The course outline involves three modules. The first module is titled “Foundations”; it deals with an introduction to the history and purposed of design. This online class offers an in-depth exploration of editing, selecting, and layers in Photoshop. There is a discussion on the question, “Who is your customer?” and coursework dealing with the importance and value of whitespace and diagonals in design.

In the second module, the focus of the coursework is “Diving Into Design.” Students learn to evaluate a design as a whole as well as seeing the individual elements. There is extensive class time on fonts and typography, and students will go into depth on layout and on the subject of color. During these classes, assignments will focus on drawing and painting, photo manipulation, and color channels in Photoshop—this online Graphic Design class program utilizes Photoshop extensively. The final objective in this online class module will be an evaluation of color in print versus color on the web.

The third installment of this graphic design class is module three, entitled, “Finishing the Job.” This section deals with issues of working with illustrators and photographers, prepping files for print and production, and developing a project and working within constraints. Students will return to Photoshop in order to learn to develop filters and patterns, Vector graphics, and web tools. This final section will have an extended evaluation of the web in general.

Some current offerings are “How to create a bullet hole effect in Photoshop,” “How to create a hurricane effect in Photoshop,” “How to create a cylindrical cage in Bryce,” “How to create an oil paint terrain in Bryce,” “Making a brick wall in Bryce,” “Pattern Fills in Illustrator,” “Wood ground in Bryce,” “Neon lights effect in Photoshop,” “Ghost text in Photoshop,” “Transforming a new building into an old one in Photoshop,” “Creating a rendition of a cartoon called Muscle Man in Painter,” and “A little known secret to an interesting design in Illustrator.”

These Graphic Design online mini-classes assume you already know the basics and have the software, however they are free of charge! This is an excellent way for students, beginners, and even professionals to improve your knowledge base. These online classes can dramatically improve your projects or put your portfolio over the top!

These Designer Today tutorials provide a fortuitous occasion for seeing what problems occur in your field and to see how seasoned Graphic Design professionals have solved those problems. Having this opportunity to learn professional tricks of the trade for your specialization is like having your own free mentor!

This program consists of 8 undergraduate classes, which must be completed online. The student has the option to roll these credits into a degree from the Academy of Art University. This program involves 8 Graphic Design classes. Each online Graphic Design class is worth 3 credit units. Tuition is $740 per unit, for a total cost of roughly $17,760 for this cluster of online Graphic Design classes.

The required courses are: Sketching for Communication, Color and Design, Materials, Tools and Comping Techniques, Fundamentals of Graphic Design, Typography 1, Graphic Design 1, Digital Tools 1, and Digital Tools 2. This online program is a chance to pick up the bare essentials in Graphic Design skills

This opportunity is slightly expensive, but would be a valuable introduction into the field of Graphic Design, particularly if you were seriously considering attending the Academy of Art University. This is an excellent prospect for advanced High School Students considering college-level Graphic Design classes online—the equivalent of Advanced Placement courses that would transfer into college credits when the time came. This might be a nice program for a professional looking to make a career move, or for someone already working with a firm or in a related field who would benefit from cross-training and didn’t need an actual degree in order to win a job position.

1. Production Artist

A production artist is an entry level position in the creative profession that is graphic design. It’s technical, with the job title originating at advertising agencies. Production artists work with the graphic lead and art director to flawlessly execute designs. What’s the difference between “production art” and design? Well, as a production artist you’re taking your lead from the graphic artist and art director, but don’t worry – there’s still plenty of opportunity for you to be creative!

2. Graphic Designer

A graphic designer is someone who works within the graphic arts and graphic design industry. They assemble motion graphics, images and use typography to create a piece of design that communicates an idea – be it the selling of a product, a political message or simply a general opinion. They make the graphics for electronic media, published or printed works, and run the illustration, typesetting and user interfaces of the medium.

3. Computer Artist

A computer artist is someone who works in the field of computer art, which is art in which computers played a key role in the display or production of said artwork. This art can be drawn from sounds, animation, image, DVD, CD-ROM, a website, performance, algorithim, videogame or gallery installation. So many traditional artistic disciplines are now incorporating digital technology that the lines between computer art and traditional art have been blurred!

4. Art Director

The term “art director” is very general – it’s more of a blanket term that covers a variety of similar jobs in television, film, publishing, advertising, the internet and video games. An art director is responsible for the unity of vision of a project – particularly, an art director directs the overall visual style and apperance of the product or message, and how that product or message communicates visually. The art director makes important decisions about artistic style, motion and what visual elements should be used.

TIP 1: DO YOUR RESEARCH

It’s very important that you look at all the available online schools that teach graphic design classes before settling on one. You shouldn’t just go with the online graphic design school that is cheapest, or that has the coolest website – take a look at things like their alumni, job placement programs, and the credentials of the teaching staff. Be sure to ask a lot of questions – once you’ve spent the money, it’s gone, so make sure you’re spending it wisely.

TIP 2: TREAT YOUR ONLINE CLASSES SERIOUSLY

There’s a real temptation with distance learning to take breaks, move at your own pace, or put off your distance learning modules in favor of tasks that seem more immediate or pressing, or tasks that generate instant revenue. Just remember – you get out of these classes what you put into them. If you’re lazy or don’t do the work, you’re only wasting your own money. Remember – these classes aren’t an inconvenience, they’re the key to a better future for you and your family.

TIP 3: DO THE ASSIGNED HOMEWORK AND DO IT ON TIME

Assigned homework isn’t an inconvenience – it’s an important tool in furthering your development as a graphic designer. Make sure you complete all of your assignments thoroughly and on time – when you become a graphic designer, you’re not going to be able to skip out on jobs now are you? If you do, you’ll find that nobody will hire you – deadlines are there for a reason. Make sure to always do your homework.

TIP 4: TAKE BREAKS BETWEEN CLASSES TO RECONNECT WITH YOURSELF

It’s easy to get lost in an academic haze – class after class, assignment after assignment – it all piles up and takes an incredible mental toll. That’s why it’s important to remember to take frequent breaks (as long as you’ve finished your homework, of course!) – check your email, call a friend, just do something to shake up your day. You don’t want to fall into a boring routine, do you?

TIP 5: HAVE FUN!

Don’t forget – have fun with your classes! What’s the point of taking online graphic design classes if you can’t have fun with it?

1. YOU DON’T HAVE TO COMMUTE TO CLASS

Commuting to a college campus can be a real nightmare. Parking is expensive, gas is expensive, there’s a constant fight through traffic – commuting is awful! When you take graphic design classes online, you get to skip the hassle of driving your car or navigating mass transit systems, and get right to the good stuff – the classes. You’re going to school to learn, not to spend hours and hours a week traveling somewhere, right?

2. YOU HAVE ALL THE COMFORTS OF YOUR OWN HOME

Being able to learn in a safe, comfortable environment is a fantastic reason to engage in distance learning. Your own coffee, your own computer, your own kitchen – you can even go to school in your pajamas! Put your feet up and relax, you’re at school! These reasons, and the fact that you can make your own lunch instead of buying it at some terrible cafeteria, are all wonderful reasons to take classes online.

3. A COMPUTERIZED LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

Let’s face it – 99% of graphic design work is now done on computers. WACOM tablets, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator…if you’re a graphic designer, you’re spending all of your time on a computer. Why not familiarize yourself now with the digital environment? Well that’s exactly what distance learning does – the classroom IS your computer! Instead of learning boring theory from a dusty old book, you’re in the thick of it, editing graphics in real time in front of your digital classmates!

4. ONLINE CLASSES ARE VERY INEXPENSIVE

When it comes to graphic design, it’s not the degree you have or where you got it – it’s all about your portfolio. So why spend thousands and thousands of dollars paying for an endowment you’ll never even see? When you take graphic design classes online, you’re saving so much money it’s insane – and you’re getting a great education to boot!

5. IT’S MORE FUN!

Where would you rather be – stuck in some dusty old classroom bored out of your mind, or cruising the information superhighway on the road to your degree? I think the answer to this one is pretty self evident.