Best Design Courses (2026): Top 15 Picks

Best Design Courses (2026): Top 15 Picks

We've reviewed 85 design courses across multiple platforms to bring you the definitive list of the best options available.

Top 15 Design Courses

#CoursePlatformRatingPriceDifficulty
1Adobe Illustrator CC – Essentials Training CourseUdemy4.9/5FreeBeginner
2Absolute Beginners 3D character in Blender courseUdemy4.8/5FreeBeginner
3Adobe Photoshop CC Fundamentals and Essentials Training CourseUdemy4.8/5FreeBeginner
4Unreal Engine: Open World Landscapes CourseUdemy4.8/5FreeBeginner
5DIALux evo for Beginners CourseUdemy4.8/5FreeBeginner
6Architectural Design & Animation in Blender 4x CourseUdemy4.8/5FreeBeginner
7Houseplants 101: A Beginners Guide to Indoor Gardening CourseUdemy4.8/5FreeBeginner
8Blender 2.8 Character Creation CourseUdemy4.8/5FreeBeginner
9Modern Web Design HTML5 CSS3 beginners guide to Websites CourseUdemy4.8/5FreeBeginner
10Brother Scan N Cut – Cut, Draw and Scan With Confidence CourseUdemy4.8/5FreeBeginner
11CorelDRAW for Beginners: Graphic Design in Corel Draw CourseUdemy4.8/5FreeBeginner
12Learn Maya – A Beginners guide to Creating Realistic Scene CoursesUdemy4.8/5FreeBeginner
13Kinetic Typography in After Effects: Motion Graphics CourseUdemy4.8/5FreeBeginner
14Design & Prototype a Mobile UI/UX Experience – Learn Figma CourseUdemy4.8/5FreeBeginner
15Vector Drawing on the iPad with Affinity Designer CourseUdemy4.8/5FreeBeginner

1. Adobe Illustrator CC – Essentials Training Course

Platform: Udemy | Rating: 4.9/5 | Price: Free

This course provides a thorough introduction to Adobe Illustrator, from the basics to advanced design techniques, making it ideal for anyone interested in graphic design and digital illustration.

Pros

  • Comprehensive, beginner-friendly approach to learning Adobe Illustrator.
  • Covers essential tools and techniques for logo design, illustration, and vector art.
  • Practical projects and real-world applications.
  • Step-by-step instructions to help you build your skills progressively.

Cons

  • May be too basic for those with prior experience in graphic design or Illustrator.
  • Limited coverage on some advanced Illustrator features, like scripting or animation.
  • Could benefit from more industry-specific case studies or examples.

2. Absolute Beginners 3D character in Blender course

Platform: Udemy | Rating: 4.8/5 | Price: Free

This course is a perfect fit for absolute beginners looking to create their first stylized 3D character. With clear instruction and well-paced modules, it walks learners through Blender’s modeling, sculpting, rigging, and rendering tools. The practical project-based approach makes the learning process engaging and effective.

Pros

  • Perfect for absolute beginners—no prior experience needed
  • Covers the full 3D character creation pipeline
  • Engaging, hands-on learning with a real project outcome

Cons

  • Limited coverage of advanced rigging or animation techniques
  • Focuses only on a single character style; no variation

3. Adobe Photoshop CC Fundamentals and Essentials Training Course

Platform: Udemy | Rating: 4.8/5 | Price: Free

This 8-hour Udemy course delivers end-to-end Photoshop CC training—from interface fundamentals and color correction to advanced retouching, vector workflows, and automation. Its project-driven approach and real-world tips make it ideal for beginners aiming to become proficient image-editing professionals.

Pros

  • Thorough coverage of both basic and advanced Photoshop tools
  • Hands-on projects and downloadable assets reinforce learning
  • Practical tips on workflow automation and asset export

Cons

  • Assumes basic computer and design literacy for beginners
  • No built-in quizzes; assessment relies on hands-on assignments

4. Unreal Engine: Open World Landscapes Course

Platform: Udemy | Rating: 4.8/5 | Price: Free

Greg Wondra’s hands-on course covers every aspect of open-world level design in Unreal Engine 4—from project setup and terrain sculpting to foliage placement, environmental effects, and performance optimization

Pros

  • In-depth, practical exercises in every module
  • Real-world tips for performance profiling and streaming large worlds
  • Includes downloadable assets and project files for hands-on practice

Cons

  • Assumes basic UE4 familiarity; absolute beginners may need a primer
  • Limited coverage of Blueprint-driven procedural systems

5. DIALux evo for Beginners Course

Platform: Udemy | Rating: 4.8/5 | Price: Free

Nelca Roco delivers a concise yet comprehensive beginner course that walks you through every stage of a lighting-design project in DIALux evo.

Pros

  • Clear, step-by-step walkthroughs of core DIALux evo functions
  • Practical tips and tricks from an official DIALux trainer
  • Includes downloadable PDFs, DWGs, and project files for practice

Cons

  • Assumes basic AutoCAD familiarity; absolute novices may need a primer
  • Limited depth on advanced simulation features and scripting

Related Articles

More in this category

Course AI Assistant Beta

Hi! I can help you find the perfect online course. Ask me something like “best Python course for beginners” or “compare data science courses”.