Colorado is home to stunning landscapes, modern art, and an epic food scene. It should come as no surprise that this state, one of the most liberal in America, also has some of the best graphic design courses in Denver.
Heading west to this town near the Rockies is an excellent idea if you are looking for classes and programs that are on the cutting edge of graphic arts and design. From beginner courses to master’s programs and everything in between, Denver is the place to pursue graphic design.
What Is Graphic Design?
Graphic designers use color, typography, and images to attract viewers. Additionally, symmetry and balance, flow, repetition, patterns, and the rule of thirds are all employed to create the perfect graphic. Besides making sure their work is aesthetically pleasing, a graphic designer must also ensure that each project has a functional user experience.
You might not know it, but you see examples of graphic design all around you every day. It’s part of your drive to work, your social media intake, and your email inbox. But billboards, paid ads, and newsletters are just the tip of the iceberg in this exciting field.
According to the Interaction Design Foundation, graphic design traces its roots back to the cave paintings of 17,000 years ago. The field has come a long way since then. In today’s society, graphic design is now used in more numerous ways, by everyone from online influencers to major corporations.
According to the Professional Association for Design, graphic design is defined as “the art and practice of planning and projecting ideas and experiences with visual and textual content.”
The Top Graphic Design Classes in Denver
There are many options to choose from for graphic design courses in Denver, including bachelor’s and master’s programs, design certificates, and individual courses. Explore some of the best options near the Rocky Mountains below.
Udemy
Where: Remote
Course: Graphic Design Bootcamp: Photoshop, Illustrator, Design
Level: Varies
Time: Varies
Udemy offers a variety of online graphic design programs, including its ever-popular graphic design bootcamp. In the bootcamp, students will learn all aspects of design for both web and print. The bootcamp can be completed in 15.5 hours and is conducted entirely online. Students of the course will receive a certificate upon completion.
ONLC Training Centers
Where: Denver, CO
Course: Adobe CC Graphic Design Bootcamp
Level: Beginner
Time: 5 days
The ONLC Training Center offers a weekday beginner bootcamp that covers the entire Adobe Creative Suite, including Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop. This beginner course will cover the fundamentals of the Creative Cloud. Basic computer skills are required for this course and enrollment costs $1,995.
Arapahoe Community College
Where: Denver, CO
Course: Multimedia, Graphic Design, and Illustration
Level: Associate’s degree
Time: 2 years
Arapahoe Community College offers an Associate of Applied Science program in Multimedia, Graphic Design, and Illustration. The Arapahoe is a public college with about 11,544 undergraduate students.
As part of its graphic design course, students will learn topics like digital color theory, typography, visual communication, and motion graphics. This program teaches students to use the same software tools that professional designers use in order to seamlessly prepare them for their careers.
Arapahoe Community College costs $3,918 per year for residents and $15,006 per year for non-residents.
Where: Online
Course: Graphic Design Certificate
"Career Karma entered my life when I needed it most and quickly helped me match with a bootcamp. Two months after graduating, I found my dream job that aligned with my values and goals in life!"
Venus, Software Engineer at Rockbot
Level: Beginner
Time: 72 hours
This certificate course teaches design techniques through Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop. Students will learn design theory, composition, typography, and more. Logos, art, and advertisements are just a few of the projects that students will work on during the course.
The cost is $2,995, including workbooks.
General Assembly
Where: Denver, CO
Course: UX Design Immersive
Level: Beginner
Time: 12 weeks
General Assembly offers a UX Design Immersive course covering the fundamentals of UX design, including the design process, affinity mapping, rapid prototyping, and usability testing. The course also includes advice on career planning and how to build a brand.
This immersive course costs $14,950.
Ledet Training
Where: Aurora, CO
Course: Adobe Photoshop 201 – Photoshop Advanced
Level: Advanced
Time: 2 days
Ledet Training offers a two-day training program for advanced Photoshop. Students will work with sections and layers, learn to create special visual effects, and repair photos. The amount of material covered will depend on the overall skill level of the class.
The course costs $899 and lasts two days.
Coursehorse – Colorado Free University
Where: Denver, CO/Online
Course: Adobe Lightroom Online Course
Level: Beginner
Time: 1 day
Coursehorse and the Colorado Free University have partnered to host this beginner level online Adobe Lightroom course to teach students how to manage their photos with Lightroom software. The class covers all the basics of digital photography, including importing, editing, organizing, and enhancing photos.
To enroll, students must have a basic computer understanding. The course is offered on Zoom and costs $174.
Is Denver the Right Place to Study Graphic Design?
In summary, there are some great design classes to choose from in Denver, Colorado. Better yet, every experience level will be welcomed in this adventurous city.
There are plenty of benefits to studying in Denver. According to Indeed, it is one of the best cities in the US for graphic designers, in terms of salary. On average, graphic designers in Denver can make $4,442 to $5,718 per month based on experience.
Get the best of city life and nature by pursuing your graphic design studies in Denver. If Denver’s not your scene, keep exploring Career Karma to find graphic design classes offered in other US cities.
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
