Graphic Design Course

Graphic Design Course / FAQs

Graphic Design ✹Course Frequently Asked Questions

👋🏼 Have another question or want us to assess if this course is right for you? Email us at hello@ilovecreatives.com

When is the next enrollment?

We have enrollments throughout the year, but the best way to find out the exact date is to join the waitlist. You’ll be notified by email when enrollment is open for the next class. Double check your SPAM if you haven’t received an email!

Why is this course better than other design courses?

Ok, we’re not about to toot our own horn so here’s what our students have to say:

Desirée Cáceres said, ❝I love the real-life anecdotes and the words of encouragement because sometimes it can get overwhelming and it’s just really nice to have that acknowledgement. I am so grateful for the work that the T.A.s, put to answer our questions and give us meaningful feedback, it is extremely helpful to me and really changes my perception of my work and how I’m doing and also what the perspective of other people is! Espeeeecially because the T.A.s are also designers which makes the feedback super invaluable.❞

Pilar O’Connor said, ❝I loved learning the studio's process to approaching a brand identity. Everything from the brand audit to the deck design were very interesting to hear about. Also the financial chapter at the end. I've freelanced before but hadn't done so as professionally as the course outlines. Now I am starting to freelance full-time again, years later since the first time I did, and I will approach it in a more detail-oriented and professional manner due to what the course taught me.❞

Tyler Alexander said, ❝The thing I've enjoyed the most is the amount of resources/helpful sites that give me inspiration + the collaborative nature of this course — classmates encouraging and supporting each other!❞ — Tyler Alexander

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Is this equivalent to a college degree?

This is a tough question because all graphic design curriculums are different. However, we did research with students who attended notable college programs and the major pain points were ① they didn’t teach how to use Photoshop, Illustrator, and Figma (we teach this), ② they don’t know how to find their aesthetic (we do this with 1:1 feedback), ③ they don’t know how to present their work confidently and professionally (we show you our process), and ④ they know don’t how to freelance (we tell you everrrrrrrrything).

Our TA and Creative Director of ilovecreatives Studio, Mindy Nguyen, who went to design school said, “Design school taught me so many invaluable lessons. However, it didn’t really prepare me for the professional world, and the business side of being a freelancer. I learned all of those things by doing and making mistakes. So, we put all our collective knowledge from over the years into this. Think of this like a head start on your career!”

Karina Jackson said, ❝I took graphic design in college, but wish I had more opportunities to learn.❞

I’m a business owner, is this course right for me?

Yes! Section 4 is all about biz-ness. Have you ever wondered what other design studios do on the business side? Well, we’re pulling the curtain back on how we run our studio – from project proposals to invoicing, finding clients and dealing with client bummers (we are fully transparent).

Or if you’re a business owner looking to refresh your branding or create social templates, this will guide you through how to DIY! Design is so ingrained in everything visual that brands put out, like websites, packaging, email, you name it! That awareness and knowledge will lead to a stronger brand and deeper connection with your audience.

Round 2 Agency said, ❝[The graphic design course was] a refresher to bring creative teams closer. We look at this course now as couples therapy for creative directors and their designers — a fun, but educational course to get you both communicating in a healthier way 🫶❞

Who is this course for?

This course is for anyone interested in visual design – no matter what level you’re at. This course will empower you to design your own life. Design choices extend past Photoshop, graphic designers have the autonomy to create a fulfilling and flexible life. Want to work on a large team with an office? There’s a path for you! Want to work freelance and travel? That works too!

Jocelyn Harris said, ❝I really had no idea where to start and felt overwhelmed, but the course has made it so easy and fun, and has given me the confidence to go off and expand on my skills.❞

Course Personas

I’ve never used Figma or Adobe programs before, is this too advanced?

No sweat! We start this course with actually downloading the design software we use (Figma, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop), so really starting at 0 with you! These programs are so powerful and they may seem overwhelming at first, but that’s okay! We’ll show you the basics and give you a lay of the land so that you grow confident with using these tools. We’ll do that by taking you through guided exercises to learn the skills we use day-to-day as a design studio.

I don't have any design experience, is that OK?

We built this course for beginners and seasoned designers alike! This course is a great first step into the design world. No doubt, this will be a lot of information and it might feel really fast, but it's self-paced so be patient and go at your own speed.

Fatimah Dala said, ❝With the tiniest bit of experience in design, I was ready to establish myself in the community and this was the best place to start! … My advice for someone thinking about taking the course is go for it! Its a journey and you’re on your own design path, so take it easy! There are a lot of hurdles and rollercoasters of emotions but take it as it comes because it’s so worth it in the end.❞

This is a great question! Typically when a more advanced designer takes the course, it’s for one (or all) of these reasons:

① New Perspective: How does Studio use the Tools?

We’re self-taught so we understand the hesitation of taking a Graphic Design Course. When we built the curriculum for this course, we treated it like an apprenticeship. We’ve hired a ton of designers and there was always something missing. They might know Photoshop and Illustrator, but never touched Figma. Or they know how to learn on youtube, but are slowwwwww and haven’t learned keyboard shortcuts. Or they’ve never worked with a team before and are super unorganized 😅. Working as a team at Studio, we get the advantage of “peeking” over another designer’s shoulder and we want you to have the same opportunity.

② Re-Evaluate your Design Process

Knowing how to use design tools is essential, but applying that to a design process is where it matters. This is where designers either acquiesce to that “template” look or break out of it and create their own style. At Studio, we’ve created a design process that helps us churn out branding, social identities, websites, and packaging, while still challenging our design aesthetic. In the course, we show you our process with a spec client and then you take the wheel. This is where you’ll get feedback and learn a whole lot about executing your VI~SHUN!

③ Elevate your Portfolio

One thing every designer has in common is they haven’t updated their portfolio. Paid work always gets bumped to highest priority and your portfolio is backlogged. This is your opportunity to finally update your portfolio, but also push it further. Waiiiit, how? Welp in Level 3, you will get 1on1 feedback from our team on your portfolio. At ilovecreatives, we’re known for our feedback. It’s got heart 💖! We tell you the truth, but also provide actionable feedback on how we would take it to another level. Not just leave you to figure it out. Give yourself the thing your clients value… your time.

④ More Money, Less Problems Please

As a seasoned designer, you’re probably already making good monies. Now you need to learn how to scale your operations, build out bigger project proposals (fast), and manage a team of employees or contractors across multiple projects. In Level 4, this is more than “peeking” over our shoulders. We’re straight up giving you our Notion templates for project management, spreadsheets to manage Business Financials, contracts, and email templates for every client comms scenario we’ve ever come across.

Every designer that’s ever worked with us at Studio, walks away learning something new that they can actually apply as a working designer. And that’s exactly how we want you feel. But! If you’re still unsure and just want to chat through it, we’re here for ya! Give us a ping at hello@ilovecreatives.com.

❝I wanted to take this course to expand my skills and knowledge and to get a fresh perspective on how I approach design projects. I learned so many invaluable skills & am happy that I have access to my course portal for life so I can go back & rewatch/refresh my memory!❞ — Megan Autrey

❝I couldn’t recommend the Graphic Design Course enough! Whether you’re experienced or a beginner, this is suited for everyone❞ — Fatimah Dala

I’m a working designer, what can I learn?

That’s great! And you’re probably already learning a ton on the job. Some folks take our course because they don’t know what they don’t know or feel like there has to be a better process but unsure what people are actually doing in the field. If we could rename this course “On-the-Job Training for Graphic Designers” we would, but that’s too damn long!

❝I didn’t go to school for graphic design and the longer I was at my job the more I could tell I needed just a bit more guidance. I worked without a creative-field boss for a while and I was craving mentorship. I knew the Graphic Design Course at ilovecreatives would be such a great opportunity to give my skills a boost. So much of being a designer is teaching yourself on the job so any chance I had at learning on-the-job skills in a class was a win!❞ — Dani Boyce

What tools will I learn in this course?

You’ll learn Figma, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Illustrator — some of our favorite design programs we use day-to-day as a design studio. We’ll also introduce you to Notion, our go-to project management tool, so that you can dive into business as a designer.

Can I become a full-time freelancer after this course?

Absoluuuutely! We’re giving you all the tools to go freelance as a designer – from the hard design skills, to our brand identity process, and our best practices for going full-time freelance. We made sure this was realistic so that you’re diving into freelance with the bigger picture in mind, like figuring out your Target Annual Revenue, Business Essentials, Pricing, Proposals, and Contracts.

I don’t want to freelance, is this still right for me?

For sure! Even if your goal is a full-time position with a design studio or in-house at a company, you’ll learn.

Do you go over the full client process in the course?

Yes! We break down our full branding process starting with a brand questionnaire, to brand audit & strategy, initial concepts, revised concepts, and packaging it all together into brand guidelines.

Will this course help me get clients? I’m worried about finding clients.

Yeah! We got you! The goal of this course is to have you come out of it with a full portfolio that will showcase your design style and what kind of work you’re interested in so that you can attract the type of clients you want to work with. Section 4 is gonna be your bestie for getting new clients. We share our tips on how to find new clients, how to land them, and how to guide them through the project process all the way to that final invoice. Here’s what you’ll get from the course to land clients with ease:

Portfolio. This is HUGE and so important for getting work specifically with Squarespace. Part of that is making sure that your portfolio reflects the aesthetic of clients you want. This is where our Level 3 design critique and the Discord channel come into play.
How to find Clients. We'll talk about networking and ways I pro-actively reach out to people. My first year of Squarespace Freelancing, 59% of my clients came from networking and 41% came from referrals.
ilovecreatives Approved. We have a list of all the students that have been ilovecreatives approved and spread as much work as possible with ilovecreatives Studio. Our first goal is to help you pay off the course with actual clients, but if you're a rockstar it's really easy for us to recommend you for work. For example, one of our students has already made well over $10K from referrals. We're always happy to work with you and give you very specific feedback on your portfolio!
On-going help. You have access to the course and the community for forever! Chat with a few other students as well and start being “top of mind”.

❝Having spec work to add to a portfolio that I can show potential clients is so valuable.❞ — Jocelyn Harris

Is this course more theory or hands on?

This course is practical graphic design. Everything is hands on right from the start. While yes, we have extra workshops where we talk about typography or the fundamentals of color. It matters more to us that you know how to find, select, and apply typography and color in a Brand Identity you’ve designed. We appreciate understanding the theory behind some graphic design principles, but we feel that hands-on training is the most crucial step in becoming a confident graphic designer.

What’s in the curriculum?

See, in full detail, what you’ll learn in each level.

Download the Full Curriculum

What are the course assignments like?

In Section 1, you’ll be creating a ton of fun mini exercises like creating your own digital mock-up or your own custom logo using the pen tool in Illustrator.

In Section 2, you’ll be creating a FULL brand identity for a dream client of your choosing – think Logo, Typography, Color Palette, and mock-up’s that demonstrate how the branding can come to life through social posts, website, and packaging.

GDC Student Work

Lucy Whitehead

Haley Kim

Sophie Dumon

Mithara Peiris

Roslyn McLarty

Megan Autrey

Fatimah Dala

Bronté Collett

In Section 3, you’ll round out that portfolio with a couple more mini branding projects based on prompts we provide!

What does this course focus on?

We designed this self-paced course like a virtual apprenticeship where you'll learn design programs to create real world deliverables. You’ll learn technical skills using design programs like Figma, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe Photoshop. Then you’ll learn about the creative process used at ilovecreatives Studio to design out a robust brand identity.

Along the way, you’ll start to form a unique design perspective so you can see the world in a creative light. Then you’ll create a polished design portfolio, which will be reflective of who you are as a designer, and the type of projects you want to attract. You’ll end the course learning about the business side of graphic design - whether you want to land a position as a designer, or set yourself up for freelancing.

How long will it take to finish the course?

This course is self-paced, so it’s entirely flexible with your schedule. Some students are able to work on the course full-time, others only part time! How long it will take to finish completely depends on your schedule and other commitments. All of our video lessons total to 12.5 hours of deeeeep knowledge.

Students who join can access a syllabus that breaks down roughly how long each section will take, so they can plan accordingly! Here’s a rough estimation of how long the course will take based on these dedicated hours:

Full-time working on GDC (25+ hours per week)

Course Completion Estimate:
3 weeks - 1 month

Part-time working on GDC (10 - 25 hours per week)

Course Completion Estimate:
2 - 3 months

Part-time working on GDC (10 hours or less per week)

Course Completion Estimate:
4 - 6 months

What do I need to take this course?

A web browser on your computer or phone with a decent WiFi/Internet connection. The course is delivered through a website with videos, so whatever device you use to watch YouTube on will work for this course.

Apps you will need for this course:

We walk you through how to download & install each of these programs, so no sweat if you don’t have them yet! But if you want to get ahead, go ahead and download the following programs:

Adobe Photoshop (or Creative Cloud Subscription)
Adobe Illustrator (or Creative Cloud Subscription)
Figma (free!)

Is this course self-paced?

Yes! The course curriculum and videos are self-paced. You can watch the videos and do your assignments on any schedule that’s convenient for you. However, for those of you that want a bit more accountability and structure, we got you covered.

❝I've never taken a formal graphic design class but I was attracted to this one because I love the work ilovecreatives’ puts out into the world and it allowed me the flexibility to learn at my own pace while also working my other job.❞ — Tyler Alexander

I need structure or I won’t finish. Help!

For those of you that want a bit more accountability and structure, we got you:

We have a recommended syllabus that you can follow and an accountability group + co-working sessions to actually get it done.
We’ve also gamified the curriculum with assignments where you can earn cookies and unlock rewards.
There is a recurring Portfolio Showcase where you can get 1:1 feedback from our team. It’s a great deadline to work towards!

❝The thing I’m enjoying most is the way things are broken down for us. It’s easy/fun and easy to digest — I loved learning keyboard shortcuts!❞ — Karina Jackson

How do I access the course?

On the start date for the class you’re enrolled in, we’ll send you an email with your course portal password. The email will be sent to the email address you entered at checkout. Once you log in to the course portal, click the Menu button in the top left corner to access all the videos, get the Resources, and join the Discord server. Sometimes our emails get mis-labeled and skip your inbox, so make sure to check all your email folders, including Spam, Promotions, and Junk. If you still can’t find it, email us at hello@ilovecreatives.com and we’ll get it sorted out!

Will I get a certification?

Once you hit the trophy 🏆, aka complete the course 🙌, you’ll receive a certificate to verify your completion of course materials and a digital badge that you can add to your website, portfolio, LinkedIn, or anywhere you want to display proudly.

Who are the instructors?

Naturally, we teamed up with the creative design team of ilovecreatives Studio to build out the curriculum and provide 1on1 feedback that’s honest and actionable.
We have Puno, Executive Creative Director of ilovecreatives Studio, Creative Director Mindy Nguyen and Art Director Sarah Campbell.

❝We’ve made this course purely out of necessity. No matter who you are — freelancer, employee, business owner, or even someone who says they are “not creative”❞ — Puno

Will I get 1on1 feedback?

Oh yeah! That’s why a lot of people take this course. You will get feedback on multiple steps in the process and at the end we have a Showcase for all the students where you can get feedback from the entire community. In addition, you’ll also have access to the discord where you can ask questions that might come up during the curriculum.

❝My favorite thing about the course is how readily available the teachers and staff are to lend a hand or assist with the design process, especially when it comes to specific software questions!❞ — Tyler Alexander

❝My favourite thing about the experience would have to be creating spec work and having feedback. Being able to implement everything I've learned in the course to create a 'real-life' brand identity has been so fun and the supportive feedback from Mindy and Sarah has been amazing.❞ — Jocelyn Harris

Why is this course $2400?

Fair question! We really thought hard about the amount of education you receive with the course. Students take about 60 hours which comes to $20 per hour. Additionally, if you plan on freelancing, you can charge from $500-3000 for branding or graphic design services. Another way to think about it is, our hourly rate is $150/hr and you get access to all three of us (Sarah, Mindy, and Puno). That’s about 16 hours of mentorship and we teach you everything we expect a freelance designer to know.

❝It was DEFINITELY worth it!❞ — Pilar O’Connor

Do you offer a payment plan?

Yes! You won't be able to "graduate" the course until all the payments are complete, but you can work through all of the content. Here’s the payment plan.

What is your refund policy?

We are happy to do a partial refund within 7 days of purchase if you mistakenly purchased the course and have not started watching any of the videos. Once you start watching the videos, we won’t be able to refund your purchase.

How to convince your employer for education reimbursement.

Did you know that $5,250 of education assistance benefits are tax-free per employee (US only)? That means your employer wouldn’t have to be taxed on this course. See Employer-provided educational assistance.

If you’re unsure whether or not your company offers education assistance benefits, just ask! Here’s a sample letter template we created to open up the conversation with your boss. Feel free to change it up and make it your own.

❝It was a game changer to have my job pay for the course. It has been so invaluable to my journey, but I couldn’t have taken it otherwise, and I know a lot of others are in the same financial situation… I wrote up a quick guide on how to get your ilovecreatives course ✨paid for✨ by your job or even your school.❞ — Dani Boyce

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Featured

Darpan Musale

My design has felt like it really evolved over the course, and I couldn't be prouder of myself. I never quite understood how to go about color and typography and what all the beginner tutorials online talked about, so to learn that something like a simple illustration could be mean much more, was astounding. This growth I felt in myself really encouraged me to put myself out more, reach out to every opportunity with enthusiasm, because I know it could lead to so many more connections.

Roslyn McLarty

I loved the opportunity to receive real, thoughtful feedback from Mindy and Sarah throughout the course. Their feedback allowed me to incrementally uplevel my designs and come away with a finished product I was really proud of. They're also the sweetest and it was so fun working with them as instructors after having collaborated with them previously as a client. <3

Sophie Dumon

The business section was a huge eye opener as I had never been taught the skills on finance or how to estimate projects based on tracking my time. This is going to be so important for the future and how to navigate the business side of things.

I have had so many people reaching out to work on projects and on brands from my portfolio. It feels amazing to be working freelance with such creativity.

Mithara Peiris

The way my levels of confidence as a designer shot right up is insane! Oh, it skyrocketed after completing the first section alone. I cannot give enough praise to the curators of the course. If you want to expand your graphic design knowledge in a totally fun and immersive way, this is for you.

Haley Kim

I wanted to learn about design in a fun environment where I felt that the instructors' style matched my own and made me excited to try something new. It was a no brainer when I found ilovecreatives. Through the course I gained a real appreciation for process and design thinking, not just beautiful design. When you create thoughtful concept with design justified decisions, that's how you create something that not only looks good but also is well thought out and actually fulfills the brief.

Cass Cleave

My favorite part of the course was learning a couple new tools I didn't know before that I now use all the time, along with getting 1-1 feedback multiple times that has transformed my portfolio! I also love the foundry recommendations and the mock ups... I use those all the time. I now feel pretty good about my portfolio both from my projects and the layout of the entire portfolio. I'm not embarrassed to send it!

Jake Barker

I loved picking fonts, playing with color schemes, and drawing logos. My portfolio and my confidence are looking much more robust now. I feel good calling myself a graphic designer now, my current design work started looking better, and I have already gotten more freelance work because of it.

My advice to anyone taking this course is don't stress and work at your own pace. Create deadlines for yourself and then once you miss them just create new ones!

Amanda Williams

What I enjoyed most about the Graphic Design Course is the online community. Being able to move through the course with the kind of people that ilovecreatives attracts meant not working in a silo filled with creative doubt and perfectionism. After completing the course (and even during) I was able to show up more confidently for both myself and my clients. I came away with an even deeper grasp of a creative language I had spent so many years teaching myself. And now I feel even more equipped to broaden my capabilities.

Katie Holian

I love how incredibly thorough the course was. The results from the class all depend on how much time you're willing to commit to it. Puno does an incredible job walking you through the in's and out's of Illustrator, Figma, Photoshop, starting a design business, and more. I will definitely refer to these lessons for years to come. Also, having a community of designers at our fingertips is wonderful. Pep talks, job openings, critiques. It's a little design oasis. My confidence level has increased and I finally feel like I have an understanding of how to get the results I'm looking for. There is no fluff in this class, truly valuable skills are taught. Thank you ilovecreatives team!

Desirée Cáceres

I honestly love Puno and the way she delivers these lectures because they’re super casual and entertaining and so easy to follow and it makes everything so much more attainable. I love the real-life anecdotes and the words of encouragement because sometimes it can get overwhelming and it’s just really nice to have that acknowledgement. I am so grateful for the work that the T.A.s, put to answer our questions and give us meaningful feedback, it is extremely helpful to me and really changes my perception of my work and how I’m doing and also what the perspective of other people is! Espeeeecially because the T.A.s are also designers which makes the feedback super invaluable.

Carlota Johnson

I love how thoughtful the course material and structure are! The way the clips are broken out into super digestible pieces of content learning is a really lovely way to learn. The pacing is easy to follow, and the little details like the final page reminding me to grab some water and take a quick mental reset are *chef's kiss*. I really feel like y'all are holding my hand through it which is pretty impressive for a fully digital course.

Anjuli Garcia

I took the GDC and it is amazing. I wanted to freshen up my design skills and get out of my head. Also, I am like a forever student at ilovecreatives. I am THEE ideal client for y'all.

I feel more comfortable presenting my creative ideas to a client with proper backup. And, I love the Edutainment, technical skills and the visual brand audit!