Hi im 16 years old, and im interested in doing a graphic design course, from home.

 

Do you know where im able to do free graphic design courses for beginners which have a certified certificate that can be recognised in the uk or anywhere else?

I'm sorry but I don't know of any courses I could suggest.

 

I like the articles here, which you might find useful: http://www.smashingmagazine.com/

 

There are some design courses at tree house, but they aren't free, although you can do a free trial. http://teamtreehouse.com/library/design-foundations-2 I haven't tried these personally. You wouldn't get a certificate though.

Also Lynda, which again is not free: http://www.lynda.com/search?q=graphic+design

but you can watch a few of the videos for free - the ones that aren't locked.

 

I'd be interested in hearing the opinions of some of the more experienced designers on WDF.

Edited September 24, 201411 yr by Jane B

Thank you for the suggestions Jane. I will check them out when i can.

You can download Lynda.com's videos for free from torrent. its easy and will save a lots of time. i think it will help.

You can download Lynda.com's videos for free from torrent. its easy and will save a lots of time. i think it will help.

Thanks,and do you know of any courses online that you can get a certificate or degree, e.t.c

You can download Lynda.com's videos for free from torrent. its easy and will save a lots of time. i think it will help.

Aha what a suggestion there.

One often overlooked is Open University if you want true certification which will be employer recognised; I mean how far would the old Macromedia certified get you these days? The added bonus of an open university degree is that it's more flexible than a regular degree as it's based on total points rather than just general 'computer science' degree. You can pick the modules that suit, so maybe combine web development with some marketing and business studies thrown in, the end result I think would be more beneficial for an employer.

You can download Lynda.com's videos for free from torrent. its easy and will save a lots of time. i think it will help.

 

Of course you are aware this is illegal, right? Please be careful what you post in the future.

 

Of course you are aware this is illegal, right? Please be careful what you post in the future.

Dont worry miss. i ll be very carefull.

As a designer I would never suggest any 'course' you could find online, whether free or otherwise, they may teach you how to draw a pretty picture in some software, or even how to draw on a piece of paper but that route would never make you a designer, they will make you a puppet where people say what they want and you do it, a designer is much more than that.

 

In order to learn to be a designer properly you would need to learn design principles, theories and be able to understand what design really is, you can learn this by yourself but there would still be a lot of information you could miss, important information, the best sauces to teach yourself though are books and lots of them, about design principes and visual communication.

 

Do that properly and you won't need a certificate because you will know how to make a proper portfolio.

 

Of course the other way is to go work for a professional design company who can teach these principles.

Going on a course isn't the be all and end all - of course, its important but going to college, is probably a good way to learn. Get your level 1,2,3 or whatever level you can start at and then progress to uni. It will help you evolve into a better designer, a title you really must earn before throwing around "I'm a designer"

Going on a course isn't the be all and end all - of course, its important but going to college, is probably a good way to learn. Get your level 1,2,3 or whatever level you can start at and then progress to uni. It will help you evolve into a better designer, a title you really must earn before throwing around "I'm a designer"

 

I agree with this but would say that if you wanted to get to university, they would just need to see some aptitude for design, all I had was one example of a website design I had created, you should not need to know the theories as they would teach you that so going through a college is not really a useful step unless you have problems learning the software from online turorials.

I agree with this but would say that if you wanted to get to university, they would just need to see some aptitude for design, you should not need to know the theories as they would teach you that so doing through a college is not really a useful step unless you have problems learning the software from online turorials.

 

Agreed, this is where my Access course came in, I started graphic design late as was in IT support for a number of years and then realised I had a flare for graphics. I did my access to art, the first 4 weeks, went through the cycle of what do I want to do, something the college forced upon you, so they made you do a week of each, Fine Art, 3D, Textiles & Graphic Design, I already had it set I wanted graphic design. I found this level 3, the most frustrating, tutors pushing you to ways your not keen on like 3d I built up my sketch books and realised i wouldn't learn much, apart from how to document and explore. They taught you nothing to do with graphics, if you wanted to use digital media, mac, illustrator etc, you had to learn off your own back. Then I did my BA hows, I stayed with the same tutors and college and again found myself to be frustrated with them as they wouldn't let me be free creatively.

 

That said, if you want to pursue a career in graphics, go to college, learn as much as you can, enjoy the experience, meet lots of people, get to grips with materials, paper sizes, what works best etc - this really did help me, I taught myself Illustrator, inDesign & photoshop myself through experimentation and pushing my comfort zones.

 

Hope this helps

Agreed, this is where my Access course came in, I started graphic design late as was in IT support for a number of years and then realised I had a flare for graphics. I did my access to art, the first 4 weeks, went through the cycle of what do I want to do, something the college forced upon you, so they made you do a week of each, Fine Art, 3D, Textiles & Graphic Design, I already had it set I wanted graphic design. I found this level 3, the most frustrating, tutors pushing you to ways your not keen on like 3d I built up my sketch books and realised i wouldn't learn much, apart from how to document and explore. They taught you nothing to do with graphics, if you wanted to use digital media, mac, illustrator etc, you had to learn off your own back. Then I did my BA hows, I stayed with the same tutors and college and again found myself to be frustrated with them as they wouldn't let me be free creatively.

 

That said, if you want to pursue a career in graphics, go to college, learn as much as you can, enjoy the experience, meet lots of people, get to grips with materials, paper sizes, what works best etc - this really did help me, I taught myself Illustrator, inDesign & photoshop myself through experimentation and pushing my comfort zones.

 

Hope this helps

Wow, if that was your impression on your level 3, I am doing my level 6 this year along with a major industry size project and a 9000 word dissertation, I hope it's not as frustrating as that.

Was really hard, I personally think, as I was the older one, as I did know what I wanted and the tutor and head of section was desperate for me to do 3d, which she said I had a natural gift for.. but I had my heart set on graphics. However, when I moved into my BA hows after being there and going to the same place, this particular lady backed off as my personal tutor, who was head of graphic design noticed my flair for graphics and started to support me more. Just the way it was at that time and now here I am own business, working in graphics and my tutor touch's base every now and again and he loves my work.

I am a lot older, about 10 years older than the other students, the biggest issue for me is when we are asked to work in groups because these kids have had no experience and think they know it all they take a really loose attitude, they spend more time messing about than doing the work although there are a couple of 'shining lights'

I am a lot older, about 10 years older than the other students, the biggest issue for me is when we are asked to work in groups because these kids have had no experience and think they know it all they take a really loose attitude, they spend more time messing about than doing the work although there are a couple of 'shining lights'

 

I did find this too, they mixed the graphic design with illustration and a lot of the girls where 17/18 giggly and really annoying, being in my late 20's I just had my heart on cracking on and getting my head down and of course learning. Funny how things change?! ha - they annoyed me so much..

I recommend Lynda.com-Photoshop CC Essential Training By Julieanne Kost

Learning how to use Adobe Photoshop proficiently and effectively is the best way to get the most out of your pixels and create stunning imagery. Master the fundamentals of this program

Its better if you go for basics and its better if you go for the photoshop and you can also watch videos its very helpful but i am sorry that i cant say u any certified courses.