Learning Design doesn’t have to involve getting a degree or splashing out on an expensive education. If you have the patience and persistence, you can teach yourself various elements of design and build a cracking portfolio.
There are many free online courses in design offered by both top universities and experts in the field. There are also fantastic websites, articles and books that have been created to deepen your knowledge of design.
Below you’ll find courses that will boost your skills as well as lists of the best typography, graphic design and web design resources.
Free Online Design Courses
Graphic Design – Visual and Graphic Design – from Alison
Adobe Photoshop CS6 Essential Tools – from Alison
Adobe After Effects – from Alison
Google SketchUp for 3D Modeling – from Alison
Design – Applying Design Principles – from Alison
Product Design – from Alison
Multimedia Design and Applications – from African Virtual University
Design and Composition – from Palomar College
Computer Graphics – from MIT
CSS Layout with HTML5 – from UC Berkeley
Multimedia Storytelling – from UC Berkeley
Building Flash Templates – from UC Berkeley
3D Design – TUFTS University
Adobe Illustrator: Mastering the Fundamentals – Via Udemy
Web Design for Web Developers: Build Beautiful Websites! – Via Udemy
Beginner Photoshop to HTML5 and CSS3 – Via Udemy
Cinematography for 2D Animation Essentials – Via Udemy
The Beginner’s Guide to Graphic Design – Via Udemy
Fundamentals of Graphic Design** – from CALARTS
Character Design for Video Games ** – from CALARTS
** Free for the full course without certification
Best Typography Resources
Stop Stealing Sheep & Find Out How Type Works by Erik Spiekermann and E.M Ginger – Book
Creative Lettering and Beyond: Inspiring tips, techniques, and ideas for hand lettering your way to beautiful works of art – by Gabri Joy Kirkendall – Book
Typography Workbook: A Real-World Guide to Using Type in Graphic Design by Timothy Samara – Book
A Typographic Workbook: A Primer to History, Techniques, and Artistry by Kate Clair and Cynthia Busic-Snyder Book
The Elements of Typographic Style: Version 4.0 by Robert Bringhurst – Book
Thinking with Type: A Primer for Designers: A Critical Guide for Designers, Writers, Editors, & Students by Ellen Lupton – Book
We Love Typography – Website
Incredible Types – Website
Playtype – Website
Best Graphic Design Resources
Meggs’ History of Graphic Design by Philip B. Meggs and Alston W. Purvis – Book
Creative Workshop: 80 Challenges to Sharpen Your Design Skills by David Sherwin – Book
Visual Literacy: A Conceptual Approach to Solving Graphic Problems by Judith Wilde and Richard Wilde – Book
100 Ideas that Changed Graphic Design by Steven Heller – Book
Graphic Design: The New Basics by Ellen Lupton and Jennifer Cole Phillips – Book
How to Use Graphic Design to Sell Things, Explain Things, Make Things Look Better, Make People Laugh, Make People Cry, and (Every Once in a While) Change the World by Michael Bierut – Book
The End of Print: The Grafik Design of David Carson by Lewis Blackwell and David Carson – Book
Graphic Artist’s Guild Handbook of Pricing and Ethical Guidelines by Graphic Artists Guild – Book
12 Steps to a Super Graphic Design Portfolio – Article
Creating A Successful Online Portfolio – Article
10 Steps To The Perfect Portfolio Website – Article
Behance – Website
History of Graphic Design – Website
Best Web Design Resources
W3Schools – Website
Developphp – Website
The Odin Project – Website
Bento – Website
Code Avengers – Website
Aquent Gymnasium – Website
Codecademy – Website
MSDN – Website
Don’t Fear The Internet – Website
Code School – Website
DASH – Website
Web Design with HTML, CSS, JavaScript and jQuery Set by Jon Duckett – Book
The Principles of Beautiful Web Design by Jason Beaird – Book
Don’t Make Me Think, Revisited: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability by Steve Krug – Book