What is digital design?

Digital design is the process of creating content and graphics that end-users will view on a screen rather than on paper or another physical medium. As we move further into a digital world, chances are you read and view items on a phone, tablet, or computer screen far more often than you do on paper. When you use digital design, you're putting the rules and guidelines of design into digital formats. Digital design is a field that's growing rapidly.

Why is it important to learn digital design?

Digital design is different from traditional graphic design, so even if you have experience designing a logo or graphic for a printed page, you need different skills and knowledge tools. Digital design items aren't just meant to be read—they're meant for people to use. Digital media is often interactive, so you need to know how to create interactive graphics and website elements. If you work in design or want to work in design, it's important to be able to design for digital media. The fact that digital design is everywhere these days means that it's helpful have some familiarity with its concepts and terminology even if you're not designing digitally yourself.

What are some careers that use digital design?

You can find a host of careers in the digital design field, and they include web designers, digital graphic designers, user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) specialists, and app designers. Digital design is crucial to many different sectors of the business world. You can find jobs as a digital designer working in a corporate environment, designing for a specific brand or project, or you can work for a company that specializes in digital design for various clients. You can also strike out on your own with your design business or consultancy.

How can online courses on Coursera help me learn digital design?

Whether you're looking to learn digital design as a springboard to a new career or to advance yourself in your current workplace, you can benefit from learning online. Our courses rely on instruction from some of the best minds and talents in the business, so you'll learn more than just the basics. You'll be able to take what you've learned and apply it where you work now or on your search for a new job.

What are the benefits of taking an online Digital Design course?

Online Digital Design courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Digital Design skills. Choose from a wide range of Digital Design courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

What Digital Design courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Digital Design, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Top Digital Design Courses - Learn Digital Design Online

Explore the Digital Design Course Catalog

Coursera Project Network
Create and Design Digital Products using Canva
Skills you'll gain: Canva (Software), Design, Digital Design, Product Design, Graphic and Visual Design Software, Creative Design, Color Theory, Graphic Design, Intellectual Property, E-Commerce, Direct Selling, Digital Content, Digital Assets, Marketing, Marketing Materials
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
1.3K reviews
Advanced · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Status: Free Trial
California Institute of the Arts
Graphic Design
Skills you'll gain: Typography, Design Elements And Principles, Graphic Design, Graphic and Visual Design Software, Design, Visual Design, Digital Design, Logo Design, Design Software, Creative Design, Photo Editing, Color Theory, Photography, Adobe InDesign, Image Quality, Style Guides, Graphic and Visual Design, Branding, Art History, Storytelling
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
22K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Status: AI skills
Adobe
Adobe Graphic Designer: Design that Demands Attention
Skills you'll gain: Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Responsible AI, Logo Design, Digital Design, Generative AI, Graphic Design, User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) Design, Productivity Software, Visual Design, File Management, Process Design, Design Reviews, Prompt Engineering, Image Analysis, Presentations, Client Services, Content Creation, Branding, Storytelling
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
1.8K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Adobe
Design Fundamentals with AI
Skills you'll gain: Typography, Logo Design, Responsible AI, Digital Design, Creative Design, Visual Design, Graphic Design, User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) Design, Color Theory, Content Creation, Generative AI Agents
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
1.2K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Adobe
Graphic Design
Skills you'll gain: Adobe Illustrator, Color Theory, Typography, Graphic and Visual Design, Graphic Design, Design, Adobe Creative Cloud, Design Elements And Principles, Digital Design, Generative AI, Creativity
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
146 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Skillshare
Graphic Design Theory - Web & Digital Design
Skills you'll gain: User Interface (UI), Responsive Web Design, User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) Design, Digital Design, Web Design, User Experience, Motion Graphics, Adobe XD, Animations, Prototyping, Graphic Design, Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR), Style Guides
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

What brings you to Coursera today?

Start my career

Change my career

Grow in my current role

Explore topics outside of work

Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Skillshare
Design Theory Principles for Print and Digital Applications
Skills you'll gain: User Interface (UI), Responsive Web Design, User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) Design, Digital Design, Web Design, Graphic and Visual Design, User Experience, Motion Graphics, Adobe XD, Graphic Design, Animations, Prototyping, Typography, Visual Design, Design, Design Elements And Principles, Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR), Style Guides, Storytelling, Creative Design
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Preview
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Digital Systems: From Logic Gates to Processors
Skills you'll gain: Computer Architecture, Hardware Architecture, System Design and Implementation, Embedded Systems, Application Specific Integrated Circuits, Digital Design, Design Software, Computer Hardware, Verification And Validation, Simulations
4.3
Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
849 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Coursera Project Network
Use Canva to Design Digital Course Collateral
Skills you'll gain: Canva (Software), Color Theory, Developing Training Materials, Digital Design, Design Elements And Principles, Graphic Design, Creative Design, Marketing, Social Media
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
1.6K reviews
Advanced · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Status: Free Trial
California Institute of the Arts
Fundamentals of Graphic Design
Skills you'll gain: Typography, Design Elements And Principles, Graphic Design, Graphic and Visual Design Software, Design, Visual Design, Photography, Design Software, Digital Design, Creative Design, Color Theory, Image Quality, Photo Editing, Creativity
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
18K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado Boulder
Graphic Elements of Design: Color Theory and Image Formats
Skills you'll gain: Logo Design, Color Theory, Graphic Design, Image Quality, Graphic and Visual Design, Creative Design, Design, Design Elements And Principles, Digital Design, File Management
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
587 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Coursera Project Network
Create Digital Products with Visme
Skills you'll gain: Logo Design, Marketing Design, Digital Design, Creative Design, Graphic Design, Marketing Materials, Presentations, Organizational Skills, Marketing, Data Sharing, User Accounts, Advertising
3.9
Rating, 3.9 out of 5 stars
11 reviews
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours