5 Great Ideas of Continuing Education in Graphic Design

Graphic Design Continuing Education Ideas

• Skillshare
• Lynda
• Online Courses
• Workshops
• AIGA

What are five great ideas for continuing education as a graphic designer? It's a question that many designers ask, particularly since companies hiring these designers want outstanding work. While there are many resources to this effect, here are some of the best ideas that a designer can take into consideration right now.

1. Skillshare

Skillshare is a great resource for graphic designers who are interested in continuing their education. This is a website that is dedicated to creative endeavors that focus on specializations, taught through video lessons by experts in that field. The site is a monthly membership which grants designers access to over 17,000 classes as well as the opportunity to get offline access so that students can take their lessons on the road. Students can also sign up for free, with around 1,500 classes currently available. The site also supports apps for Apple and Android phones.

2. Lynda

Another great idea for continuing education for graphic designers is Lynda, a subsidiary of LinkedIn. The site operates on the same structure as Skillshare, only the site also offers business and marketing courses, both of which are important to designers who are freelance or run their own business. A monthly subscription gives a designer access to over 700 design courses, 1,200 business courses, and more. The site also offers pathways, a set of courses on one particular subject, such as graphic design. These pathways can be certified and work to educate designers on the various aspects of design that influence their work.

3. Online Courses

An incredible resource for continuing education for everyone, but especially graphic designers, is online courses, also known as MOOCs. Sites such as Edx, Udemy, and Coursera offer courses from accredited universities from all around the world, which often provide courses in graphic design and art. Many of these sites are free, although there is a nominal fee in order to gain credit for any given course, and allow students to learn from Ivy League schools and art institutions alike. In some cases, these sites offer specializations in design fields, enabling a student to earn a qualification from an accredited institution, all through a selection of online courses.

4. Workshops

For graphic designers who are interested in continuing education that is more hands-on, there are workshops. Often delivered by experts in the field in collaboration with a major design agency or institution, these workshops range from one day to a week and are intensive in particular aspect of design. While these workshops can be expensive, the idea of attending an intensive with a notable name can be a big win for a designer who is looking to expand their business as well as their skill set. It is also important to remember that workshops can often add to a designer's portfolio, allowing them to demonstrate their proficiency in a skill that they hadn't yet publicly displayed on their website.

5. AIGA

Of course, one of the best ideas for continuing education is to get involved with AIGA, the Professional Association for Design. This professional association is one of the largest in the country for designers and includes everyone from graphic designers to illustrators to design business owners. The association, which boasts more than 70 chapters and 25,000 members across the country, hosts a design series, workshops, and professional development courses for its members, making it a great resource for any designer looking to advance their career through education.

Graphic designers are needed more than ever. With the advancement of social media and the changing landscape of design and marketing, these designers are at the forefront of grabbing an audience's attention and giving companies and brands a voice. These five great ideas for continuing education as a graphic designer is a great place to start in order to build up a career.

See also: Top 8 Cheap Online Graphic Design Degree Programs