Best Free Graphic Design Courses Online
Discover the best free graphic design courses online – from quick 1.5-hour lessons to detailed 14-hour programs, all covering design basics and tools.
Graphic designing skills can be seen almost everywhere these days from social media posts to company presentations, it feels like everyone is in need of content that looks good. The best part is that you could get to learn all the basics and not spend a dime in the process by enrolling in any one of the amazing free online courses. From color theory and typography to software like Photoshop and creating professional layouts, they're all covered. Some are as short as 1.5 hours, others are 14-plus hours of in-depth knowledge, and you can always choose the one that fits into your schedule best and matches your learning objectives.
Best Free Graphic Design Courses Online
These are some of the best free graphic design courses online, available for you across various platforms like Coursera, Alison, and more with their duration.
S.No. | Course Name | Platform | Duration |
1 | Fundamentals of Graphic Design | Coursera (CalArts) | Around 14 hours, self-paced |
2 | Graphic Design | Alison | Self-paced |
3 | Intro to Graphic Design with Photoshop | Great Learning | About 1.5 hours |
4 | Graphic Design Essentials | HubSpot Academy | Short, on-demand |
5 | Elements of Design | Udacity | Around 8 hours |
6 | Free Design Bootcamp | Baseline | Self-paced |
7 | Graphic Design for Beginners | Cursa | About 11 hours |
8 | Graphic Design Crash Course | Satori Designs | Flexible timing |
Now let's analyse these courses in detail: what skills they offer and what the final result would be after completing the free graphic design courses.
1. Coursera’s Fundamentals of Graphic Design Course
Detail | Explanation |
Platform | Coursera (by CalArts) |
Duration | Around 14 hours, self-paced |
What it covers | In this graphic design course free, you’ll learn the absolute basics – things like typography, shapes, colors, and layouts. It also talks about how to balance text with images so your design looks clean and powerful. |
Skills you get | By the end, you’ll be able to understand color theory, use fonts smartly, and create layouts that actually make sense. These are the same basics used in Canva design course style projects as well as adobe design online tools. |
2. Graphic Design Course available on Alison
Detail | Explanation |
Platform | Alison |
Duration | Self-paced |
What it covers | This graphic design course free gives you a mix of design history, the theory behind visuals, and the rules that make designs look professional. It goes into how to mix text with images so your posters or social media designs don’t feel cluttered. |
Skills you get | You’ll learn to see design differently – like how colors set the mood, why spacing matters, and how to make text stand out. These are all things you’ll use whether you’re working on Canva design course style projects or trying adobe design online tools. |
3. Free Course on Intro to Graphic Design with Photoshop
Detail | Explanation |
Platform | Great Learning |
Duration | About 1.5 hours |
What it covers | This is a quick graphic design course free that gives you the basics of design plus a little taste of Photoshop. It touches on composition, typography, and how to use colors effectively. |
Skills you get | You’ll learn how to open up Photoshop and actually start experimenting, even if you’ve never used it before. You’ll also build confidence in handling layouts and trying out small creative edits, which helps later if you want to go deeper into adobe design online tools. |
4. Short Course of Graphic Design Essentials on HubSpot
Detail | Explanation |
Platform | HubSpot Academy |
Duration | Short, on-demand |
What it covers | This graphic design course free is very practical. It focuses on the must-know stuff like how to choose the right colors, pair fonts properly, and create simple visuals that look professional. |
Skills you get | You’ll get comfortable applying design basics directly to things like social media posts, presentations, or digital ads. Even if you’re working in Canva design course formats, these skills make your work stand out. |
5. Elements of Design on Udacity
Detail | Explanation |
Platform | Udacity |
Duration | Around 8 hours |
What it covers | This graphic design course free dives deep into the building blocks of design – things like lines, shapes, balance, and space. It’s less about software and more about why certain visuals look good and catch attention. |
Skills you get | You’ll start noticing details in every design around you. You’ll learn how to structure a page, organize content, and use colors in a way that makes sense. Whether you’re working in Canva design course style templates or creating from scratch in adobe design online tools, these skills are the backbone. |
6. Free Design Bootcamp on Baseline
Detail | Explanation |
Platform | Baseline |
Duration | Self-paced, modular learning |
What it covers | This graphic design course free is set up like a mini bootcamp. It walks you through the design process step by step – from understanding an idea to creating and polishing a final design. It also includes practice projects you can add to your portfolio. |
Skills you get | You’ll pick up practical design habits: brainstorming, sketching, trying layouts, and refining your ideas. This makes it useful not just for Canva design course style projects, but also when working with adobe design online platforms for bigger creative tasks. |
7. Beginner’s Graphic Design Course on Cursa
Detail | Explanation |
Platform | Cursa |
Duration | About 11 hours |
What it covers | This graphic design course free is made for absolute beginners. It covers the basics of tools, design principles, and simple projects you can do to practice. It’s like a friendly start before jumping into advanced stuff. |
Skills you get | You’ll gain confidence in using basic tools, trying out simple edits, and making clean layouts. You’ll also understand how to choose colors and fonts that fit together. These skills are handy for Canva design course work and will make it easier if you shift to adobe design online tools later. |
8. Satori Designs’ Graphic Design Crash Course
Detail | Explanation |
Platform | Satori Designs |
Duration | Flexible, learn at your own pace |
What it covers | This graphic design course free is all about the psychology behind design. It explains how shapes, colors, and layouts actually influence how people feel when they see your work. Instead of just teaching tools, it focuses on why design choices matter. |
Skills you get | You’ll start to see design with fresh eyes – like how a circle feels friendly, why sharp edges feel bold, or how color can guide someone’s attention. These insights can make your Canva design course projects look smarter and also improve how you work on adobe design online platforms. |