Introduction
Graphic design courses after 12th have become a super valuable option for students, especially for those who are interested in creativity, visuals and technology. In today’s digital era, every business needs a visual identity like social media creatives, websites or brand logos. That’s why the demand for graphic designers is increasing day by day.
If you have just completed your 12th class and are confused about how to pursue graphic design after arts, commerce or science, then this blog is for you. Here we will explain step-by-step how you can get entry into the field of graphic design, which courses are best for your stream, what are the fees, what is the average salary, what are the top colleges, and how you can build your design career without any confusion.
Step 1: Know the Basics of Graphic Design After 12th
If you want to know about graphic design courses after 12th and want to grow your career as a graphic designer, then first of all you have to clear basics of graphic designing . Graphic design means communicating any message through visuals using images, fonts, layout & colors. This is one of the fields in which your creativity, design thinking and technology are blended.
Tools you should learn:
- Adobe Photoshop
- Illustrator
- Canva
- Figma
With the help of these tools, you can create digital graphics, brand identities, website layouts & social media creatives.
Step 2: Best Graphic Design Courses After 12th (All Streams)
There are many types of courses available to enter graphic designing after 12th —commerce, arts or science for students of any stream.
Courses for : –
Commerce Students
- Diploma in Graphic Design
- Certificate in Digital Media
- Online courses like Coursera, Udemy
Arts Students
- Bachelor of Design (B.Des) in Graphic Design
- BA in Multimedia and Animation
- Foundation Course in Art & Design
Science Students
- BSc in Graphic & Web Designing
- UI/UX focused short-term programs
- Motion Graphics and VFX Courses
You can choose the course according to your stream and interest. Commerce students perform well in digital branding, arts students in creativity, and science students in UI/UX and web design.
Step 3: Course Duration, Fees & Graphic Design Salary After 12th
Graphic design courses duration, fees & salaries are quite different depending on course type.
| Course Type | Duration | Avg Fees (INR) | Expected Salary |
| Diploma | 6-12 months | 30K – 80K | 2.5 – 4 Lac Per Year |
| Batcheler’s Degree | 3-4 years | 2 – 6 lakhs | 3 – 7 Lac Per Year |
| Certificate | 3-6 months | 5K – 50K | 1.5 – 3 Lac Per Year |
You can plan your budget according to the duration of the course.
Tip: You can start earning income even during the course through freelancing and internships.
Step 4: Admission Process for Graphic Design Courses After 12
Graphic design course admission is simple if you have proper eligibility and portfolio.
Eligibility
- 12th pass in any stream (Arts/Commerce/Science) from a recognized board.
Entrance Exams (for top colleges):
- NID (National Institute of Design)
- UCEED
- NIFT
Portfolio:
Portfolio is a visual resume in which you showcase your design skills. Many colleges also do portfolio evaluation.
Tip: Create your portfolio online using Behance, Canva, or Figma and then apply. This will give you an advantage. You can read my blog Graphic Design Portfolio for step-by-step guide for design your portfolio.
Step 5: Top Institutes for Graphic Design Courses After 12th Near You
There are many colleges of graphic design are available in India . You can search city-wise institutes by searching on Google by writing “graphic design courses after 12th near me”.
Top Graphic Design Colleges in India
- Arena Animation (available across India)
- NID Ahmedabad
- Pearl Academy (Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur)
- MIT Institute of Design, Pune
- Symbiosis Institute of Design, Pune
Step 6: Career in Graphic Design After 12th – Jobs & Scope
Today, Everything is online so every Growing Company has required a Graphic Designer who can manage their Branding, Social media presence and many other things. So after Graphic designing, you have no shortage of career options. Designers are in great demand in startups, advertising agencies, ed-tech, e-commerce, and SaaS companies.
Popular Job Roles:
- Graphic Designer
- UI/UX Designer
- Motion Graphics Artist
- Brand Identity Designer
- Art Director
- Illustrator
Example
Raj, a commerce student from Delhi, did a diploma from Arena Animation. He created his portfolio on Behance and shared it on LinkedIn. Within 6 months, he got a remote UI Designer job with ₹3.6 LPA.
Step 7: Online Platforms & Tools for Self-Learning Graphic Designing After 12th
If you do not want to go to any offline institute, then you can learn Graphic Design Course in Online mode. There are many Online Platforms which offer Graphic Designing courses where you don’t need to go colleges and take boring offline classes, you can easily learn online form anywhere you want to learn.
Best Online Platforms:
- Coursera: Graphic Design Specialization (CalArts)
- Skillshare: Typography, Adobe Tools & Branding
- Canva Design School: Best for Beginners
- Figma: For UI/UX and Web Design
Tools to Master:
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Illustrator
- InDesign
- Figma
- Canva
With these platforms and tools, you can learn professional-level designing without paying high fees.
Step 8: Build a Graphic Design Portfolio After 12th to Get Jobs
Portfolio is most important when you want to make you career in Graphic designing career. As much as stronger portfolio you have you can get a better job opportunities.
Portfolio Tips:
- Make sure to add personal logo, contact form & your short bio.
- Include 6–10 best projects
- Write a short case study of every project: Problem > Process > Solution
- Upload on Behance, Canva or Dribbble
Q&A
Q1: Which stream is best for Graphic design in 12th?
A. You can be from any stream – Arts, Commerce or Science. There are specific course options for students of every stream. Arts students excel in creativity, Commerce students understand branding, and Science students are strong in tech and UI/UX.
Q2: Can I learn graphic design online without going to college?
A. Absolutely! You can learn professional-level graphic design online from platforms like Coursera, Skillshare, Canva Design School, Figma.
Q3: What is the salary structure of a Graphic designer?
A. Starting salary is ₹1.5 – ₹3 lakh/year for certificate holders, and can go up to ₹3 – ₹7 lakh/year for bachelor degree holders. Freelancing and remote jobs also generate good income.
Q4: Why is it important to create a portfolio?
A. Portfolio is your design resume. It shows your creativity and problem-solving at the time of hiring. A portfolio can help to get good job opportunities.
Q5: Which tools are most important for graphic designing?
A. Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Canva, Figma and InDesign are the most popular tools for graphic design.
Conclusion
When you complete Graphic design courses after 12th, you have many exciting career options: full-time jobs, freelancing, internships, or even starting your own design studio. The most important things in this field are your skillset and your portfolio. If you learn the proper tools, build a portfolio, and practice consistently, it will not be difficult for you to get a job in any design agency, startup, or global company.
Whether you are from commerce, science, or arts stream, graphic designing has become a future-ready skill for students of every stream. Plan your career today, choose a course and begin a creative journey where you can transform your imagination into real-world visuals. The world of future designers is waiting for you!
