In San Francisco, beautiful design and artwork are all around, from signs on the doors of businesses to billboards and newspapers. All of these designs are the work of graphic designers, who are a key part of helping companies make sure that their products and services stand out.
San Francisco has many places where individuals can study, work, and socialize with others who are also interested in graphic design. If you want to learn graphic design and pursue it as a career, think about taking graphic design classes in San Francisco. The variety of graphic design courses and programs on offer means there is something for everyone.
Graphic Design Courses in San Francisco
The Golden Gate City offers many courses for those looking to learn graphic design. The city is the headquarters for many tech companies and marketing agencies, so there are many opportunities for students to network while studying in the hopes of securing a job.
Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, some of the in-person courses below may have been moved online temporarily.
Below are the best graphic design courses in San Francisco, California.
General Assembly
Course: Visual Design Bootcamp
Cost: $250
In this online visual design bootcamp, students will learn the fundamentals of visual design, principles, design tools, and programs. During the course students will learn Adobe Photoshop and InDesign, UX (user experience) and UI (user interface) web design techniques, and prototyping.
Course: Visual Design Course: SF
Cost: $2,800
In this visual design course, which is currently taught online due to Covid-19, students will learn about design tools and visual communication.
Throughout the program, students will learn about basic design principles, responsive design, Photoshop, Sketch, and more. As part of the program, students will work on projects with real clients to generate work to include in their professional portfolio.
Furthermore, General Assembly students are also encouraged to network with alumni of the program to pursue future career opportunities.
Academy of Art University
Course: Graphic Design Certificate
Academy of Art University offers an undergraduate degree and a four-year certificate in graphic design, in which students focus less on typical college prerequisites and more on their chosen field.
During this course, students will learn about graphic design history, visual design tools, photography, typography, and motion graphics. By the end of the course, students will have earned a certificate in graphic design.
Bay Area Video Coalition
Course: Motion Graphics Course: Basics
The Bay Area Video Coalition is a community hub for individuals interested in graphic design and video production.
This course is meant to teach beginners the basic concepts of motion graphics and design. Throughout the class, students will learn design principles, how to plan designs from concept to reality, and how to improve their technical skills.
Course: Graphic Design for Social Media
Cost: $215
In this online course offered by the Bay Area Video Coalition, students will learn how to brand a business on social media by creating graphics, templates, and animated GIFs, that convey a message. Throughout this course, students will learn how to use color space, identify target pitches, and create a message using graphics.
California College of the Arts
Course: Graphic Design
The California College of the Arts offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree that teaches students graphic design through problem-solving, taking creative risks.
Throughout this course, students will learn how to use graphic design tools, programs, and interactive media as they take inspiration from the Bay Area. To finish their degree, students must also complete a graphic design internship to gain real-world experience and start to build their portfolio.
City College of San Francisco
Course: Visual Media Design Certificate
City College of San Francisco offers a visual media design certificate that gives students the skills and knowledge they need to become a successful graphic designer. After completing this certificate, students can choose whether they want to set off on a job hunt or to pursue a degree at the school.
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In this course, students will learn about Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, graphic design principles, web production, and typography. By the time they finish, students will have all the design knowledge they will need for real-world work scenarios.
San Francisco State University
Couse: Graphic Design Certificate
Cost: $4,160
In this graphic design certificate course, students learn basic design fundamentals, like color theory, imagery, and branding. Throughout the course, students learn about graphic design programs such as Photoshop and InDesign, and will study the history of design and typography as they work toward building their portfolios.
Should I Take Graphic Design Courses in San Francisco?
In a busy tech city like San Francisco, you will find an abundance of inspiration. You may be inspired to create graphics for billboards, flyers, social media, or local print publications.
The classes that are offered in San Francisco prepare students to become successful graphic designers by providing them with the necessary skills to begin their careers.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, graphic designers in the US make an average of $52,110 per year. However, California is one of the highest paying states for graphic designers, with the average salary reaching $63,710 per year.
Graphic designers have a broad range of job opportunities available to them. They can work in UX/UI Design, graphic design, product design, or website development.
After reading this article, we hope you have a San Francisco graphic design course in mind that you would like to take. Completing a course in this vibrant city will help guide you toward the tech design career that you are aiming for.
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.
