Even though many of today’s high school students are extremely well-versed in technology, many of them desire an opportunity to be creative whenever they can. If this sounds like you or a student you know, graphic design might be a great choice! Learning these creative skills at an early age can prepare you to enter the workforce with a solid foundation in many marketable skills. There are plenty of high-paying jobs that require experience in graphic design as well, meaning learning the basics at an early age will put you ahead of your peers. Developing your own unique design style can help boost your confidence as well.
There are several options for summer courses where you can learn graphic design as a high school student, including Noble Desktop partner school NextGen Bootcamp’s live online graphic design summer camp and NYC graphic design summer program. Read on to learn more about different programs that teach high school students graphic design skills over the summer.
Types of Graphic Design Summer Programs for High School Students
There are several types of graphic design programs that are sure to meet a variety of needs for high school students. One major difference is the in-person vs. virtual learning option. Virtual learning is convenient for students who perhaps prefer to work alone or live in a more rural setting where in-person options aren’t available. These programs also vary in length, meaning some are more intensive and others require less of a time commitment. Some classes are one hour per week, making it easier for students who have other responsibilities to find time to study.
Some programs also cater to beginners while others are meant for students with more graphic design experience. It’s important for those who already have some foundational knowledge to still feel challenged and boost their skills. Another key difference between these programs is the agency that provides them. Some are offered through private companies and others are made available through partnerships with colleges and universities. These programs might be particularly exciting for students who want an opportunity to live on a college campus and get a feel for what dorm life is like.
#1 NextGen Bootcamp—Graphic Design Summer Camp
What is Taught in This Program?
NextGen Bootcamp offers their Graphic Design Summer Camp both virtually and in-person. This course covers theories of graphic design so students have a better understanding of current trends. The curriculum also includes foundational elements of the Adobe programs Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. By the end of the program, students will be able to complete fundamental graphic design projects like retouching photos, designing appealing page layouts, and creating logos from scratch.
What Level of Difficulty is This Program?
The NextGen program is geared towards beginners with little or no previous experience with graphic design.
Where Does This Program Take Place?
This course is taught in-person at NextGen’s New York City campus which is located near the New York University Campus near the Financial District. Students can also take the course virtually at the same time the class is taught (Eastern Standard Time). Remote students will use Zoom to engage with their instructor and classmates.
How Long Does This Program Last?
Both the online and in-person courses last for two weeks. The online program is 30 hours and the in-person sessions last for a total of 50 hours.
What is the Recommended Age Range?
This program is designed for high school students.
How Much Does This Program Cost?
The price of NextGen’s graphic design course depends on which version you enroll in. The in-person class is $2,495 and the virtual class is $1,299. The full tuition is required before class begins. Students will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the program. NextGen students are also able to retake the course for free within one year.
NextGen does not offer any financial aid when taking this course. However, if students are interested in combining graphic design with another discipline may be interested in their Graphic Design and Video Editing Certificate, which combines these two courses at a greatly reduced cost.
#2: Noble Desktop—Graphic Design Certificate
What is Taught in This Program?
Noble Desktop has a Graphic Design Certificate available over the summer. In this program, students are taught the principles of graphic design that build the foundation for current trends, such as composition and typography. Students also learn to use the main software programs that are used by modern Graphic Designers– Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator. The projects that you create throughout the program will be added to a portfolio that you can show off to college admissions officers or potential employers.
What Level of Difficulty is This Program?
This program is suitable for beginners as long as they are familiar with basic computer skills.
Where Does This Program Take Place?
Noble Desktop’s graphic design programs are available in-person or online. Their campus is located in Manhattan, giving nearby students an excellent opportunity to explore the city. Online participants use Zoom to engage with their classmates in real-time.
How Long Does This Program Last?
Students who enroll full-time will spend a month in this program; part-time students will take three months to complete the course.
What is the Recommended Age Range?
High school students who are about to turn 18 or are 18 already are eligible to participate.
How Much Does This Program Cost?
The tuition for this certificate program is $2,995. Students can finance their tuition with a loan or pay in installments if they cannot pay the full amount up front. This price also includes individual career mentoring sessions and the option to retake the class for free within a year. Taking advantage of a free retake can help galvanize core concepts and enable students to add additional projects to their portfolios.
#3: Noble Desktop—Digital Design Certificate
What is Taught in This Program?
For students who want to learn to design for the digital space in addition to traditional graphic design concepts, Noble Desktop has a Digital Design Certificate available. This course covers the same Adobe programs that are taught in the Graphic Design program (Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign), while emphasizing additional software programs that are used for User Interface (UI) Design. These programs include Adobe XD and Figma.
What Level of Difficulty is This Program?
No design experience is necessary to enroll in this class. Students should have familiarity with basic computer skills.
Where Does This Program Take Place?
Students can attend either in-person or online. Be aware that the online course is live and the times listed are in EST.
How Long Does This Program Last?
The full-time version takes seven weeks in the summer. Students who want to enroll part-time will spend five months in the class; these sessions are held on weekday evenings or full days on Sundays.
What is the Recommended Age Range?
High schoolers who are either close to turning 18 or have turned 18 already are able to sign up.
How Much Does This Program Cost?
The total cost of this certification is $3,995 and includes 132 hours of instruction. In addition, students receive take-home materials that they can refer back to, a certificate of completion, and career mentoring sessions with their instructor. Because it is one of the more extensive courses offered by Noble Desktop, they do have installment and financing plans available. Students are also eligible to retake the course for free within one year.
#4 Tufts University Pre-College - SMFA Graphic Design Bootcamp
What is Taught in This Program?
Tufts University offers a Graphic Design Bootcamp through their School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA). This pre-college program teaches students fundamental graphic design skills using software found in the Adobe Creative Cloud. The course also features lectures from current professionals and culminates in a final showcase. Whether students are interested in communications, marketing, or the arts, this bootcamp teaches valuable skills that will help high school students on their path to a lucrative and creative career.
What Level of Difficulty is This Program?
Tuft's bootcamp is intended for beginner learners. The application packet does give students the option to submit previous graphic designs but this is not a requirement for admission
Where Does This Program Take Place?
This program is conducted through virtual platforms. Students use Zoom and Canvas to engage with instructors and fellow classmates.
How Long Does This Program Last?
Tuft’s summer program lasts for one week. Classes are Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm EST.
What is the Recommended Age Range?
Students who are interested in applying should either be entering grades 10-12 or have just graduated from high school in the spring of 2022.
How Much Does This Program Cost?
This program is $2,000 per person. There is limited availability for financial aid, which is distributed to students on a rolling basis until the funding is exhausted.
#5 Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes - Product Design
What is Taught in This Program?
Stanford’s Pre-College Product Design program immerses students in the world of creative design. Students will learn fundamental skills in product design and design engineering. The material is taught through group discussions, lectures, and individual projects that are meant to strengthen problem-solving skills. Students will end the course with a design portfolio that can be used for college applications, internship applications, and more.
What Level of Difficulty is This Program?
The website for this program doesn’t explicitly state a level of difficulty, but no mention is made of any required prerequisites or necessary previous experience. It should be noted that the application is rigorous and students should demonstrate a passion for the topic of the course they apply for.
Where Does This Program Take Place?
This summer program takes place virtually.
How Long Does This Program Last?
Stanford’s pre-college graphic design program lasts for two weeks. Classes are two hours per day, Monday through Friday. Outside of these two-hour classes, students will have assignments that need to be completed outside of class. These include assigned readings, group projects, and reviewing pre-recorded lectures.
What is the Recommended Age Range?
To enroll in this program, students must be in 8th - 11th grade at the time of their application
How Much Does This Program Cost?
Stanford’s program costs $2,700 per student. There is financial support available for students with a demonstrated need. Students will also receive a certificate of completion and a written evaluation from their teacher at the end of the program.
#6 UCLA Pre-College Summer Institutes - Design Media Arts
What is Taught in This Program?
UCLA offers a Design Media Arts Summer Institute as part of its summer programming. This program introduces students to a variety of media including 3D games, video, and print. Students use what they learn to create a multimedia project at the end of the course. Courses are taught by an instructor and their assistant. Class sizes are limited to a maximum of 20 to ensure students receive the attention they need to be successful.
What Level of Difficulty is This Program?
Beginners are welcome to join this course.
Where Does This Program Take Place?
This program is taught on the UCLA campus in Los Angeles, California. Students will live in the dorms and get an idea of what life is like on a college campus.
How Long Does This Program Last?
UCLA’s program lasts for two weeks in the summer.
What is the Recommended Age Range?
In order to apply, students must be enrolling in grades 9-12 by the spring of 2022. Additionally, students must be 15 or older to participate.
How Much Does This Program Cost?
The total cost for this program is $4,142. This price includes the registration fee, programming fee, and housing fee. The housing includes two meals a day, supervision by older students, and group activities at night and on the weekends. UCLA also offers scholarships for this program. There are both needs-based and merit-based scholarships available.
#7 iD Tech - Design with YouTube and Adobe
What is Taught in This Program?
As a part of their Creative track, iD Tech has a Design with YouTube and Adobe course for students interested in graphic design and social media. This course teaches students a combination of graphic design techniques with Adobe Photoshop, Animate, and Premiere Pro. It also helps students learn how to storyboard for YouTube so they can create anything from short tutorials to documentaries.
What Level of Difficulty is This Program?
Students of all abilities can join iD Tech’s program. The instructors gauge students' abilities and can assign additional projects for more advanced students.
Where Does This Program Take Place?
This class is taught virtually. Be aware that students need to have their own computer with a webcam and the Adobe Master Collection already installed before class begins.
How Long Does This Program Last?
The iD Tech design course lasts for ten weeks. Live online sessions take place one hour per week. These sessions are taught by certified instructors and class sizes are typically around five students.
What is the Recommended Age Range?
Students ages 13-17 are eligible to take this class. 12-year-old students can register for the summer session as long as they turn 13 by the first day of class.
How Much Does This Program Cost?
This program is $649 per 10-week session. This price includes the hour-long online sessions, free office hours every Thursday, and an official certificate of completion at the end of the course.
Why Learn Graphic Design During the Summer?
Even if you’re not sure that you want to pursue a long-term career in graphic design, learning the basics at an early age can still help build many valuable skills for the future. Graphic design is an extremely hands-on process, and research shows that project-based learning helps people better retain information. Learning about design trends now will help you become more aware of how things change over time, which is a helpful skill regardless of your chosen career path. Working as a freelance graphic designer is also a fun way to earn extra money. Many young people will do design work for local businesses to start their portfolios and build their professional reputations.
Graphic designers are required to work with many different software programs to complete their work. These skills can lead to many different jobs outside of graphic design itself. One option is to become a User Interface (UI) Designer. These professionals build the look and feel of mobile applications and websites and ensure the user has a positive experience. They have a unique ability to create designs that are visually appealing and accessible to users. UI Designers make an estimated annual salary of around $86,000 per year. Motion Graphics Designers also require similar skills. They usually use programs like Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects and display their work in areas like social media, film, or television. These professionals generally earn around $64,000 annually.
Which Graphic Design Summer Program is Right for Me?
After seeing the range of available options, it’s understandable that you might be feeling a little overwhelmed. There are a few factors to consider when narrowing down your choices. Taking the time to do this before enrolling will help ensure that you’ve selected the right program to meet your unique needs.
For many families, finances are the primary concern when it comes to enrolling their child in a class like this. While learning skills in graphic design can lead to a high-paying job later in life, investing a thousand dollars (or more) in a program can be a daunting undertaking. If cost is a worry, you may want to eliminate programs that don’t offer any financial aid from your search.
When considering the cost of a program, it’s also important to consider the length of the course compared to the price. For instance, the iD Tech virtual program is $649 for ten hours and the NextGen virtual program is $1,299 for 30 hours. While NextGen’s program costs more overall, the price per hour is much lower.
It is also important to recognize your current comfort level with graphic design concepts. If you’ve worked with programs like Photoshop and InDesign before, a beginner course may feel like a waste of time; these programs should be challenging without being overwhelming. Advanced students might feel more comfortable in iD Tech’s program since they cater to all skill levels.
Finally, it’s vital to consider your learning style when enrolling in a summer program. Some students thrive in a more traditional classroom environment while others do their best learning from the comfort of their home. Most programs mentioned above offer a virtual course, but if you prefer in-person learning, consider keeping either NextGen or UCLA at the top of your list.
As you can see, summer graphic design programs can accommodate a range of financial and educational needs. Enrolling in one of these programs can feel overwhelming at first, but spending the time to find the best program for your situation will go a long way towards providing you with the most valuable learning experience possible.