A guide to graphic design summer classes

Whether you’re a working professional looking to advance in your career, a student trying to get through your classes more quickly, or you just enjoy the challenge of learning something new, a summer graphic design class can be a great option. There are lots of compelling reasons to learn graphic design. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) anticipates nearly 21,000 new job openings in the graphic design field from 2023 to 2033, making it an attractive skill for anyone looking for a job to pick up. 

As our world becomes more reliant on digital technology, visual elements have become increasingly important, making graphic design skills valuable in many different industries. In a Built In article titled, “Everyone Needs Design Skills. Here’s Why,” HR expert Amy Schultz argues that design skills are rapidly becoming a necessity in the professional world. She insists, “In this new visual era, design literacy is more than just a nice bullet point to add to your resume. It’s a skill that can help you stand out from the crowd.” A summer graphic design class is an effective way to add graphic design skills to your resume.

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Benefits of taking graphic design summer classes

Benefits for high school students

If you’re a high school student, a summer graphic design class can be a great way to fill your summer while gaining valuable skills that you can use in your future career. If you’re like many students and you’re not sure about the type of career you want to pursue, a summer class can also be a way to start exploring different career options. It can help you get a better understanding of what you might want to study in the future and what kind of training might be beneficial.

Benefits for working professionals

A summer class can also be advantageous to working professionals, no matter where they are in their professional careers. If you’re just starting out, graphic design skills can improve your resume and help you stand out to employers. If you’re already working, there’s evidence that taking a class can increase your chances of a promotion or pay raise. A number of studies show that professionals who continually strive to improve their skills are more likely to thrive in their careers. A graphic design certification class, such as for an application like Photoshop, can be particularly beneficial because you’ll earn a certification, which is a third-party credential proving your new skills.

New graphic design skills can keep you current

A summer class is also a way to keep your skills up-to-date. Technologies and trends change continually in every industry, including graphic design. For instance, professionals in this field have become increasingly reliant on digital technology. When you take a class, you’ll refresh your skills and learn what’s current in this field. 

Summer classes are often smaller

Another benefit of taking a class in summer is that class sizes are often smaller. Not only does this make it easy to get a spot in the class you want, but you’re likely to get more personal attention from the instructor. Further, when you’re in a smaller group, it can be easier to interact with classmates, which can enhance the learning process and may also lead to networking opportunities. 

Summer classes offer an accelerated format

In addition to being smaller, some summer classes are also shorter. This makes them a popular choice for those people who want to fulfill an educational requirement as quickly as they can. However, students should be aware that in addition to being quicker to complete, summer classes are often faster-paced, so they can move a lot more quickly and require more work to keep up.

Summer classes provide personal enrichment

As well as the many professional benefits that come with summer graphic design classes, there are personal benefits. Many people find that the act of learning something new is rewarding in itself. Researchers have observed that when people engage in learning, they may feel more creative, confident, happy, and fulfilled.

Types of graphic design summer classes

If you’re looking for a summer graphic design class, there are a number of different formats that exist, designed to suit a variety of learning needs.

• In-person classes: Many schools offer in-person summer graphic design classes. This format is popular because it tends to be the most engaging. Some students find it easier to master new concepts in a face-to-face setting and also enjoy interacting with other students. A downside is that you’ll have to commute to class, which can be stressful and expensive in some situations. In addition, you’ll be limited to graphic design courses that run within commuting distance.
• Live online classes: A popular alternative to in-person learning, live online classes also run in real-time and allow plenty of interaction with your instructor and classmates, but you can attend these classes from the comfort of home or another location of your choosing. That means you won’t have to miss class while you’re on summer vacation. When you take a live online class, you can pick from classes in other cities and states, giving you a lot more course options. A downside is that you’ll need to provide your own equipment.
• Self-paced classes: This format offers the most flexibility and can be a good way to balance learning with all of the other things you want to do in your summer. Self-paced classes are pre-recorded, and you work through the material at your own pace. You can stop and start the work whenever you need to, and you can even pause, fast-forward, or rewind lessons, giving you a high level of control over your learning experiences. Many self-paced courses include regular instructor feedback and the opportunity to take part in discussions and other exercises with other students. A potential downside is that because you have so much flexibility, you’ll need to be disciplined to make sure that you stay on track.

Classes for high school students: Some schools offer summer graphic design courses specifically designed for high school students. For instance, NextGen Bootcamp runs a Graphic Design Summer Program in both an in-person and live online format. Classes like this are created to meet the unique needs and schedules of high school students.