Best Free Graphic Design Resources & Tutorials

Many professionals are eager to learn graphic design but hesitate because of the perceived up-front costs. While training in graphic design techniques won’t be expensive, licensing the programs necessary to begin composing designs may initially seem a bit intimidating. However, a surprising amount of free resources are available to help beginners get the hang of this exciting program.

Read on to learn more about the different types of free resources and tutorials available to help you learn graphic design.

What is Graphic Design?

Graphic design is a field of creative art that focuses on visual communication, often using combinations of text, images, photographs, and other visual elements, with specific goals. Graphic design covers a wide array of artistic disciplines, but at its core, it is the act of using visual imagery to communicate with audiences and convey feelings and ideas that language alone wouldn’t be able to express. As a subset of the fine arts, graphic design skills are used in virtually every industry, but they are particularly prominent in advertising and branding. Advertisements, product packaging, logos, branded merchandise, and other promotional materials all demonstrate graphic design skills. Any business or organization looking to reach an audience will want to hire those skilled in graphic design.

Since graphic design covers a wide range of artistic disciplines, no two Graphic Designers will be working with the same toolset or on the same kinds of projects. Some will work in traditional print mediums such as the publishing or magazine industry. Some will design logos and branded merchandise for companies to feature on billboards, hats, and other promotional materials. Some will work on digital projects, building webpages and mobile application assets. Others will design infographics, posters, and signage for activist organizations or non-profits. Graphic design is a broad field of diverse artistic endeavors, and learning graphic design skills will open many doors for creatives.

Read more about what graphic design is and why you should learn it.

What Can You Do with Graphic Design?

Graphic design represents a wide-ranging field of visual expression, meaning there is virtually no limit to the kinds of images sufficiently skilled creatives can create. As the field of graphic design is so expansive, creatives can use their skills in both professional and personal contexts. As professional Graphic Designers, creatives will be tasked with building imagery that is both evocative and communicates complex persuasive ideas to their audience of consumers. Graphic Designers will build the iconography of companies and brands, build the images that audiences come to associate with those companies, and help construct memorable advertising campaigns, promotional material, and product packaging.

Graphic design skills are also useful for non-professionals looking to persuade large audiences. Small business owners, start-up entrepreneurs, or even creatives working in marketplaces like Etsy may wish to learn more about graphic design to build their brand identities and set themselves apart from their competitors. Activists and organizers can learn graphic design skills to create more visually appealing and persuasive designs for flyers and infographics. Politicians will hire graphic designers to build campaign materials. As long as someone is attempting to communicate visually to an audience, they will benefit from either learning graphic design skills or working closely alongside someone who knows them.

Free Tutorials

Students looking to get a feel for the process of graphic design before investing time and money into professional training options may want to take advantage of free online training resources and tutorials. These resources will help students ease into using tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, and provide necessary background on composition and design theories and philosophies. While students looking to use their graphic design skills professionally will need more advanced training, these online seminars are a great way to start on the path of graphic design education.

Noble offers a wide array of free graphic design seminars through the Graphic Design playlist on its official YouTube channel and the Free Seminars page on its website. These courses include free introductory seminars on Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign alongside seminars detailing more general theories of graphic design and its function in various industries. These courses will allow students to learn the basic features of graphic design tools to begin experimenting with their designs and feel more confident in their skills when they enroll in an online course.

Students can also take advantage of the free articles and resources available on Noble’s Learn Graphic Design page.

Many other service providers offer free online training, including Udemy and Coursera. In addition, for students looking to learn graphic design tools like Photoshop and Illustrator, Adobe provides free tutorials and introductory projects through their website.

Free Trials and Programs

One of the largest costs associated with graphic design is licensing the necessary tools and applications. While licensing a single tool may not be costly, learning to use several can quickly add up. This is especially true as more service providers move to a subscription-based model for their programs.

One way to alleviate this cost is by taking advantage of free trials offered by service providers. Adobe, for instance, offers new users a free trial for each program in the Adobe Creative Cloud. This time, even if brief, can be used to take advantage of the free training options available through providers like Noble and Adobe. Plus, these trials don’t have to be concurrent, so students can opt to block out the most convenient time.

Students may also wish to explore free program options like Inkscape and Darktable. These alternatives are great for students experimenting with practices and design techniques. However, they come with the drawback of having fewer training options and potentially lacking key features.

Key Insights

• While there isn’t an inherent cost to learning graphic design, acquiring the tools and the training to use them can be expensive, especially for students wanting to learn more than one application.
• Students hoping to cut this cost down before diving into more advanced training may wish to consider free training resources such as video tutorials and design templates made available through service providers like Noble and software providers like Adobe.
• Students may also wish to look at free alternatives for creative design tools such as Inkscape and Darktable. These tools have fewer training options and features but are ideal for students in the early stages of experimentation.
• Once students feel comfortable with their graphic design skills and want to learn about more professional training options, they can visit Noble Desktop to explore their options for live in-person and online graphic design training.

Learn Graphic Design with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Interested in learning graphic design? There are several options available. You can study individual graphic design tools in accelerated bootcamps or learn complementary skills in more career-focused training programs. Both graphic design training courses are available through Noble Desktop, both in-person and online. These courses are taught by experienced instructors who will teach important graphic design techniques and provide vital feedback on designs. Even online, Noble strives to keep class sizes small, ensuring students can interface directly with instructors. Additionally, all of Noble’s courses allow students to retake the course for free within a year. This offers students the opportunity to hone their skills, review material that may have been difficult, or gain more hands-on practice and feedback on their designs.

For students looking to learn the programs most commonly associated with professional graphic design, Noble offers a wide selection of bootcamps. These include training courses in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, all industry-standard tools. These courses provide students with hands-on training in advanced techniques to manipulate and edit photos, build vector graphic illustrations, or create layout designs. Each course guides students through practical exercises that replicate the kinds of projects created by professional Graphic Designers. Each course will teach an individual tool, but because all are part of Adobe Creative Cloud, learning one tool makes future training easier and expands how creatives can use multiple programs simultaneously.

Students looking to build a career in graphic design may want to consider Noble’s Graphic Design Certificate program. This accelerated training program teaches students all three major 2D graphic design tools. Students will learn Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign separately, then learn how these programs complement each other, introducing students to new ways to create graphic designs. Since this is a career-focused bootcamp, students will receive one-on-one career mentorship. The final portion of the course focuses on helping students build a practical portfolio of sample designs they can take to the job market. For students looking to turn a passion for graphic design into a career, Noble’s certificate programs offer ideal training.