. You can access the course long after you first enroll, and there are plenty of assignments to test your skills. Just make sure you have access to the Adobe Creative Cloud so that you can complete those assignments.

The course is great for anyone with some computer experience, even if you don’t have design experience. You can learn more about this course here.

Mastering Illustrator Tools & Techniques for Creating Geometric Grid-Based Designs

Once you learn the basics of graphic design, it’s time to learn more about the various software that you’ll have to use. Of course, many introductory design courses will have some information about design programs. However, a specialized course like this one will provide you with even more information on how to get the most out of a program.

• The course will teach you how to create bold, geometric designs in Illustrator. You can use those skills for minimalist designs or something more eccentric.
• You’ll learn about various workflows you can use to create these designs. That way, you don’t have to waste time trying different methods to work in the program.
• This process works for designing almost anything in Illustrator. Some examples include print designs, logos, and infographics.

Of course, if you want or need to learn a different design program, there is probably a course out there for that. Considering Illustrator is a common design program, the Mastering Illustrator Tools & Techniques for Creating Geometric Grid-Based Designs course is a great starting point. You can always learn other programs later as needed.

One nice thing about this course is that it’s part of Skillshare. If you sign up, you can access tons of different courses, so you can learn all about design with just one subscription. You can check out the course here.

Mastering Logo Design

Every company needs a logo, and many companies need help with designing that logo. If you want to specialize in logo design, consider taking the Mastering Logo Design course. After you complete it, you can show potential clients that you have the skills to design logos, and you’re more specialized than a typical designer.

• This course teaches you about the Golden Ratio and how that can apply to logos and design. You’ll also learn when to use the ratio.
• Creating complex logos is another big part of the course. If a company wants a detailed logo, you can use the skills from this course to create one.
• You’ll also learn how to fine-tune your designs to create the results that your client wants. The details can make or break the finished product.

Whether you want to use the Golden Ratio or not, specializing in logo design can be a great way to market yourself as a new designer. Taking a class on logo design specifically can help you build your skills in that area. If you want to know more about the course, click here.

Final Thoughts

While some careers require college, you can enter many fields without a degree, and graphic design is one of those fields. Still, you should learn some essential design skills before starting out. That way, you will appear more serious and professional to potential clients and employers.