Best Graphic Design Classes San Francisco, CA: Find Courses & Onsite Training

Learn More About San Francisco Graphic Design Courses

Graphic design is all around us. It’s used in video games, advertisements, commercials, store signs, product packaging, websites, books, and company logos. This form of design helps companies connect with customers, sell products, establish a brand identity, and impart essential information. This type of communication relies on shapes, colors, forms, words, textures, and images to create a visual image capable of conveying meaning or persuading audience members. Graphic Designers strive to emotionally connect with audience members and influence their perceptions. Also known as communication design, graphic design involves bringing visual elements and concepts to life, often with the help of software like Adobe Illustrator. Graphic Designers rely on one or multiple essential design principles when approaching a new project, including movement, proportion, contrast, balance, and rhythm.

What Can You Do with Graphic Design Training?

Because of the huge role graphic design plays in creating the online and print content we encounter on a daily basis, there are very few limits to the kinds of visual content you can create with graphic design training. Graphic Designers are employed by both small and large organizations to create memorable and evocative digital and print assets. In marketing, graphic design skills are used to create content for advertisements, flyers, posters, catalogs, or billboards. Some Graphic Designers are hired to assist with marketing campaigns, whereas others are involved with creating front-facing website content for their employer. Graphic design skills are also used in product packaging to ensure that the packaging that’s created will help distinguish the product from its competitors. Graphic Designers can also apply their skills to motion graphics-related projects, including creating video games, animations, banners, or trailers.

The field of graphic design extends beyond professional uses; even non-professionals rely on graphic design skills for many daily uses. Those who sell their products on marketplaces like Etsy rely on graphic design concepts to establish their brand identity and draw new customers to their stores. In the food service industry, restaurant owners apply graphic design when making menus. Design concepts also play a role in helping small business owners design user-friendly websites. Even those involved in political campaigns turn to graphic design to create campaign materials.

What Will I Learn in a Graphic Design Class?

Although the content you’ll encounter in a graphic design class depends on the provider, the course scope, and the level of difficulty of the program, several core graphic design skills are commonly taught in these classes. The following sections briefly explore topics like basic design skills, as well as training in core Adobe CC apps like Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, to give you a better idea of what to expect from your studies.

Basic Design Skills

Graphic design courses, particularly those that cater to beginners, typically provide an overview of fundamental design concepts and theories so learners can place their training in a larger context. Coursework often teaches students core concepts like typography, design theory, color theory, and composition. These skills serve as a backbone for working with specific Adobe CC applications.

Photoshop

During graphic design study, instruction is often provided in editing and retouching photographs using Photoshop. This software application helps users design, edit, or enhance images like illustrations or artwork. Photoshop is also a popular tool for Graphic Designers, Photographers, and other professionals to create visuals that set their brand apart from others.

Illustrator

Another common tool in graphic design is Adobe Illustrator. Graphic Designers use this tool to create vector images and graphics that consist of points, lines, curves, and shapes, each of which is based on a mathematical formula instead of pixels. This allows Graphic Designers to maintain image quality, even when scaling an image up or down. In graphic design courses, students explore how Illustrator can be used to create icons, posters, patterns, symbols, and logos.

InDesign

Another core skill you’re likely to encounter during graphic design training in San Francisco is how to use InDesign. This application is popular for creating page layouts for use in print or digital media. InDesign users create assets like posters, slideshows, picture book layouts, or stationery using this app. It is an industry-standard product for publishing design and also has applications in marketing and graphic design.

Should I Learn Graphic Design in Person or Online?

Graphic design coursework is available both in-person and online. Each of these training options has its unique benefits. For extroverted learners who thrive in the traditional classroom environment, in-person coursework is a great learning option. Students complete their training in a designated facility with the most up-to-date graphic design software already installed on computers. In addition to having the opportunity to learn from an expert instructor with industry experience in graphic design, participants receive the support of other learners in their cohort, which can add an additional sense of community. In-person classes do require that students commute to and from class for course meetings, which means that learners need to live near a designated training center in or near San Francisco and have reliable transportation.

Those who prefer studying remotely can complete live online graphic classes. Similar to in-person study, live online coursework is taught by an instructor connected in real-time. Coursework takes place in a teleconferencing platform like Zoom, where students not only have the opportunity to ask questions as they arise, but they can also share their screen with the instructor (with permission) for additional support. Since these classes take place in real-time, those interested in learning graphic design through live online study still need to commit to attending regularly scheduled class meetings. This may be challenging for those who have busy work or personal schedules.

The most flexible way to study graphic design is through on-demand content. In this training format, lessons, videos, and other materials are pre-recorded and placed online. Students can complete coursework at any time, from any location. They also can dictate their own learning pace, opting to pause or rewind as necessary. In terms of cost, on-demand coursework is often the most affordable since it’s pre-recorded. However, it’s important to keep in mind that no instructor is present. This can make it challenging for some learners to find answers to questions.

Industries That Use Graphic Design

San Francisco’s vibrant economy has many prominent sectors in which graphic design skills are integral. The following sections will take a look at how graphic design is used in sectors like social media, clean technology, and nonprofits.

Social Media

San Francisco is located approximately 40 miles from Silicon Valley, making it a prime location for those who work in fields like IT or social media. Many prominent social media companies and startups were or currently are headquartered in San Francisco, including Reddit, X (formerly known as Twitter), ContentMap, and Connect The Dots. Graphic design plays a huge role in social media by helping organizations develop and visually depict their brand identity and content over social media channels. These professionals work with brand fonts, colors, and images to create a recognizable identity for the organization. They also create shareable, visually engaging content that reinforces the brand’s values and tone.

Clean Technology

San Francisco’s clean technology industry ranks sixth in North America for venture investment. This emerging sector comprises services, products, and processes like wind power, fuel cells, hybrid electric vehicles, and advanced water filtration initiatives. Those with graphic design skills put them to use in clean technology by creating visual elements that highlight the positive aspects of sustainable energy, inspire action, and educate audience members about technological advances.

Nonprofits

The greater San Francisco metro area has nearly 31,000 nonprofit organizations, which employ 541,000 residents and create $229 billion in yearly revenue. Within the city’s nonprofit sector, Graphic Designers create print and digital materials like solicitation letters and flyers that include the organization’s logo and brand-relevant design features. These materials may be used to advertise upcoming campaigns, share nonprofit stories, or convey gratitude to supporters. Graphic Designers also help those who work in nonprofits create educational materials that promote social change and convey important social issues.

Graphic Design Job Titles and Salaries

If you’d like to put your graphic design training to work in San Francisco, many creative professional options are available. The following sections will take a closer look at career paths as a Designer, Graphic Designer, and Visual Designer, as well as the basic job requirements and salary ranges for each role.

Designer

Designers are hired to develop a product’s functionality and overall appearance before it is finalized. This process involves using physical or digital prototypes or mockups. Designers serve many specific roles depending on their specialization, including game design, print design, and digital design. On a daily basis, Designers perform tasks like collaborating with clients or managers, implementing edits to their designs, and working with digital design tools like Adobe CC applications. The average salary for a Designer in San Francisco is $102,000-$104,000 a year, which is 41% above the national average in this profession.

Graphic Designer

Graphic Designers work with design elements like color, space, form, shape, and size to create designs that are functional and visually pleasing. These professionals perform daily tasks like creating mood boards, creating and iterating on prototypes, troubleshooting with teammates, creating graphic illustrations in Adobe Illustrator, and performing research. Graphic Designers in San Francisco can expect to make approximately $106,000-$110,000 a year. This salary rate is 81% above the national average.

Visual Designer

Visual Designers are creative professionals who create and develop layouts, artwork, and concepts for use on digital projects across platforms. These individuals often work alongside Web Designers, Product Managers, or UI Developers, depending on their industry of employment. The daily tasks of a Visual Designer vary based on their industry of focus; some create advertisements, overlays, or icons, whereas others work on digital page designs, website visuals, games, movies, or applications. The average salary for a Visual Designer who’s employed in San Francisco is $72,000-$74,000 a year.

Graphic Design Classes Near Me

If you’re interested in learning graphic design, you can search for graphic design classes in San Francisco to find the learning option that’s best for you. The following sections will take a closer look at several current class listings in the greater San Francisco area, as well as the basic program requirements for each.

Noble Desktop offers a Graphic Design Certificate that is a great learning option if you’d like to pursue a career as a Graphic Designer. During this intensive program, you’ll work with core design concepts, including composition, typography, and color. Coursework covers how to use InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop. You’ll have the opportunity to create projects like social media graphics, logos, album art, and advertisements, which can be included in your professional portfolio. Tuition includes a free course retake for one full year and six 1-on-1 mentoring sessions. This class is taught in-person in New York City and live online.

Noble also offers a Digital Design Certificate that will prepare you for a career as a Digital Designer. In this rigorous class, you’ll learn about graphic design, visual design, and motion graphics. You will also have the opportunity to use core Adobe apps like Premiere Pro, XD, After Effects, Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator. By course completion, you’ll graduate with several portfolio-quality pieces you can share with clients or potential employers. Eight 1-on-1 mentoring sessions and a free course retake are included with tuition. This certificate class is available live online and in-person in NYC.

General Assembly’s Visual Design Course is intended for those looking to acquire the training needed to tackle diverse professional design challenges. Those enrolled in this class create several responsive, aesthetically pleasing visual designs for the web, which can be included in their professional portfolios. This beginner-friendly program is available live online and in-person in San Francisco.

General Assembly also offers a Photoshop Bootcamp for those who are new to working with this application and want to develop their photo editing skills. Instruction is provided on Photoshop basics, including how to digitally edit photos, create documents, import and export images, and fully leverage Photoshop’s tools. By course completion, participants will know how to design and insert text, manipulate images, and perform time-saving Photoshop tricks. This class is taught live online and in-person in San Francisco.

Those interested in learning how to create and edit page layouts can gain hands-on training in Sonic Training’s QuarkXPress (Quark) Introduction/Intermediate course. This program provides learners with an overview of basic QuarkXPress concepts, including page elements, typography, and text. Instruction is also provided on advanced layout constructions, exporting to PDF, and handling pictures. Tuition includes a free course retake for up to six months. This class is available in San Francisco.

Graphic Design Corporate Training

If the employees at your workplace would benefit from learning more about graphic design, Noble Desktop can help. Noble offers corporate and onsite graphic design training in graphic design as a comprehensive field, as well as specifically with applications including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Training is also available in Figma and Lightroom. Noble can come directly to your office in San Francisco for training, or your employees can complete classes remotely using a live online conferencing platform. If you’d like to train multiple people at your workplace with graphic design, discounted bulk vouchers are available for Noble’s regular classes. You can also work with Noble to customize content to ensure your employees get the most out of their studies and can complete their training around other commitments such as full-time employment. If you’re interested in learning more about Noble’s exciting corporate training options, please feel free to contact Noble at your earliest convenience.

Kelsey Kissner

Kelsey Kissner is a writer for Noble Desktop. She has a bachelor’s degree in English from Ohio State University, a master’s degree in creative writing from London Metropolitan University, and a certification in UX Writing and Content Strategy from the UX Content Collective. Collectively, she has 15 years of experience in publishing and marketing spanning across a variety of industries, including education, fashion and retail, and the nonprofit sector. While working in the publishing industry, she managed the books and materials for construction, architecture, hospitality management, and various trades like HVAC, electrical, and plumbing. Kelsey's writing at Noble Desktop also covers a variety of professional training programs and career fields.

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Graphic Design Certificate Learn The Skills Guarantee™

Key Insights

Learn More About San Francisco Graphic Design Courses

What Can You Do with Graphic Design Training?

What Will I Learn in a Graphic Design Class?

Basic Design Skills

Photoshop

Illustrator

InDesign

Should I Learn Graphic Design in Person or Online?

Industries That Use Graphic Design

Social Media

Clean Technology

Nonprofits

Graphic Design Job Titles and Salaries

Designer

Graphic Designer

Visual Designer

Graphic Design Classes Near Me

Graphic Design Corporate Training

San Francisco Graphic Design Corporate & Onsite Training Noble Desktop

Graphic Design Training Locations in or Near San Francisco

San Francisco Careers & Salaries Related to Graphic Design

Related Classes

San Francisco Graphic Design
Corporate & Onsite Training