How Long Do Design Courses Take?

Design classes can vary widely in length depending on the format of the course and the depth of the content covered. Short courses can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days, providing quick introductions to broad skill sets like graphic design or advanced instruction on specific tools and techniques. Meanwhile, career-focused bootcamps and comprehensive certificate programs will prepare students to land their first entry-level designer job in as little as a few weeks, though some programs—especially the occasional part-time options—will run several months in length. Design degree programs are even longer, usually taking two to four years to complete. This article will help you understand the duration of various design class formats, identify which courses are best suited for different types of learners, and determine the right design class for your educational and career objectives.

Lengths of Classes

The length of any design class will match its format and the scope and depth of its topic, which, with such a broad skill set, can differ significantly from course to course. Design learners have their choice of how extensively and comprehensively they wish to learn the specific discipline, tool, or technique of their choice, and that choice will determine the amount of time they need to dedicate to achieve their goals. The following sections will help readers explore the various class format options available to them and the learning objectives students can reach in the time it takes to complete each one.

Introductory classes

Introductory design classes are ideal for beginners who would like a quick introduction to the foundational principles and tools of the field. While many concepts in a broad design introductory class would apply across disciplines, learners can also find introductory courses to the design sector they wish to study, such as graphic design, motion graphics design, and digital design. For some learners, this class format will provide the depth of understanding to meet their objectives, such as hobbyists or professionals in other careers who would like to level up their work with some design awareness. Meanwhile, others use these courses when they are leaning towards launching a career in a sector of design but would like to learn more about it before committing to a bootcamp or degree program. Whatever their reason for attending an introductory design class, students can anticipate spending anywhere from a couple of hours to a few days in this short course format.

Advanced Courses

Advanced design classes bear a surprisingly close resemblance to introductory classes, as both are primarily offered as short courses by professional training centers. Like introductory classes, advanced design courses can run anywhere from a few hours to three or four days in length. These classes cover advanced theoretical concepts and tools of the trade, requiring specific prerequisite classes, knowledge, or experience to ensure students are ready to excel in the course. Advanced classes are ideal for working designers who wish to expand their skill sets to broaden their career horizons. Still, some will also attempt to piece together their own comprehensive design curriculum with introductory and advanced courses, often to avoid the fast-paced nature of a career-focused bootcamp. While this approach can work for some, making a design education possible when it wouldn’t be otherwise, it tends to be more expensive in the long run than a single certificate-granting program and lacks the career support comprehensive options usually provide.

Design Bootcamps

Design bootcamps and certificate programs offer a more intensive and comprehensive learning experience than introductory and advanced short courses, typically lasting anywhere from a few weeks to several months. These programs usually welcome beginners and are ideal for anyone serious about launching a career in design or looking to make a significant career shift to a new specialization, such as a Web Designer hoping to pivot to a Motion Graphics Designer position. These career-focused bootcamps cover a wide range of design skills and tools, providing hands-on projects and portfolio development opportunities. 

Bootcamp curricula are usually fast-paced and demanding, requiring full-time commitment from students, though the rarer part-time bootcamp format may allow for more flexibility in exchange for extending the duration of the bootcamp considerably. While bootcamps don’t provide the same depth of education in the theories and history of design as degree programs, they efficiently equip students with the practical skills needed to secure their first entry-level design positions. Many design bootcamps also include career support services, such as resume workshops and job placement assistance, to help graduates succeed in the design sector of their choice.

Design Degrees

Design degrees are the most in-depth, expensive, and lengthy educational path for aspiring design professionals, best suited for those with ample resources and specific aspirations in academia, management, or another area where extensive knowledge of the theory and history of design is an asset. These degree programs are available through universities and accredited design schools, the most desirable of which are often highly competitive—especially for those interested in earning a graduate degree. Associate’s degrees in design are typically attainable in two years, while bachelor’s degrees usually take four years of classes to complete. MFA programs in design typically take around two to three years to complete, while some can take as many as four. These programs can be paced to allow for part-time work throughout, but their expense is often a deterrent for those hoping to join the design workforce as quickly as possible, especially considering the affordability and efficiency of career-focused bootcamps compared to degree programs.

On-demand classes

On-demand classes are an alternative design learning format with the most variability in length. Also known as self-paced courses, on-demand classes allow learners to move at the speed that best suits their learning style and schedule. They often note the number of hours of pre-recorded lectures or an estimated number of hours that a student may anticipate spending on the program, but their ultimate length depends on the speed at which the learner moves through the materials. The flexibility of on-demand classes comes at the price of the student’s loss of access to a live instructor, discussion with classmates, and the accountability of a set schedule. While highly self-driven learners can work their way through these classes with these supportive features, these courses have by far the highest rate of abandonment by learners who may run into roadblocks or lose motivation without the mentorship of a live instructor.

Part-time or Full-time?

When considering design classes, students may have the choice of attending as a full-time or part-time student, depending upon the class format that fits their needs. Short courses are often a mere afternoon in length, making the question of full-time or part-time unnecessary, though some who need a part-time comprehensive education will attempt to use short courses to assemble their own a la carte. Career-focused bootcamps and certificate programs are typically full-time, which creates the most immersive learning experience and expedites students’ paths to job readiness more than any other option. However, Noble Desktop offers design learners the option to attend bootcamps like their Graphic Design Certificate, Digital Design Certificate, and Web Design Certificate, either full-time or part-time. The part-time version of these bootcamps allows the many students who need this intensive class format to meet their career goals to attend at a speed that will enable them to continue to work, attend to family responsibilities, and practice their new skills more extensively than they might on a full-time schedule.

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. In fact, 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.