Graphic Design Classes for High School Students in Orlando, FL

The graphic design field has grown exponentially over the last 30 years. Once the realm of designers using traditional tools like pen and ink, graphic design today encompasses the visual and textual elements you see on websites, in ads, and virtually anywhere you find imagery.

As the internet revolutionized industry, graphic design pros have turned to software like the Adobe Creative Suite. High school students often begin with these programs, especially Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator. Some students focus on basic elements of web design like how the website functions, which is known as user experience (UX) design. Others focus more on user interface (UI) design, or how the website looks and feels.

Students interested in graphic design or web design often explore a variety of disciplines and skills. Most industry-standard design tools are now taught in weekend and evening classes, or comprehensive summer programs. Whether you want to become a Visual Designer or Digital Designer, or simply want to learn some design skills, these courses give you the tools you need.

Why High Schoolers Should Learn Graphic Design

Home to over a dozen world-famous theme parks, including Disneyworld and Universal Studios, Orlando remains a top vacation destination. Over 76 million people visited the city in 2019, and the tourism industry promises continued growth.

Companies in every industry need graphic design, from websites and social media posts to logos and banners. Students planning careers in design typically begin learning some tools while still in high school, and areas like web design and graphic design require some overlapping skills.

Many web design courses include basic web development, such as HTML (HyperText Markup Language) and CSS (Cascading Style Sheets). These tools are helpful in a variety of positions, even those outside the design field. You may decide to learn to code HTML and CSS for a summer job, a part-time gig, or an internship.

Whether or not you plan to use graphic or web design skills in your work, programs like Photoshop and InDesign make great additions to a resume or college application. Consider related subjects like video editing, motion graphics, and digital design, too. Whatever your reason for learning graphic design, you’ll find these tools helpful as well as fun to use.

In-Person Graphic Design Classes in Orlando

Although there are currently no in-person graphic design courses for high schoolers in Orlando, there are still a number of options for students here. Several providers offer design-centered programs you can attend virtually from anywhere, Orlando included. Some area universities may provide in-person coursework from time to time, too.

If you’re seeking only in-person graphic design classes, check back on the listings for high school graphic design summer classes in Orlando for updates. In the meantime, consider enrolling in a live online class instead.

Virtual Graphic Design Classes

While some students prefer the rigors of a traditional classroom, online learning has become increasingly popular, among high schoolers in particular. Online courses bring the best of both worlds to students: they’re live and interactive, like in-person education; they offer hands-on training from the comfort of your home; and you can ask questions in real-time and get answers from an expert instructor.

Noble Desktop, which hosts this search tool, has partnered with NextGen Bootcamp to provide multiple graphic design summer courses for high school students in Orlando. Their Graphic Design Summer Program features training in three top Adobe Creative Suite tools, InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator. Students learn skills like how to import photos and graphics, add pages, and thread text frames, among others.

If you’re more focused on web design, you can get graphic design training as part of NextGen’s Web Design Summer Program. The course covers Adobe Sketch, as well as primary web development tools HTML and CSS. You’ll learn how to create layouts and pages, optimize graphics, and even upload to a live website via FTP.

Additional training is available for students who want to learn both web design and graphic design. The Graphic & Web Design Summer Program combines training in Sketch, Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator with HTML, CSS, Grid, and Flexbox. This program is open to students ages 13-19, and includes a verified certificate of completion upon graduation.

How to Choose a Graphic Design Class

When you sit down with a parent or guardian to choose a graphic design course, you’ll have to take multiple factors into consideration. Cost is important to many families, and graphic design classes range from $495 for a one-week design camp to $3,699 for an immersive web and graphic design certificate program. Depending on your family’s needs, other factors may include whether transportation is required, how long the program runs, and the level of difficulty of the program. And while some classes are open to students ages 13-19, others may have different age requirements. No matter what graphic design class you select, it can be both fun and educational, and benefit you for a lifetime.