The term “graphic design” refers to any visual communication of a message or idea, generally through artwork that involves images and/or text. While there are still many Designers who work with pen and paper, the field has evolved to include digital tools as well, including programs and applications built to facilitate the design process. A successful Designer knows how to use these tools in conjunction with fundamental elements of design like color, emphasis, proportion, and alignment to create engaging and eye-catching works of art.
Careers within the tech space tend to be centered around fields like coding and data science which require extreme precision and have little room for error. Graphic design, while still in the realm of technology due to the popularity of today’s design programs, allows for more wiggle room when it comes to creative freedoms. If you have an eye for design but are also interested in technology, graphic design is the perfect discipline! Training in the field can be applied in many of Long Island and NYC’s top companies.
Graphic Design Careers on Long Island
There are several roles you can pursue with graphic design training; obviously Graphic Designer is one option, but it is far from the only one. There are other types of Designer positions in related specialties like UI (User Interface) as well as visual or digital design. With enough experience and the right portfolio, you can eventually become a Design Director. While most of these jobs need education beyond your initial graphic design training, the courses you start out with will set the stage for a lucrative career path.
On Long Island, you can expect to earn $70,000 to $80,000 in most Designer positions, with Design Director roles coming in higher, around $115,000. You can search for graphic design careers in a variety of companies; the skills you’ll acquire are often needed on internal marketing teams across industries. There are also several full-service digital marketing agencies in NYC where you could look for design roles, or the growing network of startups and tech companies is another promising option.
In-Person Graphic Design Classes on Long Island
Deciding between face-to-face and remote learning can be a tough choice, especially if you don’t really have a preference between one or the other. A few advantages of in-person learning include easy access to your instructor if you have questions about difficult coursework and the chance to network with like-minded peers, as well as access to the equipment and programs you’ll need for your classes. Since graphic design often involves apps that need to be licensed, like the Adobe Creative Cloud, taking an in-person class can save you a few weeks or months of paying those monthly fees.
Graphic Design Classes from Noble Desktop
Top NYC design school Noble Desktop offers multiple graphic design courses at its Midtown Manhattan facility. Noble is located in Manhattan, which is a fairly manageable commute depending on where on Long Island you are. You can take the LIRR to Penn Station, which is under a mile from the location.
Noble’s graphic design courses are taught in small groups; this means that you’re sure to have ample attention from the instructor should questions arise throughout the course. This is especially helpful if you’ve never worked with design programs like those in the Adobe Creative Cloud before. It can take some time to become familiar with the different tools and capabilities of new applications, especially if you are more used to drawing by hand.
When you’re ready to take a course, Noble offers an array of graphic design courses you can take onsite. If you already have some design experience and are looking to supplement your existing education with a new program, there are 18-hour bootcamps available in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, Adobe’s most popular apps for the field. Those preparing for a career in the specialty would be better off with the Graphic Design Certificate, a comprehensive program that teaches all of the necessary Adobe apps as well as fundamental concepts and principles of graphic design. The certificate also includes four one-on-one sessions with an expert mentor who can give valuable advice on course concepts, job applications, and your design portfolio.
Other Graphic Design Classes
There are other graphic design courses available through ONLC, Certstaff, Future Media Concepts, and New Horizons. All of these schools offer individualized courses in the Adobe Creative Cloud apps used by Designers and other related professionals in the field. Most are geared toward beginners, but New Horizons and Future Media Concepts both offer advanced curriculum as well if you’re looking to upskill.
If you’d prefer to design for related fields like UX/UI or visual design, there are courses in those subjects at General Assembly and Columbia Engineering. Columbia’s program is a 24-week bootcamp, but GA offers shorter courses.
Virtual Graphic Design Classes
Did you know that live online courses offer some of the same benefits as their in-person counterparts, including real-time feedback and instruction by subject matter experts? With today’s teleconference capabilities, you can get a comparable experience to face-to-face courses if commuting is not an option.
If learning from your home or office sounds appealing, keep in mind that each of Noble’s graphic design courses and certificates is available live online. Whether you’re looking to learn about one (or more) of Adobe Creative Cloud’s programs or to prepare for a career in an immersive certificate, you can do it all virtually. As long as you have your own computer and a stable internet connection, you’ll be able to attend courses nearly identical to what you’d experience in the in-person environment.
Graphic Design Bootcamps on Long Island
Graphic Designers and related professionals must be versed in several tools, programs, and concepts to achieve success in their field. If you are new to the profession, it can be intimidating when you first encounter job descriptions that require such a broad collection of skills. Graphic design bootcamps offer a way for newcomers to gain all of the necessary qualifications for their desired career path. A bootcamp is an immersive learning experience that takes more time than a traditional single class, but less than a college degree.
Over several weeks or months in a graphic design bootcamp, participants learn the design principles, programs, and concepts needed to join the profession. Noble Desktop and other providers including General Assembly and Columbia offer graphic design bootcamps on Long Island and NYC. Noble’s Graphic Design Certificate and related programs like the Digital Design Certificate, Visual Design Certificate, or UX & UI Certificate would all be excellent ways to prepare for a career in each field, depending on where your interests lie. These courses can be taken in-person at Noble’s Manhattan facility or live online from your home, office, or anywhere else!
High School Graphic Design Classes on Long Island
Most of Noble Desktop’s project-based courses are geared toward career-minded adults, but there is an option available for younger students interested in coding or design as well. Noble’s subsidiary, NextGen Bootcamp, offers summer courses for middle and high school students looking to learn a new skill.
There are summer graphic design courses for high school students available through NextGen, including a 4-week Graphic Design Summer Certificate. The certificate program introduces students to Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, and key design concepts and processes that will allow them to use the apps properly. Since graphic design can be a lucrative career path on Long Island and NYC, this course would be a fantastic chance for students to get a jump-start toward a high-paying job straight out of high school.
Corporate & Onsite Graphic Design Training on Long Island
Graphic design experience can benefit nearly any company because it is used for a wide variety of purposes. Skills from graphic design training can be used to create logos, images for social media posts, brochures, website elements, and countless other marketing and branding materials.
If your company’s artwork needs refreshing, you might consider holding onsite or virtual corporate graphic design training through Noble Desktop’s fully customizable programs. There are several options to choose from; you might hold onsite training sessions at the office, where an expert instructor travels to your location to educate employees on graphic design programs and concepts. If you’d rather use an external location, Noble offers private group training held at their state-of-the-art Manhattan facility as well. Discounted vouchers to existing courses and/or training through virtual teleconference are also available.
Ready to learn more? Send an email to hello@nobledesktop.com for a goal-oriented consultation on the programs that would best fit your business needs.