Design students primarily focused on improving their skills with Web design, computer graphics, 3-D animation and creating effective, profitable designs will benefit from this open courseware list. Classes are offered from universities like Miami Dade College, MIT, Foothill College, The Open University, DePaul University and The University of British Columbia. Coursework ranges from introductory level design basics like depth, perspective, space, focus and context to leading-edge studies in social media and designing for an active, online audience.

Courses are offered in different formats that range from podcasts to organized syllabi with lists of readings and assignments. Certain courses also make use of projects to more fully engage students in their work and understand concepts like Web cultures, public space, social memory and more. Individuals wanting a quality crash-course in Web design for help setting up their own website will find excellent tools and tutorials to help them along. Other courses are beneficial for students wanting supplemental study or pre-college preparation for general design classes. This collection also aims to give insight into the relation between technical design and its effect on individuals and society as a whole.

• Introduction to Flash MX [Foothill College] — Web designers and graphic designers get a solid introduction to Macromedia Flash in this course.
• Designing Sociable Media [MIT] — Students focus on Web-based social media and social interaction to develop effective designs for a new audience.
• People-Centered Designing [The Open University] — Students learn to design for people by understanding a design’s usability and accessibility.
• Information Visualization [The University of British Columbia] — This course’s syllabus includes general design studies, focus and context, perception, space, order, dimension, depth and more.
• Web Design II [Miami Dade College] — This is a good intro-level class for students wanting to know the basics of designing a Web page.