The first two years of my college degree were spent in the field of design research, writing papers, and presenting at conferences. In the third year, I spent time in the same field while working full time as a freelance graphic designer, learning design thinking and writing a book about my experiences.
I have always had an interest in design and design thinking, so I was thrilled when I found out that a career in graphic design was the perfect fit for me. Unfortunately, it’s not always that easy though. Design jobs are not always what they seem to be. Designers aren’t just making logos or designing posters. They may also be working in an office, researching a subject, and writing a book.
I would have to say that my job as a freelance graphic designer is not exactly what I would call “easy”. In fact, I have found myself having to read and re-read my own work. That’s not to say that I don’t enjoy it, though. I love the idea of being able to take a research paper and write a fresh, original paper about it.
One of the greatest things about Graphic Design is that there is so much talent out there, and so many schools offering programs and courses, that you can find a job virtually anywhere. I am personally not a huge proponent of taking a course in Graphic Design though, as I feel that they are often only studying something that is already on the market. But as a freelance graphic designer, I am open to anything that might help me be a more creative person.
Graphic design is the kind of thing that requires good eye-hand coordination, good communication skills, and the ability to work fast. And as such, many schools offer classes in this area. So to help you find the right program for you, I have compiled a list of free graphic design programs that I am currently aware of.
While the design industry seems to be always changing, there is no shortage of great career opportunities. My list is intended as a quick reference to help you get started with the most popular graphic design programs.
While I’ve received a LOT of feedback on this list, I have to say, I don’t think it is one of the best. This is mostly due to the fact that even a cursory glance at the job descriptions for these programs can be deceiving. Many programs don’t really have specific curriculum that they provide.
To begin, I would start by choosing a program. For graphic design, the industry is dominated by Adobe Creative Suite. In fact, Creative Suite is the most popular graphic design program, which means that the jobs you can get in this industry are not quite as varied as my list would lead you to believe. While there are a lot of opportunities for designers, many of them are in the low-paying, low-skilled, part-time, low-income labor category.
Some of this is because of the fact that some of the design programs are not very well-funded, and are more about getting people who don’t have the formal training to work in this field to do what they do. However, there are plenty of design jobs out there, and they don’t require a degree. I am not saying that all design jobs are low-paying, low-skilled, low-income, and part-time.