Hi all!
I came across a brochure on issuu the other day here it is if you want to see what Im talking abouthttp://issuu.com/thegraphicdesignschool/docs/graphicdesigncoursetheorysectionsample Anyway Im wanting to do a Graphic Design course sometime soon and I didnt want to pay for the Adobe suite just yet. Apparently this course teaches in Adobe and OS software, my question is has anyone done this online course? To me it looks good, Im a novice though. I like the fact that they have video tutorials and tutors to mark your work. here is their site http://www.thegraphicdesignschool.com thanks Kat

I can't really comment on this particular organization....on any graphic design organization really But out of curiosity, I visited their website. It doesn't work properly -- no scroll bars, yet with content falling outside the viewable area. I'm not sure this is appropriate for a graphic arts school -- I mean, isn't website creation a significant use for graphics design. I would think a school should, even if they don't make the website themselves (although I couldn't guess why not) they would make sure, at the very least, their website functions properly. But besides that, there are little to no graphics on the site (that I saw, and I looked on 3 or 4 pages) Just my 2 cents.

I agree with Brynn

You don't have to look for a paid course at all, and you don't have to orient yourself to paid software. Open source community is big, there are a lot of books and tutorials you can use to learn a new skill and they are free!

I'm always confused when they title the course "Graphics" and then the teach how to use some piece of software, those are 2 different things. In a graphics course I expect to learn about how to look at things so you can reproduce them in 2D (paper or screen), color theory maybe, drawing styles etc. Learning how to use a piece of software to achieve those things is a totally separate issue, so think about it before you pay for anything.

Maybe you should read some more about what you're looking for and then decide. An excellent introduction to GIMP (and very thorough) is the book Grokking the GIMP, you can buy it if you want it in that form but you can also read it whole online for free (GIMP is very similar to Photoshop).

If you want to learn vector graphics (Illustrator does that) try to read more about Inkscape (Inkscape is far better than Illustrator in some things including ease of use so it's perfect for a beginner).
http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL_v14Draft/html/
http://en.flossmanuals.net/Inkscape

I wouldn't pay for any courses unless you received industry recognised certification. And if your not going into Graphic Design professionally then I wouldn't pay at all Hobbiests can find good tutorials online, or you can get a pricey magazine from a newsagent. Or just buy a book, but if you're looking for something on Illustrator, stay away from Adobe's own publications--they are terrible.

Thanks for the replies, Brynn, The site worked well for me, maybe an internet thing. I know that I could probably do some tutorials on line, I have already done quite a few, I never really pick up momentum with them though. I would like to have a governing body disciplining me... terrible , I know. I think I will do the course, it so cheap anyway. I promise to report back and let you all know how I went.. wish me good luck! Kat

Have you gone through and completed each of the ScreenCast episodes offered by Heathen X and Richard? If not.. start there. They are excellent, well paced and informative. Once you have completed all of the episodes you will have a firm foundation to build from. If you feel then that you still need/want the course then that it truly up to you.

I admire that you took the time to ask first rather than dive into it. I would consider deeply some of the observations however. For example, the lack of graphics on the site. Perhaps e-mail and ask to see student examples? Surely a graphics course would support student galleries and should have no issue with linking you to a resource as powerful as examples from their own students.

It would seem from your response that you are aware that you have a difficulty in being self motivated to continue learning on your own. Plenty of people are like this. It can be difficult to keep focus and move forward without feedback from one primary source. To this end I submit that you do have options. This forum for example. Consider that you asked about a course and you received some rather well thought out responses.

Perhaps you could ask if someone would be willing to study with you, or perhaps there are others here who like you could use a group setting to learn and excel.

It wouldn't take much to use the resources at hand (forums, tutorials, an e-mail group, etc.) to build a small group or community that would offer feedback and challenges to help move you forward. I for one would be interested it working with you through each of the screencasts mentioned above. Or perhaps sharing what I know in applications like Inkscape, Gimp, and Blender.

Links:
Screencasts LINK
My personal Gallery LINK


Please let us know your thoughts on these suggestions.

Well, since kattie has already made a decision, I'll post some comments without feeling guilty of hijacking the thread.

Perhaps you could ask if someone would be willing to study with you, or perhaps there are others here who like you could use a group setting to learn and excel.

I've been toying with the idea of taking a course myself, although the idea is not far enough along that I've actually searched for something. It's not so much that I need structure or motivation or necessarily sequential lessons. For me, I just want a forum in which I could receive comments on my work, and offer comments on others' work....similar to, but a little more intensive than in the current "Show It Off" section of InkscapeForum.com.

I like the idea of a workshop, where a facilitator might present certains tasks to be completed with Inkscape and everyone would post what they had completed for each task, as well as comments on other pariticpants' work. OR if not a student-teacher scenario, just a group of people maybe, who take turns suggesting new tasks for the group to work on. And of course everyone would "critique" or offer constructive criticism to everyone else.

I've also been thinking of suggesting this for the InkscapeForums, that a new forum be added, for the single purpose of this type of workshop(s). I don't know if there might be a few different workshops for different levels of ability. (Even though I've been working to learn Inkscape for a couple of years, I still consider myself a beginner.) On the one hand, I can't imagine there might be enough interest to support say 3 groups of workshops -- beginner, intermediate, advanced. On the other hand, it's hard to imagine myself trying to survive among a group of advanced users, ie - one group comprised of many levels of ability. Or maybe advanced users don't need a workshop ? In my thoughts on this, the workshops would be ongoing, where once a week, once per month, or just whenever someone wants to do it, a task would be posted. Then everyone who is participating would post their image, and post comments on everyone else's work.

I guess I haven't been quite ready enough to write up a formal suggestion. So these comments are just "thoughts" But I would definitely be interested in getting together with others in some scenario of this kind.

Hey Katie,
Thanks for the post, Ive checked them out after your post pricked my curiosity. It seems to be on the level (being accredited), and their syllabus also seems to cover the same (if not more) than what a conventional college/university covers, and might I say a hell of a lot less expensive. Point taken with Prkos & Darth_Gimp with reference to the free stuff, but if you really need guidance or someone to give you that mentor capability then you have to go down the paid path. Forums, tutorials and the like are great to get the taste for design but in my humble opinion you should bite the bullet....obviously baring in mind that the course on offer is only $1000 - the cost of a single instructor lead class .
One thing I do like about them (www.thegraphicdesignschool.com) is that they have branches in most countries - which I thing give them just that little bit more credibility (I don't know of any fly-by-night operations that go to such extravagant measures just to be shysters).
cheers
Qinjo

Wow, how to make a girl feel special guys. Thank you so much for all of your constructive replies. I like the idea of a group tutoring program Brynn. but you know how these things pan out, I hate relying on other people. Why dont you do the course with me? I put my name down for enrolment, They got back to me and sent me some more info, the Graphic Design foundations look really good and the course outlines are comprehensive too, they are only new I discovered, cant enrol until January. You are right all, when you talk about software tutoring, if thats all I wanted I would just check out YouTube (already done that too) I want something to tie it altogether. anyway thanks again guys... will let you know once I get my first modules. they have refund policy so I can always get my money back I suppose. Kat

Looks like they've just created a DeviantArt account for showing off their material - http://graphicdesignschool.deviantart.com/

Hi all this thread seems dead, but i did say i would let you know how i went with the course. Ive been super busy,so sorry its been a while!
I started in January,and Im up to mod4 (im a bit slow, i have other work at the moment). I am really loving it. It is a challenge, though. I have been jumping from my adobe trial to OS soft. I am enjoying both. I can access both tutorials in OS and Adobe. They have seperate software learning section for each. There is great tutor-student interaction on their forum. So far I havent needed to use it but I do check it out often. I think that I am going to get an awesome portfoilio out of it. So I would definately recommend it. Let meknow if there are any other OS users doing this course.
kat

Thanks for coming back around to tell us about your experience with it, Kattie.

I'm considering enrolling on this course, so you'd reccommend it Katty?