What Classes Should I Take in Secondary School if I Want to Be a Graphic Designer?

If you’re reading this, I’m guessing you’ve caught the design bug early—and that’s fantastic news. As someone who’s spent over a decade working with and coaching graphic designers, I can tell you that starting to build your foundation in secondary school gives you an incredible advantage.

While many professional designers don’t discover their passion until college or even later in life, you have the opportunity to develop critical skills and perspectives now that will serve you throughout your entire career.

But here’s the thing: high school course selection can feel overwhelming. With limited slots in your schedule and pressure from parents, counselors, and even peers to take certain “practical” classes, how do you know which ones will actually help you become a successful graphic designer?

The answer isn’t as straightforward as you might think. In my experience coaching hundreds of freelance designers and running my own design business, the best designers aren’t just technically skilled—they’re well-rounded thinkers with diverse knowledge bases they can draw from.

So let’s break down exactly which classes you should prioritize, which ones might surprise you, and how to build the strongest possible foundation for a thriving career in graphic design.

Core Art and Design Classes: Building Your Visual Foundation

Let’s start with the obvious. Any art or direct design classes should be high on your priority list. These courses will teach you fundamental visual principles that serve as the backbone of all great design work.

Basic Art Classes

Never underestimate the power of traditional art classes. Even in our digital-dominant world, the principles taught in these courses are timeless and essential.

Drawing & Sketching

If your school offers drawing classes, take them! The ability to quickly sketch ideas remains one of the most valuable skills in a designer’s toolkit. You don’t need to become a gallery-worthy illustrator, but understanding how to communicate concepts visually through basic drawing will significantly speed up your design process.

What many new designers don’t realize is that sketching isn’t just about making pretty pictures—it’s about visual problem-solving. In the professional world, I’ve seen designers who can quickly sketch five concepts outperform those who immediately jump to the computer and struggle through one.

Painting & Color Theory

Color theory might sound theoretical, but it’s incredibly practical. Understanding color relationships, psychology, and how different combinations create different feelings will influence every project you touch. Painting classes often dive deep into these concepts in a hands-on way that digital courses sometimes miss.

I’ve worked with clients who completely transformed their brand perception just through thoughtful color adjustments. This is the kind of knowledge that separates good designers from great ones.

Digital Design Classes

While traditional art classes build your foundation, digital design courses teach you the tools of the modern trade.

Digital Arts or Computer Graphics

These courses will introduce you to essential software like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. More importantly, they’ll teach you how to think in the digital space—understanding concepts like resolution, file formats, and digital color systems.

If your school offers advanced versions of these classes, take them all. Each level will introduce new techniques and more sophisticated projects that build upon previous knowledge.

Web Design and Digital Media

Even if you think you want to focus on print design, basic web design knowledge is increasingly essential. Understanding how design translates to different digital environments will make you much more marketable.

In my years coaching designers, I’ve seen countless opportunities open up for those who understood both print and digital principles, while those who specialized too narrowly often struggled during industry shifts.

Unexpected Classes That Make Exceptional Designers

What separates good designers from exceptional ones often isn’t their technical skill—it’s their thinking ability and knowledge breadth. These less obvious classes can dramatically level up your design career.

Language Arts and Communication Classes

Surprised? Don’t be. Communication skills are absolutely critical to success in graphic design.

Advanced English and Writing Classes

As a designer, you’ll spend far more time than you expect writing—emails to clients, project proposals, creative briefs, and even the copy that goes into your designs. Strong writing skills make you significantly more valuable to employers and clients.

Beyond practical writing, literature classes teach you about narrative structure, which directly translates to creating visual stories in your design work. Some of the most impactful brand campaigns I’ve seen came from designers who understood storytelling principles.

Public Speaking or Debate

The ability to confidently present your work and articulate your design decisions can literally double your earning potential. I’ve coached talented designers who created beautiful work but struggled to explain their process or stand firm on design decisions when challenged by clients.

Learning to communicate clearly, persuasively, and with confidence is often the difference between being treated as a technician (“make this blue”) versus a strategic partner (“what do you recommend?”).

Business and Marketing Classes

If you want clients to value your work, you need to understand the business context your designs will exist in.

Basic Marketing or Business

Understanding how businesses actually use design to achieve their goals will make your work significantly more effective. Many designers create beautiful work that fails to fulfill its business purpose because they don’t understand marketing fundamentals.

In my decade-plus working with freelancers, I’ve noticed that designers who understand business concepts like target audiences, competitive positioning, and ROI can charge premium rates because their work delivers measurable results, not just aesthetic appeal.

Economics or Accounting

If you ever plan to freelance or run your own design studio (and many designers do), basic financial literacy will save you countless headaches. Understanding simple accounting concepts and how to price your work profitably isn’t just helpful—it’s essential to building a sustainable career.

Too many talented designers struggle financially not because their work isn’t good, but because they never learned the business side of the equation.

Psychology and Sociology Classes

Design is fundamentally about human communication and behavior.

Psychology

Understanding how people perceive visual information, make decisions, and respond emotionally to different design elements will dramatically improve your effectiveness. Concepts like cognitive load, visual hierarchy, and color psychology are directly rooted in psychological principles.

Some of the most successful rebranding projects I’ve been involved with succeeded specifically because the designers understood psychological triggers and how to use them ethically in their work.

Sociology or Anthropology

Design doesn’t exist in a vacuum—it lives in cultural contexts. Understanding different cultural perspectives and social dynamics helps you create more inclusive, culturally sensitive work that resonates with diverse audiences.

As markets become increasingly global, this knowledge becomes not just nice-to-have but essential for designers working with international brands or diverse communities.

Technology Classes That Give You an Edge

Technology and design are increasingly intertwined. These classes will help you adapt to an evolving industry.

Computer Science Fundamentals

You don’t need to become a full-stack developer, but understanding basic programming concepts gives you valuable perspective.

Intro to Programming

Understanding how code works—even at a basic level—helps you collaborate more effectively with developers and understand the technical constraints your designs will face in implementation.

In my experience coaching designers transitioning to UX/UI roles, those with even minimal coding knowledge were able to create more technically feasible designs and communicate more effectively with development teams.

Information Technology or Digital Systems

These classes help you understand the broader technological ecosystem your designs will exist within. Knowledge about file systems, network basics, and digital infrastructure makes you more self-sufficient and capable of troubleshooting common technical issues.

I’ve seen countless projects delayed because designers didn’t understand basic concepts like file compression, server limitations, or compatible file formats for different platforms.

Media Production Classes

Modern design often incorporates multiple media types.

Photography

Understanding composition, lighting, and basic photo editing gives you tremendous versatility. Even if you primarily use stock photography or work with professional photographers, knowing what makes a good photo and how to effectively edit images is invaluable.

Some of my most successful freelance designer clients offer basic photography as part of their service packages, significantly increasing their project values.

Video Production

As motion graphics and video become increasingly integrated with traditional design, basic video production knowledge gives you a competitive advantage. Understanding concepts like framing, sequencing, and basic editing principles will prepare you for the increasingly video-centric design landscape.

Designers who can handle simple motion graphics and video editing consistently command higher rates in the marketplace.

Mathematics and Sciences: The Surprising Design Allies

Don’t be too quick to dismiss these subjects as irrelevant to your design career.

Mathematics Classes

Math and design have a deeper relationship than many realize.

Geometry

Principles like the golden ratio, sacred geometry, and spatial relationships have been fundamental to design for centuries. Understanding these mathematical concepts gives you powerful tools for creating harmonious, balanced compositions.

I’ve worked with designers who intentionally incorporate geometric principles into their grid systems and layouts, creating work that feels inexplicably “right” to viewers.

Statistics

As design becomes increasingly data-driven, understanding how to interpret and visualize statistics becomes a valuable skill. Whether you’re designing infographics, dashboards, or analyzing the performance of your own work, statistical literacy is increasingly important.

In my marketing roles, I’ve seen firsthand how designers who understand data can create more effective visual communications that actually drive business results.

Science Classes

Scientific thinking benefits designers in surprising ways.

Physics (Particularly Optics)

Understanding how light works, how colors blend, and the physical properties of different materials gives you practical knowledge that translates directly to both digital and physical design work.

Some of the most innovative packaging designers I know leverage their understanding of material physics to create unique, functional designs that stand out in the marketplace.

Environmental Science

As sustainability becomes increasingly important, understanding environmental impacts of different design choices—from paper selection to digital energy consumption—becomes a valuable perspective that clients increasingly demand.

I’ve seen forward-thinking designers build entire niches around sustainable design practices, attracting purpose-driven clients willing to pay premium rates.

Creative Electives Worth Considering

These classes might not be directly design-focused but can dramatically enhance your creative thinking.

Creative Writing

Learning to generate creative ideas through writing exercises directly translates to visual ideation. These classes teach you to think conceptually and develop creative concepts before execution—a crucial skill for developing unique design solutions.

The designers I’ve coached who can generate multiple conceptual directions quickly almost always outperform their peers who get stuck in execution mode too early.

Theater or Drama

Understanding dramatic tension, narrative pacing, and emotional expression helps you create more impactful visual stories. Plus, the improvisation skills you learn in theater translate directly to client presentations and collaborative brainstorming sessions.

Some of the most engaging presenters I’ve worked with had theater backgrounds that helped them command attention when presenting design work.

Music

Musical concepts like rhythm, harmony, and composition have direct parallels in visual design. Understanding these principles gives you additional vocabulary and frameworks for creating cohesive, harmonious designs.

I’ve noticed that designers with musical backgrounds often have an intuitive sense of balance and rhythm in their layouts that others struggle to achieve.

How to Make the Most of Limited Schedule Space

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all these recommendations, don’t worry. You don’t need to take every class mentioned to become a successful designer. Here’s how to approach your course planning strategically:

Prioritize Based on Your Design Interests

Different design specialties benefit from different educational backgrounds. If you’re interested in:

Brand and Logo Design

Prioritize art fundamentals, psychology, marketing, and business classes that help you understand how visual identities function in the marketplace.

UI/UX Design

Focus on psychology, computer science, and information design classes that help you understand user behavior and digital environments.

Print and Publication Design

Emphasize traditional art classes, typography, photography, and writing courses that prepare you for creating cohesive multi-page documents.

Leverage Extracurricular Activities

Can’t fit everything into your class schedule? Consider these alternatives:

School Newspaper or Yearbook

Working on these publications gives you real-world layout, typography, and deadline experience while satisfying extracurricular requirements.

Art Club or Design Competitions

These activities let you practice your skills while building a portfolio—something that will be crucial when applying to design programs or entry-level positions.

Online Courses and Summer Programs

Supplement your formal education with targeted online learning or summer intensives in specific design areas. Many universities offer summer programs for high school students interested in design.

Beyond Classes: Building Your Design Future

While formal education is important, there are other critical activities that will help prepare you for a successful design career.

Start Building a Portfolio Now

Don’t wait until you’ve “learned enough” to start creating real work. Begin documenting your projects, school assignments, and personal experiments now. Even simple projects show your growth and thinking process.

I’ve seen young designers land impressive opportunities based on portfolios they started building in high school, not because the work was professional-quality, but because it demonstrated passion, growth, and dedication.

Connect With the Design Community

Find local design events, online communities, and industry organizations that welcome students. The connections you make now can become mentors, collaborators, and even clients in the future.

Some of my most valuable professional relationships started when I was just beginning my design journey, simply by showing up and being genuinely interested in learning.

Develop Self-Teaching Habits

The most successful designers I’ve worked with are relentless self-educators. Design tools and trends evolve rapidly, and formal education can only take you so far. Learning how to learn independently might be the single most valuable skill you develop.

Set aside time each week to explore design blogs, tutorials, and inspiration sites. Start building your own resource library and develop the habit of continuously expanding your knowledge.

Final Thoughts: Balance Is Key

As you plan your secondary school journey, remember that becoming a great designer isn’t just about mastering design-specific skills and software. It’s about developing a rich perspective on the world that informs your creative process.

The most successful designers I’ve coached over the years weren’t necessarily those who took the most art classes in high school. They were the ones who developed well-rounded knowledge bases, strong critical thinking skills, and the ability to connect seemingly unrelated concepts in fresh ways.

So while you should absolutely prioritize core art and design courses, don’t neglect the “non-design” subjects that will ultimately make your work more thoughtful, effective, and valuable in the marketplace.

Start building your foundation now, be strategic with your course selection, and remember that design education is a lifelong journey that extends far beyond formal schooling. The classes you take in secondary school are just the beginning of that journey—make the most of them!

Good luck, and I can’t wait to see what you create.