Graphic Design Classes Atlanta

Graphic Design Classes & Bootcamps

Graphic Design Certificates & Certifications

The art of visual communication, graphic design is a visible part of everyday life in the twenty-first century. It uses elements like photos, images, typography, and layout to create messages, ideas, and experiences in viewers. Graphic Designers create for a wide variety of media, crafting images with or without text for digital screens, books, magazines, product packaging, and other print items. With the goal of communicating effectively with a target audience, various creatives use graphic design to leave a lasting impression on viewers, which often drives them toward a call to action. This call to action may involve purchasing something, contacting someone, signing up for a mailing list, or even continuing an hours-long binge of a television series. Whatever the specific goal may be, graphic design tools and principles enable designers to achieve it.

The roots of graphic design stretch as far back as early human cave paintings, which utilized some elements of graphic design that are still used today. The invention of the printing press in the 1400s was a major step toward graphic design as we know it today, as the new concept of mass-produced books demanded layouts, legible typefaces, and reproducible illustrations for the first time in history. Over the centuries, graphic design evolved alongside technology and cultures, with the latter affecting symbolism, color theory, and other graphic design principles utilized to create visual communication for cultures increasingly more dependent upon the concept. Advertising in the newspapers of highly visual Victorians leveled the art of graphic design up still further, creating a demand for creative and eye-catching fonts that would stand out from other text on the page. From the decadent style of Art Deco posters to the minimalist logos of today, every era has its design styles that reflect—and sometimes even shape—the world around us.

What Can You Do with Graphic Design Training?

Graphic design knowledge is crucial for those wanting to start careers as Graphic Designers, Motion Graphics Designers, or in other creative occupations. Meanwhile, many people also learn graphic design and its tools as independent artists, photographers, or simply multipotentialite hobbyists. When creating for an employer, a client, or yourself, graphic design knowledge opens doors for you to craft layouts, photos, illustrations, collages, and composites in your work. Photographers can use color theory knowledge to adjust the tones of their images and knowledge of Photoshop to manipulate and edit their photos in numerous ways.

Typography, balance, and other essential graphic principles can support an individual working in Adobe Illustrator to create a wide variety of projects. Once you have mastered Illustrator and graphic design principles, you can create patterns for fabric, illustrations to be brought to life in After Effects, illustrations for a book, or entire posters either for aesthetic reasons or to communicate a significant message. Illustrator is regularly used to create logos and other branding materials, as well.

Whether you work for a major book publisher, a print magazine, or a digital publication, you will likely be using Adobe InDesign to create the layout of your publications. Like all of Adobe Creative Cloud’s applications, InDesign comes with a robust menu of tools to support you throughout the process of selecting brand colors and fonts and crafting professional layouts featuring text, illustrations, and photos. You can also use InDesign to lay out your own book, zine, or other writing project for self-publication.

What Will I Learn in a Graphic Design Class?

Most graphic design classes cover at least one of the three core Adobe tools of the twenty-first-century graphic design world: Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Some feature one of these tools exclusively, sometimes aiming to prepare the student to pass a certification exam on the application. More extensive graphic design courses such as bootcamps and certificate programs usually feature all three Adobe applications and instruction in graphic design principles, concepts, and best practices. Typography and color theory are just two of these fundamental principles graphic design students will learn, which, together with other concepts of the field, will help them use Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign to create professional-quality designs.

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop is the world’s go-to photo editing software, even lending its name to the verb meaning “to edit heavily.” Its extensive menu for manipulating raster images has made it the industry-standard for photo editing, collage-making, adding text to images, and sometimes even creating images from scratch. Proficiency in Photoshop is essential for anyone desiring to work in graphic design, as it is an industry-standard application in the field. Some graphic design classes focus exclusively on Photoshop or feature it alongside other Creative Cloud applications used regularly by designers. Comprehensive graphic design training programs will generally feature Photoshop along with Illustrator and InDesign.

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator is another vital Creative Cloud application for aspiring graphic design professionals to master. Like Photoshop, Illustrator training is available as a standalone class, paired with other Adobe applications in a single curriculum, or as a key component of a comprehensive graphic design bootcamp or certificate program. Unlike Photoshop’s raster images, vector images created with Illustrator feature paths and points that make them infinitely scalable. This scalability makes Illustrator a favorite in the graphic design world for creating logos, icons, and other images that need to be as clear in a social media profile picture as they are on a billboard.

Adobe InDesign

Adobe InDesign is the favorite layout software of designers, publishers, and others who need to create professional multi-page designs featuring text, photos, or illustrations. Suitable for creating layouts for both print and web publications, InDesign is the third and final of the core triad of vital Adobe Creative Cloud applications for Graphic Designers. Graphic design classes often focus on these three graphic design applications, or you can take a course with a scope limited to just a single application or even one aspect of it. As Adobe Certified Professional certifications in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign are well respected in the graphic design field, some classes feature curricula designed to prepare students for certification exams.

Typography

A fundamental skill for any aspiring Graphic Designer, typography is among the concepts you will learn in a graphic design bootcamp or certificate program. Typography is the art of arranging visually engaging and readable text. While typeface selection is a massive component of typography, many other factors go into creating text that is clear, cohesive, and aesthetically pleasing text. Font size, kerning, placement, and the informed use of capital and lowercase letters are just a few typography components that create balance, hierarchy, and brand personality. Mastering typography enables Graphic Designers to confidently combine text with illustrations and photos to optimize the effectiveness of their communication.

Color Theory

Color theory is another essential principle covered in many graphic design classes, especially those geared toward providing a comprehensive education on the topic. Designers, artists, and other creators rely on color theory mastery to inform powerful choices that shape the aesthetics and messages of their work. Color theory is the science and art of colors’ impact on the viewer’s emotions and perceptions and how colors interact when viewed together. Encompassing many aspects of color, color theory includes a deep understanding of the color wheels, cultural associations, and principles of color harmony vital to creating color palettes that are cohesive and supportive of a design’s message.

How Hard is It to Learn Graphic Design?

The difficulty of learning graphic design depends on many factors such as your aptitude for learning technical and creative skills, past experience with Adobe Creative Cloud, and background in art or other related fields. Reaching a level of familiarity with graphic design that allows you to experiment with tools like Photoshop and Illustrator is relatively easy for most. However, mastering the craft of graphic design can take months or even years of practice. An intensive bootcamp or full-time course can speed up the time it takes you to be able to confidently apply graphic design on the job, and an expert instructor can be very helpful in assisting you with more challenging elements of learning the art, whether those be the technical or creative skills for you.

What Are the Most Challenging Parts of Learning Graphic Design?

The most challenging part of learning graphic design will vary from person to person based on individual strengths, prior experience, and goals. Some may find mastering the tools of the field easy but need help understanding and applying graphic design principles in their work. Others—especially those with an art background—may find the concepts of color theory and balance a piece of cake but find Adobe’s essential graphic design applications challenging to navigate. Reaching a level of familiarity with graphic design and its tools typically requires climbing the significant learning curve of Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Mastering these programs’ extensive menus of tools is arguably the most challenging part of learning graphic design for most students, but the more technically-minded student may find the creative application of graphic design concepts more difficult by far. However, graphic design students consistently find overcoming its most formidable elements one of the most rewarding parts of their learning journeys.

How Long Does It Take to Learn Graphic Design?

The time investment required to learn graphic design will depend on several factors. A crucial determining factor is the scope of an individual’s specific goals in learning graphic design. Those learning graphic design to launch a new career will need to master a more extensive list of tools and concepts than those simply wishing to fill some gaps in their knowledge of InDesign. A person’s class curriculum and schedule will also be significant factors in the length of time it takes them to master graphic design. A two-day introductory course in Photoshop or Illustrator can be all a person needs to be comfortable experimenting with their new graphic design skills. However, mastering graphic design to the extent that a person is ready to land their first job in the field may take anywhere from a month of full-time classes to an educational program of two years.

Should I Learn Graphic Design in Person or Online?

In-person and online graphic design classes both have many benefits, with neither being objectively better than the other. However, your specific goals, circumstances, and preferences may determine whether one or the other best suits your needs. In-person classes meet in brick-and-mortar classrooms, allowing students to meet face-to-face with a professor and learning peers on a regular schedule. Some individuals prefer the traditional experience of an in-person class, especially those who can find an ideal course option with a convenient commute. Whether an in-person graphic design class is hosted in a computer lab or requires students to bring their own devices, they provide the benefit of access to a live instructor to coach you or answer your questions in real-time.

If you cannot find a class that meets your needs nearby, live online graphic design classes offer many of the same perks as in-person classes and the additional benefit of allowing you to skip the commute and attend class from home. Live online classes meet on a set schedule in a teleconferencing classroom, so you can interact with an instructor in real-time just as you might in an in-person class. Live online classes allow you access to a vastly more extensive catalog of choices in course topics, formats, teachers, and schools while also providing students with the accountability of a class schedule, project deadlines, and interaction with real instructors and peers.

Asynchronous online courses are another option for learning graphic design that may appeal to those with demanding schedules or who prefer to learn independently. Also known as on-demand or self-paced courses, asynchronous graphic design classes provide training in the tools and sometimes the concepts of the field, just as in-person and live online courses do. However, the similarities end here. Instead of a set schedule, asynchronous classes allow students to begin the course whenever they desire and perform all classwork whenever students prefer to work. Any lectures are recorded, so participants don’t have to figure out how to fit live online classes into their already packed days. However, many graphic design learners find mastering the skills of the trade to be considerably more challenging without the benefit of a live instructor’s support. While asynchronous classes sacrifice the community and accountability of in-person and live online courses, they provide the benefit of the ultimate learning experience flexibility.

Can I Learn Graphic Design Free Online?

While several free graphic design learning resources are available online, professional skill development requires some financial investment. However, these free resources have their value for graphic design learners. In addition to the learning resource you are reading right now, YouTube video tutorials on graphic design can help you fill any gaps in your knowledge. Online tutorials on Adobe’s website can also be helpful as you learn Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.

What Should I Learn Alongside Graphic Design?

If you are planning on learning graphic design principles, you are likely already planning on learning at least one of the three core applications of the field: Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. If you are only planning on mastering one or two of these, expanding your education plans to include all three will also expand your creative potential and career horizon. Studying other Adobe Creative Cloud programs, especially After Effects for motion graphics and Premiere Pro for video editing, can also be a good idea for graphic design learners who wish to add movement to their work or apply graphic design in film or social media.

If you’re looking for an additional skill set to learn, motion graphics principles, concepts, and best practices are an obvious next step following graphic design mastery. These skills, together with proficiency in After Effects, can enable you to add movement and interest to your static digital designs or add motion graphics and animation to your career qualifications. Premiere Pro and the art of video editing also partner well with graphic design and motion graphics. With these tools, you can turn your motion graphics, animations, and graphic design work into editing video projects ranging from reels to feature films.

Industries That Use Graphic Design

Graphic design is a versatile and cross-industry skill. It is part of the creative technology industry while also supporting other media within the sector. The marketing and advertising industry also relies heavily on the compelling visuals made possible with graphic design knowledge and tools. Film and entertainment is another industry where graphic design proficiency is essential. At the same time, the education sector depends on professionals with graphic design mastery to create educational, marketing, and other communication materials.

Creative Technology

Atlanta’s ever-growing creative technology sector includes the tech that supports the film industry—covered more extensively below—but also video gaming, music, books and publishing, virtual and augmented reality, and other media where graphic design can be seen. With the support of the Georgia Center of Innovation, the creative technology industry has ample reason to continue to expand throughout the state, increasing the demand for Graphic Designers and related professionals to create and support others' creations.

While Graphic Designers typically create art to support the business ideas of others, this art is sometimes for the Graphic Designer’s own business or creative endeavors such as a poster or fabric design. Meanwhile, graphic design is essential for the illustration and layout of books, magazines, and other publications. Music, video games, and other media require packaging and branding created by talented Graphic Designers. Meanwhile, video games and virtual reality also depend on graphic design principles to create dynamic visuals to support the user’s experience of the final product.

Marketing and Advertising

Thanks to its extensive and varied economy, Atlanta has a significant marketing and advertising sector serving businesses across industries. More than 6,000 Georgians work in advertising, with many based in Atlanta.

The marketing and advertising sector relies extensively on Graphic Designers and others with graphic design knowledge to create reliably clear and eye-catching visual communication that compels potential clients and customers to take action. Graphic design is vital to virtually every advertising medium, with the exception of radio. Designers and other creatives in the marketing and advertising sector use graphic design principles and tools to create digital advertising seen in banners, social media, and commercials, as well as traditional print ads.

Film and Entertainment

Known as the “Hollywood of the South, Atlanta boasts the second-highest number of soundstages in the U.S. and several other perks that make it one of the world’s top filming locations. The film industry is also joined by animation studios, broadcasting stations, and other entertainment producers that rely heavily on exceptional visuals.

Graphic design knowledge such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and concepts such as color theory and balance, is vital for various occupations in Atlanta’s film and entertainment industry. Graphic Designers create studio and project branding, marketing, and product packaging. Web and Digital Designers build and maintain their websites and mobile applications. Motion Graphics Designers use graphic design principles and tools to create animations and moving typography. At the same time, Video Editors and other video professionals apply graphic design when correcting colors, adding text, and performing other essential manipulations of their film footage.

Education

Home to six Historically Black Colleges and Universities and four medical HBCUs, Atlanta is well-known for its diverse and expansive education sector. Home to six historically black colleges and universities and four medical HBCUs, these HBCUs are joined by the high-ranking Emory University, University of Georgia, and Georgia Tech, as well as technical colleges and industry schools. The latter includes Georgia FinTech Academy, Georgia Film Academy, Georgia Biosciences Training Center, and other highly respected training institutions.

Graphic design is an essential component of this massive education industry in Atlanta. Faculty and staff frequently use Photoshop and InDesign for communication and teaching needs, so familiarity with the basics of graphic design is beneficial for many working in these positions. Graphic Designers, layout specialists, and other professionals with graphic design knowledge are also key players in creating curricula used in all kinds of classrooms. Additionally, marketing and design professionals often work in-house at colleges and universities to develop high-quality and clear communication materials for current and prospective students, parents, employees, alums, and other school patrons and donors.

Graphic Design Job Titles and Salaries

Graphic design classes are vital for launching or moving forward in a Graphic Designer career, but several closely related job paths also require learning graphic design concepts along with Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. These include the role of Visual Designer, one of the job titles most frequently confused with that of Graphic Designer. However, Visual Designers’ skill sets more closely resemble those required by Digital Designers and Web Designers, all of which combine technical design skills such as coding and Adobe XD with graphic design knowledge.

Graphic Designer

Holding the most obvious job title associated with graphic design, Graphic Designers play a highly visible role in the twenty-first century across industries. Graphic Designers create visual communication featuring art and typography for print as well as digital use. Often working in design studios or marketing agencies, their work is an essential component of branding, advertising, and messaging for businesses in every sector. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an average job growth of 3% for Graphic Designers through 2032, with about 22,800 job openings yearly. With almost 4,000 employed in its metropolitan area, Atlanta places ninth in the U.S. in employment numbers for Graphic Designers. According to Indeed, average base salaries for Graphic Designers in their first two years of employment in Atlanta range between $66,000 and $70,000.

Visual Designer

The term Visual Designer is sometimes used synonymously with that of Graphic Designer, so much so that the BLS groups the two together as a single Graphic Designer category. However, the two job titles describe roles with different but overlapping responsibilities. While Graphic Designers create layouts and artwork for both print and the digital world, Visual Designers usually design for digital interfaces. In addition to graphic design skills, they must also have knowledge of coding and applications like Adobe XD and Figma. Visual Designers number among the nearly 4,000 Atlanta-based employees classified as Graphic Designers by the BLS. Indeed reports that Visual Designers in Atlanta make base salaries comparable to Graphic Designers in the area, averaging just below $70,000.

Digital Designer

Digital Designer is another job title sometimes used interchangeably with Visual Designer. While Digital Designers require a skill set nearly identical to Visual Designers, the focus of their work tends to be different. While Visual Designers may sometimes work on visual communication for print, Digital Designers will always be creating for the web or another screened device. Digital Designers primarily focus on designing interactive interfaces such as websites, mobile apps, and video games, while Visual Designers may work on extensive branding projects and marketing campaigns. The BLS projects that Digital Designers—grouped together with Web Developers—will have a much higher-than-average job growth of 16% between 2022 and 2032. With just over 2,000 Web and Digital Designers working in the Atlanta region, the BLS ranks the area ninth in the U.S. for employment in both occupations. Atlanta Digital Designers can expect a base salary comparable to the national average, around or just above $100,000.

Web Designer

Many workdays of Web Designers and Digital Designers will look very similar, but the Web Designer’s focus is exclusively on websites or web-based applications. Web Designers combine graphic design knowledge with coding to create aesthetically pleasing and highly functional websites. The BLS lists Web Designers with Digital Designers, so they both receive the same much higher-than-average job projection. Atlanta ranks ninth in the nation for Web Designer employment in the metropolitan region, the same ranking as Digital Designers, Visual Designers, and Graphic Designers in the city. Web Designers in Atlanta may anticipate an average base salary of $78,000, though senior positions may bring in closer to $100,000 or higher.

Graphic Design Classes Near Me

Noble Desktop is a highly-rated design and coding school headquartered in NYC. Since 1990, it has provided quality classes in digital fields of study such as its ||CPN548|| program. While you can travel to Manhattan to attend the class in-person, you also have the convenient option of attending the same live training online from the comfort of your home in Atlanta. Noble provides you with the choice of either a full-time or part-time schedule to complete this course, which features modules in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. As you master this go-to triad of graphic design applications, you’ll also learn the principles and best practices of the field. In the fourth and final module of the course, you’ll assemble an impressive portfolio that will accurately showcase your new skills to your prospective employers. Tuition for this beginner-friendly graphic design certificate program covers hands-on instruction by experienced experts in the field, the option to retake the program for free within one year, six one-on-one mentoring sessions, and a verified digital certificate of completion.

Suppose you are interested in mastering UI and web design in addition to graphic design. In that case, Noble Desktop provides a live online Digital Design Certificate program to help you achieve your learning goals. Noble’s Digital Design Certificate program features all four modules of its ||CPN548||, plus a Figma Bootcamp and a UI Design Bootcamp. In addition, group classes are available on a full-time or part-time schedule, and you will enjoy eight one-on-one mentoring sessions that you can use as career support as part of this certificate program. If you wish to review a module or the entire program, you are welcome to retake all or part of the course within one year of your start date. No experience is required to attend this online digital design course. By the time you graduate from the program, you can expect to be job-ready and able to prove it with the verified certificate of completion you earn and the professional-quality design portfolio you create with the support of an expert instructor.

Ledet Training offers graphics and mobile training online and at several training centers around the country. Its Atlanta campus is located on Buckeye Road in the Embry Hills neighborhood. Its Adobe Creative Cloud Print 501 is among several of the classes it offers on the industry-standard applications of graphic design. This intensive short course provides training for beginners to Adobe Creative Cloud who need to get started navigating the software suite and using it for their print production needs. No experience in Adobe is necessary to attend this course, though students should be familiar with basic computer navigation and their preferred operating system. Students may anticipate hands-on training in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign during this graphic design course. They will also practice using Adobe Bridge and building documents using Master Pages.

Creative Design Bundle is another option from Ledet Training for those looking for graphic design classes in Atlanta. This in-person course provides considerably more thorough training than Ledet’s Adobe Creative Cloud Print 501, as it is a bundle of eight different courses also offered separately. These classes all meet at Ledet’s Embry Hills campus on non-consecutive dates. The short courses included in this bundle are Photoshop Intro, Photoshop Advanced, Acrobat, Illustrator Intro, Illustrator Advanced, InDesign Intro, InDesign Advanced, and InDesign Tablet Publishing. With two levels of Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign training, students will be well on their way to mastery of these core applications of the graphic design field. Additionally, participants will attend a third InDesign class where they will discover how to create digital publications in the application optimized for tablet screens. Students will also learn the extensive list of features that a Designer can use to develop dynamic PDFs in the Acrobat component of the bundle.

Emory University Continuing Education’s live online Graphic Design & Visual Communications Certificate program is a noncredit course that prepares students to create professional content for employers, clients, or themselves. Anyone interested in learning graphic design technology or visual communication skills for career or personal growth is welcome to attend this program. Participants will be responsible for providing their own devices and textbooks on Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Tuition covers full access to Creative Cloud for the duration of the program, including 15 Adobe Stock images each month. The curriculum features essential principles of visual communication, hands-on training in vital Adobe applications for graphic design, practical lessons on the creative process and future technology, and support in preparing a professional portfolio. Students who attend at least 80% of live online class time and earn a grade of at least 75% on all assignments will earn a certificate of completion, including a digital badge to display on their LinkedIn profiles.

Formerly known as Portfolio Center, Miami Ad School Atlanta is a private portfolio school for students wishing to prepare for various careers within the advertising world. The Design Portfolio Program is a two-year in-person graphic design training option in Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood. The intensive syllabus features courses on topics such as Strategic Innovation and Product Design, Experiential Design, Message & Content, and Semiotics. Students can apply for Miami Ad School’s Quarter Away as part of their portfolio program. This option opens doors for participants to study and gain graphic design experience in up to four cities around the world, including New York, Vancouver, Tokyo, and Amsterdam. Most students enter Miami Ad School Atlanta with an undergraduate degree, but it is not a requirement. Federal student loans and scholarships are available to assist students in paying for this portfolio program.

Atlanta Technical College provides many career-centered educational opportunities at its campus in southwestern Atlanta. Graphic Design and Prepress Technician TCC is their certificate program option for those interested in launching a career as a Graphic Designer or a Prepress Technician. TCC stands for Technical College Certificate, which students will receive upon graduating from this two-term program. No specific prerequisites are required other than those required by Atlanta Technical College for general college admission. Courses in the syllabus include Introduction to Design, Vector Graphics, Raster Imaging, Page Layout, Introduction to Media Technology, and Prepress and Output. By the time they complete the program, students will be proficient in page layout software, creating and editing vector and raster images, and packaging files for print.

Since 1983, ONLC Training Centers has focused on serving students with a broad range of IT training options. ONLC’s ||CPN124|| is available in-person at its campus in Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood. Basic computer skills, including file management, are essential to attend this class, but no other prerequisites are required. However, self-taught Photoshop users or those feeling a little rusty in some areas are welcome to attend to fill gaps in their knowledge of the application. This short course is the first of ONLC’s two Photoshop courses that can be combined to prepare a student to pass the Adobe Certified Professional exam for the application. In this Photoshop class, students will learn fundamental skills of the application such as understanding the interface and tool panels, customizing and saving workspaces, and adjusting the colors and tones of an image. Participants will also practice retouching photos, determining resolution, and working with text within Photoshop, among other essential skills for beginners to the application.

Graphic Design Corporate Training

If you’re seeking solutions for your graphic design corporate training needs, Noble Desktop offers online, in-person, and onsite class options to meet your team’s specific needs. Your team is welcome to join a regular online or NYC-based in-person class if you prefer to purchase bulk vouchers for your employees at a discount. This option offers students the chance to attend from home with some flexibility in scheduling.

Alternatively, a Noble Desktop team member would be happy to arrange an onsite graphic design training tailored to your organization’s specific needs and goals. Simply contact Noble Desktop via their convenient online form or send an email to learn more about their graphic design corporate training options.

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