The Top 10 Best Online Graphic Design Schools
Graphic design is a process of visual communication and problem solving with the use of photography, illustrations, and typography. Graphic designing is also defined as the craft of creating visual content to communicate messages.
There are 8 types of graphic design and each type requires a specific set of skills and design techniques.
Below we have listed the 8 types of graphic design that will help you understand better what graphic designing is all about.
1. Visual identity Graphic design
Designers that focus on this type of graphic designing collaborate with brand stakeholders in order to design or create assets such as logos, color palettes, typography and image libraries that stand for the company’s personality. Designers get guidelines that describe the best practices and provide examples of visual branding applied across various media, the guidelines help to ensure brand consistency throughout future applications.
2. Marketing and Advertising graphic design
Marketing and advertising graphic designers tend to work with company owners, managers it marketing professionals in order to work together and create assets for marketing strategies for that particular company.
The examples of marketing graphic designs include:
- Magazine and newspaper ads
- Posters, banners, and billboards
- Postcards and flyers
- Brochures both print and digital
- Vehicle wraps
- Signage and trade shoe displays
- email marketing templates
- PowerPoint presentation
- Social media ads banners and graphics
- Images for websites and blogs
In this type of graphic design, the designers need to be very creative, they also need excellent communication, problem-solving and time managing skills
3. User Interface graphic designing
Interface graphic design is a princess of designing interfaces to make them easy to use and provide a user-friendly experience, it includes all the things a user interacts with such as the screen, keyboard, and mouse but it the context of graphic design.
This type of graphic focuses on the user’s visual experience and the design of on-screen graphic elements.
4. Publication graphic design
With this type of graphic design, designers collaborate with editors and publishers to create layouts with carefully selected typography and accompanying the artwork.
Examples of publication graphic design include the following:
- Magazines
- Newspapers
- Books
- Annual reports
- Catalogs
5. Packaging graphic design
Packaging graphic designers create concepts, develop mockups and create the print-ready files for a product and these designers may specialize in a specific type of packaging e.g labels it beverage cans e.t.c
6. Motion graphic design
This type of graphic design is all about graphics that are in motion. So designers have to create these. Examples of motion graphics designs include the following:
- Advertisements
- Animated logos
- Trailers
- Presentations
- Promotional videos
- Tutorial videos
- Websites
- Apps
- Video games
- Banners
- GIFs
7. Environmental graphic design
This type of graphic design is a multidisciplinary practice that emerges graphic, architectural, interior, landscape, and industrial design. Examples of environmental graphic design include the following:
- Signage
- Wall murals
- Museum exhibitions
- Office branding
- Public transportation navigation
- Retail store interiors
- Stadium branding
- Event and conference spaces
8. Art and illustrations graphic design
Most people think illustration and graphic art are just the same with graphic design, but they are very much different. Graphic artists and illustrators create original artwork while graphic designers create compositions to communicate and solve problems.
In this type of graphic designing, designers collaborate with writers, editors, managers, marketers across all graphic design types, and they use any combination of media and techniques to create their work.
The examples of art and illustrations for graphic design include the following:
- T-shirts design
- Graphic patterns for textiles
- Stock images
- Video games
- Book covers
- Technical illustrations
- Comic books
- Graphic novels
A qualification in graphic designing such as a diploma or a degree is very rewarding and gives you access to an in-demanding lucrative career field.
So if you are interested in creative arts or something similar, graphic designing can be the best career for you to master. The best part about this career is that it can be completed entirely online, most of the online graphic design programs are associates or bachelors degrees.
Below we have listed the top 10 schools for graphic design degrees online.
1. Savannah college of art and design offers online bachelor’s in graphic design
This University offers an online bachelors in graphic design which is designed to enhance abilities to communicate visually, however, the program is there to serve as preparation towards the pursuit of masters in graphic design degree.
The subjects in this program include interactive we design, introduction to graphic design, production for print and digital management and typography.
2. Southern New Hampshire University offers online bachelor’s in graphic design and media arts
This University offers two types of bachelor’s in graphic design and media arts which also have two concentrations designed to allow students to tailor their degree toward areas of interest. The concentrations include 3D modeling, animation, and web design.
3. Berkeley college offers online bachelor’s in graphic design
This University offers online bachelors in graphic design for students seeking an undergraduate degree that is both convenient and flexible.
Courses are delivered online and taught by the very same proffers who teach on campus. The undergraduate tuition is just $24, 00
4. Full sail university offers online bachelor’s in graphic design
This University offers online bachelor’s in graphic design for working students at just $23, 100. The degree can be completed in just 29 months.
5. Liberty University offers online bachelor’s of Fine Arts on graphic design
This University offers BFA in graphic design, the program consists of 120 total credit hours and is 100% done online.
6. Academy of art university offers online BFA in graphic design
This University offers an online BFA in graphic design, it is completely online and is designed for busy and working students who lack time for traditional classroom hours because of work and other family obligations.
7. Art Institute of Pittsburgh offers online bachelor’s in graphic design
This University offers online bachelor’s in graphic design and the undergraduate tuition is just $17,016 and it is designed for those students who do not have time to sit down and attend normal classes.
Students work at their own pace and follow a program designed to equip them with the necessary skills required to work as a graphic designer and artist.
The lessons for this course are all delivered online and include art direction, design and technology, graphic illustration, introduction to graphic design, packaging design, and web scripting.
The school is accredited and has been recognized by major publications like U.S. News and World Report as a top art school.
8. Hodges University offers online bachelor’s on digital design and graphics
At Hodges they offer online bachelor’s in graphic design at just $13,700, the program is ideal for creative or artistic students who enjoy problem-solving, communicating, and working with technology.
The lessons for this program are all delivered online and include topics like advanced computer applications, advertising concepts, digital illustration, introduction to graphic communication, multimedia portfolio, and visual communication and design.
Hodges has been highly recommended by many and also has received recognition from major publications like U.S. News and World Report as a top regional university in the South.
9. Herzing University offers online bachelor’s in graphic design
The undergraduate Tuition fee for graphic and design at this university is just $13,390, the online program was designed with working students in mind.
Students have the ability to choose from 3-year bachelors or 2-year software developer programs. The 3-year bachelor’s moves at a quick pace and provides students with the necessary skills required for careers as software developers and designers.
Some of the required courses include advanced web development, computer networks, object-oriented programming, and visual basic.
Electives that focus on development and design may be selected and help tailor the degree toward graphic design and web development.
Herzing is accredited and recognized by U.S. News and World Report as a top regional university in the Midwest. The online bachelor’s programs are ranked #142 out of more than 1,200 surveyed programs.
10. Champlain College offers bachelor’s in graphic design
This is one of the highly recommended online colleges that offer online graphic design degree programs and an affordable price. The undergraduate tuition fee is just $38 660.
They offer an online bachelor’s in software development with design, structure, and web page development courses tailored to prepare students for careers in design and software development.
Some of the courses offered include information systems analysis and design, introduction to computer systems, usability in website and software design, and web page development.
For those interested in the design and development of software, the online bachelor’s from Champlain provides a solid foundation that expands beyond a traditional graphic design degree.
Champlain also offers accredited and solid reputation with major publications like U.S. News and World Report. In fact, U.S. News ranks Champlain as the 91st best regional university in the North and the 56th best value school in the country.
The online bachelor’s programs rank #148 out of more than 1,200 surveyed programs.