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

University of Alberta
Software Design and Architecture
Skills you'll gain: Software Architecture, Model View Controller, Unified Modeling Language, Object Oriented Design, Service Oriented Architecture, API Design, Systems Architecture, Web Services, Software Design Patterns, Software Design, Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP), Microservices, Restful API, Software Visualization, Code Review, Solution Architecture, Software Systems, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Java, Software Development
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
3.9K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Meta
Meta Front-End Developer
Skills you'll gain: Jest (JavaScript Testing Framework), Version Control, User Research, UI/UX Research, Usability Testing, Responsive Web Design, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), Data Structures, Unix Commands, HTML and CSS, Git (Version Control System), Persona (User Experience), GitHub, Interaction Design, Bootstrap (Front-End Framework), React.js, Mobile Development, Front-End Web Development, Algorithms, Web Development Tools
Build toward a degree
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
22K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Xbox
Digital and Print Media Design
Skills you'll gain: Typography, Graphic and Visual Design, Graphic Design, Visual Design, Digital Design, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Design, Design Reviews, Storytelling, User Centered Design, Color Theory
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
IBM
Data Engineering Foundations
Skills you'll gain: SQL, Web Scraping, Database Design, MySQL, Data Transformation, Extract, Transform, Load, IBM DB2, Relational Databases, Data Architecture, Jupyter, Data Pipelines, Big Data, Database Management, Data Warehousing, Data Governance, Databases, Stored Procedure, Data Manipulation, Automation, Python Programming
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
54K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
IIMA - IIM Ahmedabad
Supply Chain Digitization: Strategy and Design
Skills you'll gain: Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain Planning, Supply Chain, Transportation Management, Digital Transformation, Transportation Operations, Logistics Management, Business Technologies, Inventory and Warehousing, Business Analytics, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Order Fulfillment, Warehouse Management, Technology Strategies, Warehouse Operations, Operational Efficiency, Process Optimization, Internet Of Things, Blockchain, Real Time Data
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
20 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Microsoft
Fundamentals of UI/UX Design
Skills you'll gain: Design Thinking, User Experience Design, User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) Design, Human Centered Design, Wireframing, Prototyping, User Research, Artificial Intelligence
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
256 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University at Buffalo
Digital Manufacturing & Design Technology
Skills you'll gain: Model Based Systems Engineering, Systems Engineering, Product Lifecycle Management, Intrusion Detection and Prevention, Security Controls, Performance Measurement, Anomaly Detection, Machine Controls, Incident Response, Digital Transformation, Vulnerability Assessments, Software Development Life Cycle, Product Engineering, Cybersecurity, Supply Chain Management, Manufacturing Processes, Supply Chain Planning, Data Sharing, Manufacturing Operations, Constructive Feedback
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
6.9K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
University of Virginia
Digital Transformation
Skills you'll gain: Digital Transformation, Business Transformation, Product Lifecycle Management, Technology Strategies, Competitive Analysis, Corporate Strategy, Business Strategy, Business Economics, Business Technologies, Emerging Technologies, Market Dynamics, Change Management, Process Development, Innovation
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
6.2K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free
UNSW Sydney (The University of New South Wales)
Designing the Future of Work
Skills you'll gain: Design Thinking, Solution Design, Business Transformation, Workforce Development, Strategic Thinking, Automation, Digital Transformation, Human Centered Design, Emerging Technologies, Adaptability, Innovation, Service Design, Business Process Automation, Forecasting, Process Analysis, Leadership
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
297 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Digital Marketing
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Data Visualization, Email Marketing, Data Presentation, Google Analytics, Digital Marketing, Analytics, Marketing Communications, Business Analytics, Content Marketing, Marketing Strategies, Marketing Analytics, Social Media Marketing, Marketing Management, Marketing, Web Analytics, Strategic Marketing, Digital Communications, Integrated Marketing Communications, Media Strategy
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
23K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
University of Colorado System
Software Design as an Element of the Software Development Lifecycle
Skills you'll gain: Software Design, Software Development Life Cycle, Application Security, Technical Design, Security Engineering, Software Architecture, Software Development Methodologies, Conceptual Design, Waterfall Methodology, Requirements Analysis, Agile Methodology
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
252 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Minnesota
Introduction to UI Design
Skills you'll gain: User Interface (UI) Design, User Interface (UI), Usability, Human Computer Interaction, User Experience Design, Design, Design Thinking, UI/UX Research, Design Strategies, User Centered Design
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
1.4K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks