Are Design Classes Worth It?

Investing in design classes can require a significant commitment of time and money, so prospective students naturally wish to make an informed decision about whether they are worth the price. The short answer is that it depends upon your specific design learning goals, but design classes are worth the investment for those wishing to build design skills to launch a new career or use them in their current workplace.

This article provides a guided exploration of the advantages and other considerations you will want to examine to determine if enrolling in a structured design class is right for you. Examining the benefits of design classes—including the guidance of a live instructor, accountability of a set schedule, and assistance in building an impressive professional portfolio—and determining whether these are helpful in reaching your goals will help you determine if a design class is a worthwhile investment in your professional development.

Consider the Costs

Design classes can range substantially in price depending on their depth, scope, format, and quality. However, any course that teaches invaluable design skills will carry a price tag that prospective students need to consider carefully to determine whether the investment is worth it for their specific learning needs. Career-focused certificate classes and bootcamps can cost several thousand dollars, though most will be substantially more cost-effective than a college degree program purporting to provide students with a similar comprehensive design education. For individuals preparing to launch a career in graphic design, web design, or another discipline of the field, their anticipated return on investment will typically make these programs well worth the price. Those with less extensive design learning goals may find what they need for considerably smaller fees in short courses, on-demand classes, or even free tutorials, though they will want to weigh the advantages of each format before deciding which is the wisest investment for them.

Advantages of Design Classes

Those who wish to learn design commonly turn to in-person or online classes featuring the guidance of live expert instructors, finding they offer several benefits that make them well worth the expense.

General Benefits

Live design classes give students the invaluable opportunity to work closely with a live expert instructor who can provide personalized guidance, immediate feedback, and answers to questions in real-time. These courses generally offer structured curricula, including ample hands-on projects, allowing students to turn theoretical knowledge into practical skills in a carefully planned and logical order. Learning design in either an in-person or virtual classroom provides students with an environment that fosters focus through the process of reaching a deep understanding of the material and leaving them prepared to either land their first job in the field or move on to more advanced classes.

Access to Design Tools and Resources

The cost and hassle of securing reliable access to the various tools and learning resources a potential design learner needs can be intimidating and pose a significant barrier to entry. Even knowing what hardware and applications are necessary for learning their specific discipline of design and which resources are the most reliable and up-to-date can be an insurmountable challenge for learners attempting to pursue a design education without the assistance of a structured class. However, design courses will typically provide students with access to any necessary applications and access to materials necessary to practice hands-on skills and complete any project required by the class.

Theory and Practical Application

Beyond mastering tools of the trade, such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and Figma, understanding the underlying theories and principles of design is crucial for learners no matter the discipline they wish to pursue. Experienced design instructors teach these essential concepts, including color theory, balance, typography, and other principles as necessary for graphic design as they are for motion graphics design, UX design, and digital design. A well-planned design curriculum will also feature ample hands-on application of these concepts using applications specific to the discipline of design covered by the class.

Personalized Feedback

In any design discipline, even the subtlest decisions can profoundly affect a final product and user experience. Live design classes allow instructors to offer constructive feedback in real-time, helping students refine their work and avoid common pitfalls early in their careers. This mentorship ensures learners develop strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills vital for learner’s successful use of their new design skills in the workplace.

Collaboration and Real-world Skills

While some designers work independently, design is commonly a collaborative effort involving teamwork with various creative professionals. Design classes often simulate real-world scenarios, offering students opportunities to collaborate, mirroring professional environments. This experience not only prepares students for teamwork in the workplace but also builds essential communication and project management skills. Even classes that don’t include group projects typically encourage lively discussion among peers, allowing students to learn from different perspectives and practice synthesizing various opinions as they may in their future design careers.

Building a Portfolio

An impressive professional portfolio is essential for aspiring designers to accurately showcase their skills to prospective employers. Design classes support students’ creation of high-quality project samples that can be curated into rich portfolios or demo reels that demonstrate their personal style and ability to perform the tasks associated with their desired jobs. Meanwhile, those who plan to use their design skills as freelancers also require a standout portfolio so that clients can accurately assess their capabilities and whether their approach is a fit for their needs. While creating a portfolio independently is possible for some, the expert guidance and support provided by instructors in a career-focused certificate program or bootcamp is invaluable for beginners assembling a professional design portfolio for the first time.

Considerations When Looking at Design Classes

While live design classes offer invaluable benefits for many, they may not be the best fit for some individuals wishing to study design, especially those juggling extensive responsibilities, hobbyists, and individuals with minimal learning goals.

General Considerations

A commitment to a live online or in-person design class involves a significant dedication of time that prospective students should carefully consider and compare with their current calendars. Generally, live design courses will feature set schedules, with lengthier and more comprehensive classes requiring significant independent study and homework during off-hours. Creating a realistic plan that ensures one can either dedicate their time exclusively to a full-time program or juggle work and other responsibilities during a part-time one is essential before enrollment.

Balancing Theory and Practical Skills

Choosing the right design class involves finding the balance between learning design theory and the practical application of this theory using the tools of the trade. Prospective design students should take their time ascertaining their reasons for learning the topic and their goals to have a clear understanding of what this balance needs to look like to meet their needs. 

Some may wish to master essential graphic design concepts to level up their video editing career or elevate the visual appeal of their ecommerce newsletter. Others may determine that learning a specific tool like Figma or Photoshop is the next step in their professional growth. Meanwhile, many will wish to learn the comprehensive skill set of a specific design discipline to launch a new career. Luckily, design classes are available to help students achieve any of these goals, but prospective students will wish to study their curricula and find the one that best meets their specific design learning needs.

What Skills Do You Need to Know?

Not everyone interested in knowing more about design needs the extensive professional design training provided by live design classes. If an individual aims to acquire basic skills for a short-term project, such as creating a simple logo for a new solopreneur business or illustrating a picture book for their grandchildren, an intensive design course may not be necessary. Similarly, those with some design background looking to refine specific techniques might find targeted workshops more beneficial than comprehensive classes. Time spent in the intentional evaluation of an individual’s specific learning needs and design goals will help them make a wise decision regarding the most suitable educational path for them.

Is it Worth Enrolling in a Design Class?

Who will find it worthwhile?

Aspiring Professional Designers

Anyone looking to pursue a career in design will find design classes invaluable resources in helping them reach their goals. Career-focused certificate programs and bootcamps courses provide comprehensive professional skills development, job support, and practical training essential for success in the industry. Though the initial investment may be high, the doors design classes open for career growth and earning potential make them a wise investment for aspiring designers in any discipline.

Creatives Expanding Their Skill Set

Individuals already involved in creative fields such as graphic design, digital marketing, or web development will benefit from enrolling in design classes, especially short courses and bootcamps with a scope limited to a single tool of the trade or a select few design principles. These courses allow creatives to level up their current skill set, whether by adding to their design knowledge or enhancing their presentations, newsletters, or other projects where visual appeal and clear communication are a must. Professional training schools often provide courses that focus on both theory and practical application, ensuring that students can find the perfect course for them or assemble the design education they require a la carte.

Content Creators

Those who produce content for platforms like YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok will find design classes particularly beneficial. In a crowded digital landscape, standing out requires not only creativity but also technical proficiency. Design classes equip content creators with the skills to produce visually appealing, professional-quality content, helping them attract and retain a larger audience. Mastering design fundamentals can significantly elevate the quality of their work, making their content more engaging and marketable.

Who might find it worthwhile?

Individuals Exploring Creative Careers

People considering a creative career but uncertain about their primary focus may benefit from attending a design class. Introductory courses are especially useful for providing foundational skills applicable across various creative disciplines, offering a solid starting point for learning graphic design, motion graphics, web design, or another related skill set. Learning design can also benefit individuals who prefer a position in communications, web development, and many other sectors, as the skill set lays the foundation for strong visual communication and problem-solving abilities and builds general versatility for professionals filling increasingly multidisciplinary roles.

Professionals in Adjacent Fields

Those already working in related areas such as digital animation, user experience, or marketing might find enrolling in a design class helpful. Even if their primary responsibilities don’t include extensive design work, understanding design principles can improve their ability to create visually cohesive projects. Introductory courses focusing on essential applications and technical skills can help these professionals become more self-sufficient, reducing their reliance on others for basic design tasks and arming them with the tools to contribute more effectively to collaborative projects.

Who probably doesn’t need a design class?

Hobbyists and Amateurs

Individuals interested in learning design skills to level up their hobbies—such as digital art, painting, or creating graphic novels for fun—may not find formal design classes necessary to achieve their goals. For those highly interested in learning these skills to add flair to their personal social media accounts or enhance their artistic skills, on-demand classes offer a self-paced and often cheaper alternative to live design classes. While this self-directed approach to learning—which may also include low-cost or free online design seminars and tutorials—might take longer and present more challenges, it offers the flexibility to explore design without the pressure of deadlines or the significant financial investment of live classes geared toward professional training.

Experienced Designers Seeking Specific Skills

Design professionals who already have a solid foundation but are interested in learning specific advanced techniques may not require formal design classes. In these cases, targeted workshops and on-demand tutorials focusing on particular skills can be more efficient and cost-effective learning tools. For example, a highly experienced designer with a strong knowledge of Photoshop and Illustrator likely has enough familiarity with Adobe Creative Cloud applications to get started in InDesign with the help of a free online seminar. However, in some cases, a live targeted short course may be the best option, especially if the tool or skill is outside the designer’s current discipline, as in the case of a Web Designer wishing to learn motion graphics or a Motion Graphics Designer curious about Figma.

Learn Design Skills with Noble Desktop

Design and coding school Noble Desktop provides a vast menu of design classes led by live expert instructors whether you choose to attend in-person in NYC or live online from anywhere in the world. Their flexible scheduling options allow you to participate as a full-time or part-time student, ensuring you can meet your learning goals no matter your current calendar. Noble Desktop provides classes in a variety of scopes and design-related topics, from beginner-friendly short courses on tools like Photoshop or After Effects to comprehensive career-focused certificate programs in various design disciplines, including graphic design, web design, UX/UI design, motion graphics design, and video editing. Noble keeps their class size small to ensure all learners can receive personalized guidance and immediate feedback from their expert instructors, all of whom are experienced industry professionals invested in the success of their students. Noble Desktop’s dedication to helping their students achieve their goals is evident in its many perks, including verified digital certificates of completion, free retakes of all their courses within one year, and one-on-one mentorship in all career-focused certificate classes. 

If you’re interested in learning design skills to launch a career as a Graphic Designer, you may wish to enroll in Noble Desktop’s Graphic Design Certificate program. Students in this course will learn essential graphic design principles and turn them into practical knowledge through extensive hands-on projects, creating projects such as signage, infographics, product packaging, logos, and branded merchandise. Students will be job-ready by the end of the certificate program, having built expertise in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, and they will have a professional quality portfolio ready to showcase their design skills to prospective employers alongside their impressive verified certificate of completion for the program.

Noble Desktop’s Digital Design Certificate program will arm you with the design skills you need to work in digital design, user interface (UI) design, web design, or graphic design. In this certificate program, you’ll learn the core tools of the trade—Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Figma—and key digital design concepts and theory. With no coding required, this program allows you to focus on what matters to you—designing aesthetically pleasing and functional user interfaces, websites, and other digital products. Like all of Noble Desktop’s Certificate Programs, the Digital Design Certificate features one-on-one mentorship for career support, portfolio-building assistance, and a verified digital certificate of completion.

Noble Desktop’s Motion Graphics Certificate program offers practical training in motion graphics and visual effects using Adobe After Effects, Premiere Pro, Audition, and Cinema 4D in After Effects. With the help of your expert instructors, you’ll develop skills in motion graphics design, animation, and video production. With career support, portfolio-building assistance, and a free retake option, students will be ready to impress hiring managers looking for a new entry-level Motion Graphics Designer.