Learn design
Creative thinking and design skills are in high demand. Discover how to get started in design, including the skills you’ll learn in top design courses.
Benefits of learning design
- Improve your visual communication skills: Because people are much more likely to remember what they see compared to what they read or hear, visual communication in design is critical.
- Hone composition and color theory knowledge: Learning design develops composition and color theory knowledge. Designers use these skills to communicate and persuade viewers.
- Strengthen creative thinking skills: Designers learn to channel their creative talents using different design software. Creative thinking ranks among the top skills in the World Economic Forum's 2025 Future of Jobs Report.
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Essential design skills
What skills do designers need? Here are some of the key abilities that design courses develop:
- Composition: Create harmonious arrangements that communicate ideas and information visually.
- Ideation: Brainstorm to develop ideas, test visual communication approaches, and create thumbnails.
- Color theory: Use colors to convey emotion, develop brand identity, and catch the attention of viewers.
- Research: Evaluate user needs, design efficacy, and aesthetics through research.
- Wireframing: Develop sketches, mockups, and outlines during the wireframing process.
How to get started in design
1. Learn design principles
Design principles are the foundational guidelines, like visibility, layout, and hierarchy, that designers use to communicate information to viewers. Different design mediums, like graphic design, interaction design, or UX design, may have their own variation of design principles.
Studying these principles can encourage a design thinking approach to problem-solving. This process allows you to experiment with solutions, rework approaches, and test new ideas.
2. Take a design course
Design courses teach graphic design, UX design, web design, and more. In these courses, you can grow your graphic and visual design skills, including color theory, image editing, and typography.
Web and interactive design courses can prepare you to create digital designs that engage users, while a UX design course can help you hone your research and testing skills.
When researching design courses consider:
- Which topic you want to explore
- Course prerequisites or required knowledge
- Class learning outcomes and whether they match your goals
3. Explore specialities in design
Within design, you can specialize in visual elements, motion graphics, and interactive elements. Depending on your desired career path, some designers also specialize in print or digital publication.
Specializing can shape your learning path and career outcomes. For example, graphic designers who work in advertising use different skills than UX designers who work in tech. Be sure to pursue a specialization that best aligns with your career goals.
Introductory design courses can help you identify specialties that match your skills and goals. If you are interested in digital product design, understanding the difference between UX design vs. UI design, for example, can help you choose a specialty.
4. Choose a design software to specialize in
Designers use software to create, manipulate, and refine designs. Design careers require proficiency in different software, depending on the specialization and employer needs. As design evolves, designers need to keep their software skills current.
Common design software for graphic design includes Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator. UX designers and web designers often use Figma to create websites and digital interfaces. Design courses can help you build proficiency in in-demand design tools and software.
5. Build a portfolio
Building a design portfolio can help you showcase your skills and experience.
You might begin building your portfolio during a design bachelor's program with class assignments, internship projects, or self-directed work. As you gain experience, you can add to your portfolio to showcase your designs with client feedback or results.
Graphic designers may include illustrations, logos, and other visual designs in their portfolios, while web designers typically showcase websites or web-based apps.
A strong portfolio that demonstrates your creative thinking skills can help you advance your career.
How long does it take to learn design
The amount of time it takes to learn design depends on your educational path and desired outcome.
A foundational course may take you a few weeks to complete, while executive education programs that prepare you to enhance visual communication, design thinking, or design software skills may take a few months.
If you choose to pursue a bachelor's or master's degree in design, these programs typically take four or two years, respectively, to complete.
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Jobs that use design
Graphic designer
Graphic designers create visual layouts, graphics, and illustrations. They work in advertising, media, and marketing to communicate ideas visually and attract customers. These careers require strong visual design and software skills.
- Median annual earnings: $61,300
- Job outlook (2023-33): +2%
Desktop publisher
Desktop publishers build page layout for books, newspapers, and other media. They arrange text and graphics using publishing software, revising the layout to ensure proper spacing and readability. Desktop publishers work in both print and digital formats.
- Median annual earnings: $53,620
- Job outlook (2023-33): -13%
Web and digital interface designer
Web designers create the layout for websites and digital interfaces. They design graphics, create color schemes, select fonts, and choose photos for digital designs. These designers often also make sure that websites and interfaces meet usability and accessibility guidelines.
- Median annual earnings: $98,090
- Job outlook (2023-33): +8%
Web developer
Web developers write code to create websites. Front-end web developers focus on the user-facing side, creating the layouts and applications with which users interact. In addition to web design knowledge, web developers need the technical expertise to code in JavaScript.
- Median annual earnings: $90,930
- Job outlook (2023-33): +9%
Your next steps on edX
Ready to start learning design? Here are some steps you can take today:
- Begin thinking like a designer with Rochester Institute of Technology's Design Thinking Fundamentals.
- Enroll in an executive education program to stay up to date on design best practices.
- Deepen your design skills with a master's degree in design.
Last updated June 23, 2025
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