Can I Learn Graphic Design On My Own?

Everyone learns differently. You may consider yourself an auditory learner while someone else may classify as a visual learner. Likewise, some may opt for a traditional class to learn a new skill, but others try to learn solo. With that in mind, it may vary from person to person whether they can learn graphic design without any outside help. In general, it is possible to gain some foundational graphic design knowledge on your own but it may not be reasonable to expect to obtain expert-level skills. Graphic design is an intricate, layered subject that requires obtaining a wide range of skills that, when combined, create a well-developed graphic design skillset. Learning on your own, while not impossible, often makes the learning process much longer and more challenging than if taught by an expert in the field in a live setting. However, there are free resources and on-demand options for those who are interested in learning on their own.

Advantages to Self-Teaching Graphic Design

In some situations, teaching yourself a new skill can be worthwhile and make the most sense. This depends on personal factors such as schedule, budget, current skills, and your purpose for learning. Although some may regard self-taught methods as challenging, others may be able to adapt to self-paced learning methods quickly. 

Flexible Schedule

Depending on your professional and personal life, an on-demand or self-paced option may be the only way you can learn graphic design. Unfortunately, many can’t spend much time engaging in their hobbies, nonetheless learning a new skill. This may feel relevant to you. You may have numerous obligations in your personal life that make fitting in a live training option virtually impossible. A self-teaching option can allow you to learn graphic design if you have a fully packed work schedule and family life that doesn’t provide much flexibility to fit a live training course into your week. Additionally, you can use on-demand classes or self-teaching methods as a way to prepare for the future when you have time to enroll in a graphic design course. Because on-demand classes and free resources are readily available, they allow you to study whenever suits your schedule. It can be challenging to balance a work-life schedule, let alone an added educational endeavor, so self-taught options alleviate this concern. Self-paced classes or free resources can help you learn foundational graphic design skills in a way that works for you.

Cost-Effective

In addition, some training courses are costly. They can range from a couple of hundred dollars to thousands of dollars. Depending on your reason for learning and your current budget, it may not be reasonable for you to spend a lot of money on a class. This is particularly true if you only need to learn a few foundational graphic design skills as opposed to gaining a professional-level understanding. On-demand and self-teaching options are typically free or low-cost, which can be preferential to those with especially tight budgets. Any amount of time and money you put into learning a new skill is worthwhile and will usually pay off in the long run. However, this can be a good starting point for someone who wants to learn a little more about graphic design or someone who needs to expand their already well-developed understanding of graphic design.

Quick Way to Diversify Current Skills

Many who partake in a self-paced course typically have previous experience in a related field, such as motion graphics, illustration, animation, or web design. These subjects have some overlap, and as a result, many design professionals aim to have more than one skill set. Likewise, some graphic design experts seek an on-demand option to brush up on their skills or update their knowledge of industry standards. If you already work in graphic design or a similar profession, teaching yourself new graphic design concepts may be easily done on your own, since previous experience can mitigate some of the issues commonly associated with learning solo. These individuals could benefit greatly from a self-paced or self-taught option since they already have relevant experience. However, self-paced methods and free resources won’t provide enough clarification for a total beginner. This is particularly true if you are searching for a way to diversify your skillset and expand your professional capabilities.

Graphic Design Self-Teaching Tools

On-demand classes are a common self-teaching tool as they are a self-paced, asynchronous option. While this delivery method has advantages and disadvantages, it can be the ideal choice for someone depending on their previous experience, schedule, or reason for studying graphic design. There are also free materials, such as accounts on video-based social media platforms like YouTube and TikTok. Many companies, education centers, and graphic design professionals will upload video collections on different tools, concepts, and practices relevant to graphic design. They’ll often share troubleshooting techniques, offer advice, and provide insight into the world of professional graphic design. Similarly, Noble Desktop’s Free Seminar page has dozens and dozens of pre-recorded lectures to choose from, whether you want to learn graphic design as a whole or focus on one particular tool, such as Adobe InDesign.

Drawbacks to Learning Graphic Design on Your Own

Although self-teaching options are sometimes worth pursuing, it is crucial to weigh your options thoroughly. Typically, it depends on your current skill level and how easily you think you can pick up on the material. Regardless, these drawbacks are worth considering as they can dramatically change the outcome of your learning experience.

Hands-Off Approach

There are disadvantages to learning graphic design on your own. For example, on-demand classes are convenient but are entirely hands-off. This means that on-demand classes lack the necessary interaction and personalization that often come with a live delivery method. This could be a real issue for some who learn best through hands-on practice and discussion, but also for someone new to graphic design software and concepts. In addition, the lack of an instructor can be a major drawback, particularly for beginners who will likely have a higher learning curve than someone who already has graphic design knowledge. The projects completed in a self-paced or self-taught class are usually comparable to a live training course, but they are completed entirely on their own.

Potential Roadblocks

Due to the hands-off nature, students in an on-demand class or who opt for a self-taught option are more likely to encounter confusing moments and roadblocks. Some common struggles include software malfunctions, not understanding how to use tools, failing to follow design principle guidelines, or falling short on project requirements. You may have to spend additional time outside of the on-demand class answering your own questions and figuring out how to fix errors solo, which wouldn’t be necessary in a live course. This could add a lot of extra time to your learning process, which somewhat negates the point of a self-paced or self-taught learning option.

Not Fit for Mastery

Additionally, free resources, self-paced classes, and self-teaching methods are often insufficient to provide an expert-level understanding of graphic design. Instead, they work more as supplemental material. Most professional Graphic Designers take multiple courses or in-depth bootcamps to be considered for employment and become experts in their field. Plus, traditional live classes allow students to build their portfolios, develop interview techniques, and gain more insight into the professional world. While it is possible to gain some graphic design knowledge on your own, you will have to consider all the different training options available to become a graphic design expert and working professional.

Alternatives to Learning Graphic Design on Your Own

Aside from learning on your own or following along with an on-demand course option, you can find a broad range of live classes that make learning graphic design much easier. Training centers, both US-based and international, offer in-person and live online courses at different levels so there is a course out there to suit your current skills. A live class not only implies students will have extended interaction with the material and the various technologies they will use in graphic design, but also with the instructor and fellow peers. Overall, these courses give students the most thorough learning experience

Whether in-person or online, live training is typically considered the best option for learning a new skill. The interactive space that live classes offer is one of the main benefits that self-paced and on-demand options don’t provide. In a live class, students can ask questions and receive feedback directly from the instructor, which is advantageous for beginner students especially, as they are more likely to encounter roadblocks and moments of confusion. Additionally, live courses are taught by an expert, so a real-world understanding of the graphic design field influences the feedback each student receives. Plus, many live classes have additional benefits that are not included with self-learning options, such as limited licenses, access to computer labs, setup assistance, portfolio development, and career preparation. The alternatives to self-paced learning are worth considering if you want to become a graphic design professional.

Live Training Options at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop is a training center based in New York City that offers courses in subjects related to design, coding, and technology. Their Graphic Design Portfolio Bootcamp is an ideal opportunity for those who want a comprehensive graphic design class that centers around portfolio development. The instructor teaches students industry-specific concepts and tools to help create portfolio-grade projects in applications like Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign. Each project goes through a series of drafts and feedback sessions from both the instructor and peers, so each student grows and develops as a creative design professional. Students who enroll at Noble Desktop also have additional benefits. In addition to 30 hours of classroom instruction, students can request setup assistance, have access to workbooks, and retake the course at no additional cost up to a year after their original enrollment. Once the course has ended, Noble Desktop will also award students with a verified certificate.

Perhaps you want to learn one software before diving head first. In that case, Noble Desktop offers classes in Adobe Creative Cloud applications. The Adobe InDesign Bootcamp equips students with the necessary skills to use InDesign for professional-grade layouts and designs for print and digital media. This may include books, magazines, brochures, and marketing purposes. Students will learn how to design documents and prepare them for distribution. Different classroom tasks include working with different types of imagery, typography, master pages, tables, and formats. Additionally, students will study color theory and design principles to understand what makes a design effective. Students have access to similar resources, such as setup assistance, 1-on-1 bonus training, and a free retake of the course. They will also earn their certificate of completion once the course has ended.

Noble Desktop also offers an Adobe Photoshop Bootcamp. Here, you can master the foundational operations of Photoshop, including navigating the interface, adjusting colors and tones, manipulating objects, applying filters, and retouching photos. Students will complete projects such as posters, graphics, and social media images. This enables them to gain practical experience and leave the course feeling comfortable enough to use Photoshop for personal or professional reasons. Students have access to setup assistance, an additional training session, and a free retake of the course in addition to their verified digital certificate.

The Adobe Illustrator Bootcamp is designed to teach students vital skills and techniques to create compelling designs in Illustrator. Students in this course will learn how to create vector illustrations for logos, icons, and other types of complex digital artwork. In addition, they will study color theory and typography, as well as work with layers and shapes. The instructor will guide students through hands-on activities and projects that are based on a realistic scenario and help students gain a thorough understanding of how to use the Illustrator interface, tools, and functions. Participants have additional benefits such as setup assistance, a 1-on-1 training session, and a free retake. Their digital certificate will serve as a testament to their newly acquired skills.