Does pursuing graphic design classes in an artistic tech hub sound like a perfect match for you? Then consider studying graphic design classes in Seattle, a city surrounded by water and mountains. Students can discover the city’s abundance of art, like the Seattle Art Museum and the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibition to feel even more inspired.
Enjoy the city’s famous skyline, featuring the Space Needle, or take a water-taxi ride to meet some seals and enjoy the water. Students can also get close to nature just outside the downtown area by visiting Discovery Park.
Studying in Seattle will bring you the benefits of a bustling city amid beautiful natural surroundings. If you are interested in exploring the best graphic design classes Seattle has to offer, then read on. Career Karma will explore what graphic design work entails, and the top courses you can choose from to pursue this career.
What Does a Graphic Designer Do?
This career delicately combines art with technology as a way to solve visual problems. If you look closely, you may notice that the works of a graphic designer are all around you. Graphic design is on every bus in your city, the menu at your favorite restaurant, and the flyers you receive in your mailbox.
Art and Technology
A graphic designer uses visuals to communicate an idea or emotion. Depending on their industry, a graphic designer may create web designs, branding, posters, billboards, food packaging, logos, marketing materials, and or visual features in magazines.
Graphic Design Fundamentals
The fundamentals of graphic design are lines, shapes, and colors. Graphic designers are experts at conveying an idea with visuals like lines, shapes, images, color theory, HEX color codes, RGB color codes, fonts, typography, and layout.
Graphic designers also use photography, illustrations, and computer software to make their work pop. Some examples of software that a graphic designer will need to use are Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Affinity Designer, and InDesign.
Top Seattle Graphic Design Courses
Whether you decide to attend an online community college, coding bootcamp, on-campus class, or a special training course, you will have the opportunity to gain excellent graphic design skills. Browse our list below to determine which graphic design classes, in Seattle, WA, are right for you.
Seattle Central College
Where: Seattle, WA
Course: Graphic Design
Level: Beginner-Intermediate
Time and Price: Contact SCC for more information
Seattle Central College has a great program for design students. In this course, which is temporarily remote due to COVID-19, you will learn about advertising, branding, animation, interactive media, Illustration, mobile app design, packaging, commercial design, typography, user interface design and user experience web design.
Seattle Central Creative Academy
Where: Seattle, WA
Course: Graphic Design
Level: Beginner-Intermediate
Time: 2-year associate’s degree
The industry professionals who teach at Seattle Central Creative Academy provide students with a great design program that culminates in a portfolio showcase event. Students in this course will learn branding, advertising, packaging, poster design, typography, environmental design, web design, UI/ UX design, mobile app design, AR/VR, and Motion.
New Horizons – Computer Learning Centres
Where: Seattle, WA
Classes:
Level: Beginner-Intermediate
"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
Time and Price: 2 Days, $790
New Horizons offers graphic design software classes for complete beginners and intermediates. These classes are great for anyone looking to learn or brush up on their skills. Career Karma recommends learning the basics of the software on YouTube, then paying the fee to attend Part 2 of the course.
Certstaffix
Where: Seattle, WA or Online
Courses:
Level: Beginner-Intermediate
Time and Price: 3 Days, $1330
Much like New Horizons, Certstaffix offers many individual and professional development classes. Graphic designers can work on skills in InDesign or Photoshop, either online or in-class.
Luminous Works Training
Where: Seattle, WA
Classes:
Level: Beginner
Time and Price: 3 to 6 hours, $149 to $325
Students of these courses can choose whether they want to discuss the graphic design basics in one of Luminous Work’s concise classes, or gain hands-on experience with InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop. These are great courses for complete beginners looking to gain an introduction to visual design.
School of Visual Concepts
Where: Seattle, WA or Online
Courses:
Designing for All | Inclusivity + Diversity + Creativity
Animation and Motion Graphics Workshop
Custom Corporate Marketing | Design | Business Training
Level: Beginner-Intermediate
Time and Price: 3 – 5 Hours, $195 to $325
These SVC Seattle courses focus on creative thinking and the business of marketing, branding, UX design, content creation, and graphic design. They are short courses for students who want to enhance their resumes. SVC also offers a corporate marketing course for companies who want to sign up for team training.
General Assembly
Where: Seattle, WA or Online
Courses and Bootcamps:
Adobe InDesign Bootcamp: Seattle
Adobe Photoshop Bootcamp: Seattle
Visual Design Bootcamp: Seattle
Level: Beginner-Intermediate
Time & Price: Varies, $250
In General Assembly’s courses and bootcamps, you will learn how to use Photoshop, InDesign, and Sketch, while studying the concepts of composition, color theory, typography, and UX/UI design. These courses are great for those who want to gain diverse skills in just one workshop.
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Are Seattle Graphic Design Classes Right for You?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for a graphic designer is $52,110 per year. Studying graphic design in Seattle can be both fun and educational.
Consider whether you are interested in spending your free time hiking and enjoying the city’s quirks like the Fremont Troll, as you study. The graphic design classes in Seattle, Washington, will help you gain the skills you will need to start your career.
We hope this article has helped you gain a better understanding of the learning and entertainment opportunities that Seattle offers. The Career Karma team wishes you all the best in finding the graphic design class in Seattle that suits you.
For more on graphic design careers, read up on online graphic design degrees, how to become a graphic designer or the difference between graphic design vs UX design.
Lastly, we had to quote the brilliant 1993 film Sleepless in Seattle. “You make a million decisions that mean nothing, and then one day you order take-out [or begin your graphic design class], and it changes your life.”
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.