9 Best + Free Graphic Design Courses & Certificates [2026]
- 1. Graphic Design Masterclass - Learn GREAT Design [Udemy]
- 2. Adobe Photoshop CC – Essentials Training Course [Udemy]
- 3. Adobe Illustrator CC - Essentials Training Course [Udemy]
- 4. Adobe Photoshop Masterclass with Photoshop + AI Updates [Udemy]
- 5. The Complete Graphic Design Theory for Beginners Course [Udemy]
- 6. Graphic Design Bootcamp [Udemy]
- 7. Adobe Photoshop CC – Advanced Training Course [Udemy]
- 8. Adobe Illustrator CC – Advanced Training Course [Udemy]
- 9. Graphic Design Masterclass Intermediate: The NEXT Level [Udemy]
- 10. The Branding Masterclass The Entire Brand Design Process [Udemy]
As featured on Harvard EDU, Stackify and Inc - CourseDuck identifies and rates the Best Graphic Design Courses, Tutorials, Providers and Certifications, based on 12,000+ student reviews, public mentions, recommendations, ratings and polling 5,000+ highly active StackOverFlow members. Learn more
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1 )
Graphic Design Masterclass - Learn GREAT Design (2025)
4.6
The Ultimate Graphic Design Course Which Covers Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Design Theory, Branding, Logo Design
What You'll Learn
- Have a deep understanding of typography, color theory, photos, layout, blocking and other design theory and skills
- Understand and learn the essential tools and capabilities of Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign
- Create logos and branding packages for potential clients
- Learn photo editing and manipulation in Adobe Photoshop
- Master the pen tool, shape builder tool and other essential vector design tools in Adobe Illustrator.
- How to create editorial spreads and magazine layouts using Adobe InDesign
- Understand solid logo design and ad design principles to create compelling campaigns and logos
- Work through the entire package design process
- Learn non-destructive editing techniques in Adobe Photoshop
- Work through an event flyer design to understand strong type hierarchy, balance and overall design layout
- Learn a few of the upcoming design trends for 2022 and how to create them!
- Learn the his
2 )
Adobe Photoshop CC Essentials Training Course (2025)
4.8
This Adobe Photoshop Essentials course will teach you Photoshop Retouching as well as Photoshop for graphic design.
What You'll Learn
- You will be able to start earning money from your Photoshop Skills.
- You will be able to add Photoshop to your CV
- You will have over 20 of your own projects to add to your portfolio.
- You will create social media post images for Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pintrest & Youtube.
- You will be able to mask anything including the dreaded hair!
- Clearcut images.
- Create amazing typography.
- You will create popular visual styles.
- You will create distorted images.
- You will create graphics from scratch.
- You will retouch photographs like a professional.
- You will create a postcard.
- Create posters.
- Create advertising.
- Resize Images.
- Build a flyer.
- Change the color or images.
- Fix the colors in photographs
- You will change eye & hair colors.
- You will combine 2 photographs to create amazing compositions.
- You will put a storm in a t
3 )
Adobe Illustrator CC - Essentials Training Course (2025)
4.8
Learn Adobe Illustrator CC graphic design, logo design, and more with this in-depth, practical, easy-to-follow course!
What You'll Learn
- You will be able to add Illustrator to your CV
- You will be able to start earning money from your Illustrator Skills.
- You will have over 30 of your own projects to add to your portfolio.
- Feel comfortable using Adobe Illustrator to design your own graphics from scratch.
- Navigate Adobe Illustrator CC like a pro.
- Design your own graphics, without any experience.
- Draw beginner to advanced shapes and icons.
- Learn all of the key skills of Illustrator: shapes, text, masking, effects, and exporting.
- Master advanced Illustrator tools and techniques.
- Export your projects for print, web, or other design projects.
- Make your ideas come to life.
- Create your own logos.
- Draw existing famous logos.
- Illustrate animals.
- Draw with paint brushes.
- Draw with pens & pencils.
- Create custom typography.
- Take hand drawings and recreate them using Illustrator.
4 )
Adobe Photoshop Masterclass with Photoshop + AI Updates (2026)
4.6
Quickly Master Adobe Photoshop: Beginner to Advanced Graphic Design, Photo Editing, Generative AI, Branding [UPDATED]
What You'll Learn
- You'll be comfortable navigating Photoshop, creating new projects, designing how you imagine, and saving it for any purpose.
- You'll learn graphic design, photo editing & photo retouching in Photoshop
- You'll learn the essential Photoshop tools for editing and manipulating images.
- You'll learn how to use the Photoshop layers panel including creating and editing layer masks.
- You'll know how to edit photos (both RAW and compressed images) with a variety of tools and non-destructive methods.
- You'll learn how to select and edit just parts of your image with a number of selection tools.
- You'll know how to retouch photos to remove blemishes, fix red-eye, whiten teeth, and more.
- You'll learn how to use the shape tool and pen tool to design custom shapes.
- You'll know how to use blending modes, layer styles, and blending modes to create fun and unique projects.
- You
5 )
The Complete Graphic Design Theory for Beginners Course (2023)
4.6
Learn Graphic Design Theory and the Basic Principles of Color Theory, Typography, Branding, Logo Design, Layout & More!
What You'll Learn
- You will have intermediate to expert level knowledge of graphic design theory that you will immediately be able to apply to your career, job, hobby, or company.
- You will be given a major overview of the most common graphic design practices and the thought process behind these principles.
- You will be given real-world, applicable projects that you can follow along with and practice.
- You will achieve the experience and knowledge to take graphic design fundamentals and apply them in your everyday life.
- You will learn color theory and how it applies to the world around us, from products and art to branding and advertising.
- You will learn typography theory and how type plays a major role in both print mediums and digital media.
- You will learn photography composition and how it interacts with graphic design elements to create stunning looking artwork.
- You will learn layout, user interface and experience design, and composition t
6 )
Graphic Design Bootcamp (2026)
4.3
Bestselling Beginner Course! Use Photoshop, Illustrator, & InDesign for logo design, web design, poster design, and more
What You'll Learn
- Gain a clear understanding of how to work with BOTH print and web projects in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.
- Develop the skills and confidence to create the most common graphic design projects.
- Build a skill set that can set you up to be employable in the creative industry as a graphic designer.
- Begin to understand the basics of logo design, including typography and color usage.
- Learn how to make and refine selections using Photoshop.
- Learn how to make composite images using Photoshop.
- Work with typography, shapes, colors, and more in Illustrator.
- Learn how to efficiently package and export files.
- Learn how to lay out graphics and text while designing an eBook with InDesign.
- Discover how to export your finished portfolio projects directly from the Adobe CC into Behance.
- Learn how to mask shapes and work with Font Awesome icons.
- Learn how to set up a logo mood board and how to present
7 )
Adobe Photoshop CC Advanced Training Course (2025)
4.6
You'll learn advanced Photoshop techniques like Photoshop retouching & Graphic Design tutorials.
What You'll Learn
- You will be able to earn more using these new Photoshop skills.
- You will create multiple images for you to use in your Portfolio.
- You will be able to add 'Advanced Photoshop User' to your CV.
- You will create multiple social media graphics for Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pintrest & Youtube.
- You will know how to mask people with one click.
- You will create a fruit juice poster.
- You will replace ugly skies with new blue skies.
- You will create an image by combining 3 different images.
- You will create amazingly realistic shadows.
- You will build animations ready for social media.
- You will make blurry images - sharp & focused.
- You will master advanced curves & levels.
- You will retouch perfect skin.
- You will change colors of a flower & dress.
- You will make images larger without distorting them.
- You will automatically generate more grass &am
8 )
Adobe Illustrator CC Advanced Training Course (2025)
4.8
In this Adobe Illustrator Advanced course we'll learn Advanced techniques for graphic design, logo design & illustration
What You'll Learn
- 101 Lectures 10+ hours of content
- How to use Text to Vector Ai
- How to use Text to Pattern Ai
- How to use Generative Recolor
- When to use the Scissor Tool, Eraser Tool & Knife Tool
- Advanced Shape Builder Uses
- The differences between the Pathfinder Vs Shape Builder
- How to use the Join tool & Joining Path Ends
- Advanced Pen Tool Tricks
- Width Tool Advanced Techniques
- The Curvature Tool
- How to master corners with corner widget effects
- How to work with Compound Paths
- The difference between Expand & Expand Appearance
- How to create Graphic Styles
- How to make Symbols
- How to use the Smooth ToolAdvanced use of Simplify Path
- What Live Shape Effects are for
- How to make Repeating Grids & Concentric Circles
- How to make Random Objects
- Advanced Keyboard Shortcuts in Illustrator
- How to add a Gradient on a Stroke
9 )
Graphic Design Masterclass Intermediate: The NEXT Level (2024)
4.3
Up Your Graphic Design Skills: Logo Design, Photo Manipulation, Package Design, Infographics, Portfolio Building, Grids!
What You'll Learn
- You will be able to create polished and practical Logo designs and brand assets
- Be able to create images for a full digital marketing campaign, including Facebook and Instagram
- Produce complex photo manipulations for the use of ad design and understand solid layout and design principles
- Sketch logo design and concepts with ease and understand the golden ratio and how to incorporate that in your design process
- Create and build a strong graphic design portfolio both in pdf and online
- Understand some of the many ways of making money by selling creative content and resources
- Understand how to use more intermediate tools in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop
- Study the Golden Ratio and create a graphic illustration with it
- Go through the entire package design process for a chocolate bar wrapper
- Create a typography only poster
- Learn what makes compelling infographics and take boring data and make it come ali
10 )
The Branding Masterclass The Entire Brand Design Process (2023)
4.6
Sketching, Graphic Design, Logo Design, Brand Voice, Color & Typographic Systems, Portfolio and Client Presentations
What You'll Learn
- The Entire Branding Process from Sketch to Finished Client Presentation
- Understand Everything About Client Briefs
- Learn to Ask the Right Questions to the Client
- Learn to Conduct Client and Competitor Research
- Find Your Target Audience and Product Customer Profiles and Personas
- Find Your Style Direction and Produce Stylescapes, Moodboards and Other Presentations
- Find a Brands Position in the Market
- Work through Word Association Exercises, Word Mapping and Learn HOW to Brainstorm
- Learn How to Sketch and Sketch Various Concepts
- Learn How to Select Concepts for Further Development
- Work through the ENTIRE Logo Design Process
- Learn How to Choose the Right Typeface
- Develop a Typographic System
- Create a Flexible Color System
- Understanding Color Psychology and its Effect on Brand Design
- Working with Projects and Mockups to Further Develop Color Palettes
- Apply
Best Free Course
11 )
Fundamentals of Graphic Design (2015)
5.0
Calarts created this 14-hour course that is run by Coursera. This course is all about the fundamentals of graphic design. It focuses on typography, composition, image making and color and shape. It teaches the base skillset necessary to make full use of graphic design tools like Photoshop.
Pros
Cons
-
- Course is great as a first-time introduction to the core concepts of graphic design.
- No prerequisites are necessary. This is a good course for exploring whether or not a cursory interest in graphic design could bloom into something more.
- Amazing opportunity for professionals peripherally attached to graphic design to learn more about the field of study.
-
- This course does not teach intricate software skills. You will not master Photoshop and similar software here.
- Not a practical skills course at all. Focus is almost entirely on design concepts rather than applications of those concepts.
- Course if for people interested in graphic design rather than invested in it.