Whichever of the many disciplines of design you are interested in learning, selecting the best training format for your specific needs and goals is essential for your success. Mastering design principles, tools, and best practices can help you launch your dream career, grow in your current one, or arm you with the tool kit to craft personal creative projects that are as aesthetically pleasing as they are effective in their visual communication.

Once you’ve decided to study design, determining how you plan to acquire these skills is the next important question. Many students find that they learn more effectively with guided instruction, and fortunately, there are numerous options available for those seeking guidance in their design education. Read on to learn more about the various design training options, advantages, and disadvantages.

What is Design?

Design encompasses a vast array of skills and tools used in visual communication, ranging from logo creation to complex digital animation. It involves the deliberate planning and execution of visual elements to convey messages, solve problems, or enhance user experiences across various media. Modern design often relies heavily on digital tools, with the Adobe Creative Cloud suite being a popular choice among professionals.

The field of design spans multiple disciplines, including graphic design, web design, UX design, user interface (UI) design, and motion graphics. Each specialization requires its own set of skills and software proficiency, but all share a foundation in visual communication principles and problem-solving. Designers work in both the public and private sectors, contributing to advertising campaigns, product packaging, user interfaces, and advocacy materials.

Learning design skills can open doors to diverse career opportunities and personal creative expression. Mastery of tools like Photoshop and After Effects and concepts like color theory and balance can empower individuals to create compelling visual content for professional or personal projects, from designing a brand identity to crafting engaging social media graphics. As visual communication continues to dominate in the digital age, design skills remain in high demand across industries, making them a valuable addition to any professional toolkit.

What Can You Do with Design Skills?

Design skills open a wide range of career opportunities and professional paths. Individuals with solid design capabilities can work in various industries, from advertising and marketing to technology and entertainment. They are equipped to create visually appealing and functional products, including websites, mobile apps, logos, and print materials. This versatility allows designers to contribute to branding, user experience, and communication strategies, making them invaluable assets to any organization.

Design skills also enable professionals to think creatively and solve problems effectively. Designers use their understanding of aesthetics and functionality to innovate and improve user experiences, even when not working under the title of UX Designer. This problem-solving mindset is highly sought after across design sectors and beyond in industries such as marketing, communications, and journalism.

Individuals with design expertise can also use their skills in personal creative endeavors. From crafting custom wedding invitations and creating personal websites to designing unique home decor and personal branding, design skills empower people to make personal projects they can be proud of. Design skills can also help a person make their social media profiles stand out in the crowd, creating eye-catching instapoetry, memorable memes, and other visually engaging posts. With design knowledge, individuals can bring their personal visions to life, producing meaningful and personalized work that reflects their unique style and creativity.

Why Training Format Matters

With no shortage of training format options to choose from, prospective design students may vacillate between overwhelm and wondering why the type of class they select matters. Firstly, it’s important to note that no one training format is objectively the best option for every learner. Each training format caters to different learning styles, schedules, and educational needs, ensuring every student can find an option that suits them. Likewise, some formats are more suitable for learners with goals limited to learning a single tool of the trade or the basics of graphic design, while other training options are ideal for those looking for a comprehensive, career-focused education.

Types of Training Formats

Available in-person and online, live design classes are led by a live instructor meeting on a set schedule in either a brick-and-mortar or virtual classroom. Alternatives some may consider to these formats are on-demand training, which allows students to watch prerecorded lectures and complete any exercises at their own pace while lacking the benefit of a live instructor, and answering specific questions or quickly gaining a broad overview of the basics via free courses.

Live In-Person Classes

Live in-person classes provide a traditional classroom experience where students can interact with instructors and peers face-to-face. This format offers immediate feedback and hands-on learning opportunities, which can be especially beneficial for mastering complex design tools and techniques. The set schedule and direct access to resources create a structured and familiar educational experience that many learners find to be the most comfortable and supportive option. Many appreciate the community of classmates who can provide lively discussion, offering the opportunity to hear diverse perspectives on class topics and explore alternative approaches to problem-solving.

Live in-person classes are especially ideal for those comprehensive training solutions for launching a career, such as a Graphic Design Certificate program or a UX & UI Design Certificate program. They can also be helpful for those looking for a short course or bootcamp on a single tool of the trade or a simple introduction to essential design concepts. However, for some living outside of major metropolitan areas, finding a live in-person class that fits their current availability and provides the exact scope of training that will help them meet their goals. In-person classes are typically the most time-consuming learning option, as they are the only option that requires a commute. They can also be the most expensive option, as these training institutions will have the highest overhead due to rent, utilities, insurance, and other expenses necessitated by a brick-and-mortar location.

Live Online Classes

Live online classes combine the structure of in-person courses with the convenience of teleconference classrooms, allowing students to meet with a live instructor on a set schedule from the comfort of their homes. Students in live online classes can participate in real-time lectures and discussions, ask questions, and receive personalized feedback from expert instructors anywhere there is an internet connection. This class format provides the benefits of live instruction without the need for a potentially inconvenient commute. Live online classes can make a difference in accessibility to high-quality instruction that meets a learner’s needs and helps them meet their design goals, especially for those living in an area where few classes in the realm are available.

Live online classes are ideal learning solutions for design learners looking to master anything from the basics of graphic design to a job-ready comprehensive proficiency in motion graphics design. Their set schedule of class meetings and project deadlines create a significant level of accountability that many find essential support in meeting their goals. However, this same benefit means that those with packed schedules who need to prioritize flexibility in their design training may prefer to consider on-demand classes. Those whose learning needs are to satisfy some curiosity or are otherwise minimalistic may also find live online classes to be more training than they need.

On-Demand Classes

On-demand classes offer the ultimate flexibility in design training, allowing students to learn at their own pace. These pre-recorded courses can be accessed anytime, making them ideal for individuals with busy schedules or who are exceptionally self-driven and motivated to be their own source of accountability in their studies. On-demand courses are available on a wide range of topics and can be a cost-effective way to gain new design skills. While these include introductory and comprehensive options, they are the most effective teaching tools in the form of an advanced short course or bootcamp with a limited scope, as beginners tend to find it extremely difficult to learn design without a live instructor to answer questions and provide guidance in real-time.

Even for experienced learners, the main downside of on-demand classes is the lack of real-time interaction with instructors, as learning design without a mentor who can provide immediate feedback or clarification on complex topics. Without a set schedule or learning community, they offer no external accountability to keep students on track. The rapidly evolving technology and best practices of the design world can lead to on-demand curricula becoming outdated quickly, and learners are unlikely to be able to spot this when learning independently. Gaps in knowledge of the skill set are most likely to form when learning in an on-demand course, as well as bad habits and roadblocks that can be overcome or prevented with the help of an instructor in a live online or in-person class.

Free Courses

Free courses provide an accessible way to explore design concepts without financial investment. These courses can be found on various online platforms, including Adobe’s website as well as those of professional training schools. Noble Desktop offers free tutorials on the essential Adobe Creative Cloud tools used in design. They also provide free seminars on various disciplines of design, such as motion graphics, graphic design, and UX design. These courses have the obvious benefit of requiring no financial investment and being readily available online, making them the most accessible design learning option for most.

However, free courses may lack the depth and robustness of paid programs and often do not offer certificates of completion or other features that paid courses provide to support students’ success. Additionally, the quality and comprehensiveness of free classes vary widely, so it’s essential to ensure you choose from reputable resources. Free courses cannot be relied upon for comprehensive career-focused training or a thorough introduction to any design discipline or tool. However, these courses can play a pivotal role in helping someone curious about design or an application like Illustrator or After Effects determine if they want to pursue paid training and answer learners’ questions that arise while studying independently between class sessions.

Depth of Training Formats

Design training programs come in various formats, each differing in length and depth of content. Career-focused certificate programs offer comprehensive training in various design disciplines, while training bootcamps and introductory courses offer more targeted solutions to different learning needs. 

Certificate Programs

Certificate programs are extended courses designed to prepare students for a specific career. Design certificate programs typically span several weeks to months and provide comprehensive training in principles, tools, and techniques of one—or occasionally two—design disciplines. They often include hands-on projects, portfolio development, and career support, ensuring students are job-ready upon completion. While most certificate programs are full-time, Noble Desktop is among the few professional training schools that also offer students the opportunity to attend on a part-time schedule so they may continue to work or attend to other responsibilities during the training they need to break into a design career.

The specific design career an individual plans to launch will help them narrow down which program is ideal for meeting their needs. Noble Desktop offers several options, including their popular Graphic Design Certificate program. Aspiring Motion Graphics Designers will want to look for something like Noble’s Motion Graphics Certificate program, while those interested in user experience (UX) or user interface (UI) design can master both in their UX & UI Design Certificate program. The right certificate program can equip an aspiring designer with the cutting-edge training and professional portfolio they need to land their first entry-level job in the field.

Training Bootcamps

Training bootcamps are intensive short-term programs focused on teaching one specific skill or set of skills. These immersive and fast-paced programs allow students to quickly gain expertise in areas like web design, UX design, or motion graphics. Students can also attend bootcamps covering individual design tools such as Photoshop, Illustrator, or InDesign. Bootcamps often include hands-on exercises and projects, focusing on turning theoretical concepts into practical skills as quickly as possible.

Bootcamps can vary in length, with some as short as a day, but most run two full-time days to a week. Rarely, bootcamps will run over a more extended period of time, meeting two or three evenings a week on a part-time schedule. Noble Desktop provides design bootcamps on both full-time and part-time schedules, offering the option to meet in-person in NYC and live online. Noble’s design training bootcamps include offerings on tools of the trade, such as their Adobe InDesign Bootcamp, and topical bootcamps, like their AI for Graphic Design.

Introductory Courses

Introductory courses are short, beginner-friendly classes that cover the basics of design. These courses are perfect for those new to the field who want to build a foundational understanding before committing to more comprehensive programs. Introductory courses are significantly shorter than the substantially more expensive comprehensive certificate program format, often resembling training bootcamps in price, length, and structure. However, some introductory courses may be even shorter, with some lasting just a couple of hours in a single morning or afternoon.

As their name implies, introductory courses are an excellent starting point for an education in design. These classes may include the words “introduction,” “fundamentals,” “basics,” or “essentials,” though you’ll also want to check out courses like Noble Desktop’s Photoshop in a Day and InDesign in a Day when looking for introductory courses in either of those applications. This makes them ideal for learners still determining their exact learning path or who have financial needs requiring them to pursue a comprehensive education at a slower pace than a certificate program provides. Still, others’ learning goals will require nothing more than a simple understanding of the basic concepts of a discipline of design or an overview of the essential tools of an Adobe Creative Cloud application. For these individuals, an introductory course may be all they need to reach the level of design knowledge they desire.

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 the many perks they provide, 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.