In recent years, graphic design careers have exploded due to the ever-increasing internet market.
As a result, graphic design courses for high schoolers have become a smart investment. No matter what your age, it’s a good idea to seriously consider starting your graphic design training now! You might be surprised at just how enjoyable and profitable this career is for the right person, especially those with a strong visual eye and design flair.
Learning Graphic Design in High School
Enrolling in a graphic design learning program for teens is an excellent idea for artistic-minded students who want to join a vibrant and exciting market. If that includes you, graphic design might be an awesome option! It is a dynamic field that combines creativity with technology, allowing students to develop a highly marketable skill set. No matter your interests or abilities, there should be a unique graphic design course for teenagers that feels right to you.
That’s why so many high schools now offer graphic design courses as part of their arts or technology curriculums. These courses typically cover fundamental design principles, basic software skills, and project-based learning opportunities, as well as job training opportunities. For example, you might learn how to sculpt an amazing portfolio of your best work suited to specific jobs and markets. Doing so can increase your job opportunities in your area.
Ways to Learn Graphic Design Outside Your High School
Some graphic design programs for high schoolers may not be available directly from your facility. In fact, some of your best learning opportunities come from independent institutions that create specialized courses that boost your skills and make your learning simpler and more effective. Here are two of the most popular options that you can try out:
- After-School Programs: These programs provide additional instruction and practice, allowing students to refine their design skills further and work on more complex projects. Colleges, universities, and private institutions often offer these classes in conjunction with high schools or independently — depending on their setup and your needs.
- Graphic Design Bootcamps: Companies like NextGen Bootcamps offer specialized programs in graphic design that focus on both theoretical knowledge and practical application, using industry-standard software and techniques. They include a fun environment where you’ll meet fellow teens and have fun together as people!
Why Learning Graphic Design Is a Smart Investment
Even if you’re not a natural artist, you can easily learn graphic design lessons and create appealing work. The best graphic design courses for teens not only teach you about the important techniques needed to create attractive graphic design work but also provide you with unique opportunities to expand your overall knowledge. For example, you can learn:
- Building Soft Skills: Graphic design enhances creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. It also improves communication abilities as you learn to convey messages visually. These important abilities can help you in just about any career or in your life in general, providing a fascinating array of awesome benefits.
- Enhancing Artistic Skills: Students develop a keen eye for aesthetics, layout, and typography, which are essential skills for any designer. For example, you’ll learn to blend text, graphics, animations, and other visual elements on pages. Mastering drawing the eye down the page will make you an in-demand graphic designer in your career.
- Preparing for College: A background in graphic design can strengthen a student’s portfolio, which is beneficial for applications to art and design schools. For example, if you walk into a college interview with dozens of high-quality and effective graphic design projects, you’ll be more likely to get into the school (and even receive scholarships).
- Improving Job Opportunities: The demand for skilled designers is high in many industries, including advertising, publishing, web development, and more. So if you’re interested in the (constantly growing) tech market, graphic design schools for students like you can prepare you to join this important and exciting industry and make cash.
The Popularity of Graphic Design for High Schoolers
If our school has graphic design courses for teenagers in your age group, you’re not alone. Hundreds, if not thousands, of schools around the nation are hiring design experts to teach fascinating and exciting courses. Just why are so many high schoolers getting excited about graphic design? Well, here are a few reasons why it might interest you and others:
- Market Popularity: With the digital economy booming, graphic design is a sought skill in marketing, entertainment, and media. In recent years, demand for graphic designers has continually increased in all these markets, meaning it should be easy for you to find a fun and exciting career that takes you to the next level professionally as a person.
- Transferability of Skills: Design skills are versatile and applicable in various contexts, from print media to digital platforms. Depending on your interests, you can easily use these abilities in almost any market and transform your life for the better. For example, you could become a senior graphic designer and make big bucks in your field.
- Available Careers: Graphic design careers are diverse, ranging from freelance work and agency roles to in-house positions at large corporations. You could even start a business yourself if that sounds exciting. Even teenagers like you can make great money as a one-person graphic design team if you have the skills to hack it.
Curriculum in Graphic Design Courses
- Beginner Lessons: In your earliest graphic design classes for teenagers, you’ll typically learn the basics of color theory, typography, and software tools such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. These early subjects help you progress to more advanced subjects and ensure that you get the support you need to thrive in this career field.
- Intermediate Subjects: Once you’ve mastered entry-level skills, you’ll practice branding, web design, and more advanced software functions, such as vector graphics in Illustrator and photo editing in Photoshop. No matter your experience level, these courses can help you become a better and more skilled designer.
- Advanced Courses: Courses at this level might cover motion graphics, interactive design, and the development of comprehensive design campaigns. By this point, you’ll have nearly expert-level skills and should feel comfortable working with tools like Adobe Photoshop to produce unforgettable designs that your customers will love.
NextGen Bootcamps for Graphic Design
NextGen Bootcamps provides intensive and focused training in graphic design for teenagers. With classes in New York City and online, NextGen is a powerful educational opportunity that can take your career to the next level. Hands-on exercises, expert professors, and extra support outside the classroom make NextGen a truly next-level school for teenagers like you.
Graphic Design Summer Program NYC
Graphic Design Summer Program NYC teaches graphic design theories and tools like Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator. As you work through this summer program, you’ll create real-world design projects that you’ll craft using various tools. You’ll learn how to use the Pen, Type, Compound Path, Effect, Layer, Mask, Pattern, Blend, and Color tools in your designs.
Digital Design Summer Certificate NYC
Digital Design Summer Certificate NYC gives high schoolers like you the opportunity to learn UX/UI design, including Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Taking place in NYC (with an online version available), you’ll learn how to build clickable prototypes for various applications that can streamline your designs and make them even more appealing.
UX & UI Design Summer Program NYC
UX & UI Design Summer Program NYC can help you prepare for this high-earning career using Figma, a prototyping tool that helps you plan UI and UX concepts from start to finish. During this course, you’ll learn about creative briefs, workflows, portfolio development, and other important concepts, letting you dive head-first into this market right out of high school with aplomb.
AP Advanced Placement Exams for Graphic Design
While there is no specific AP exam titled "Graphic Design," the AP Studio Art: 2-D Design course is highly relevant. This class lets you submit a portfolio for college credit, which can include graphic design work. That’s a great advantage: utilizing graphic design classes for teenagers can help improve your chances of passing this exam and getting these benefits:
- College Preparation: Building a portfolio for the AP exam helps students develop work that showcases their skills at a college level. The jump between high school and college courses may seem precipitous without this kind of help, so taking a graphic design program for teens can help you prepare for this fascinating career opportunity.
- Enhanced College Applications: A strong AP Studio Art portfolio can significantly enhance college applications, especially for design-focused programs. Imagine walking into a school with a strong AP Studio Art portfolio that you can show off to your professors. You’ll be taken more seriously and likely get even more attention.
- Internship and Career Opportunities: The skills and portfolio developed through AP courses and graphic design classes can open doors to internships and entry-level positions in creative fields. Internships might seem less desirable than a full-time job, but getting one can help prepare you for the unique demands of graphic design careers.
Taking a graphic design class in high school is not only about learning to create visually appealing designs but also about building a foundation for creative expression, problem-solving, and professional development that can benefit you in your career. Even if you don’t become a graphic designer (a real possibility for many students), you could try out other careers, such as web design, and transition into an exciting and high-earning field that you’ll likely love.