Want to study graphic design but don’t want to waste 3 years of your life? As longtime friends of TDK, Shillington delivers the goods again and again — just check out the awesome graduates and teachers we’ve featured on the site over the years! Shillington moves fast and mentors students to work smart like industry designers—following clear design processes and meeting tight deadlines. Before long, you’ll be thinking like a designer and tackling creative briefs—experimenting with idea generation, jumping onto the computer and creating a polished portfolio you can be proud of. Choose between full-time (3 months—hard core, but get it DONE) and part-time (which we recommend—you can keep your day job, study two nights a week, have a beer afterwords and graduate at the end of the year into a brand new creative career).

Campuses: Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane, London/Manchester, New York

If you’re on the younger side of 21, and you’ve got some time up your sleeve, we’d recommend a degree at Billy Blue. BB Sydney has been ticking along for a looooooning time with some mega awesome grads – over 20 years! – and they’ve recently added some sexy new campuses to Brisbane and Melbourne, plus you’ve also got the chance to study online if that suits better!

Campuses: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Online

Why we recommend JMC; with 35 years of experience in education, the guys at JMC are taking upskilling with design thinking to the next level – everything to do with designing visual stories, creating digital interactions, and innovating spaces and experiences. Get your head around user-centred design and visual communication in an agency style set up to learn in. PLUS cross disciplinary collabs with students studying film & TV, sound, animation and music (your folio will be next level!) With guest lectures, industry events, and a 3 month internship within your 2 years of study, you’ll be connected to the industry before you even graduate! Did we mention the chance for a two week study tour to Japan? JAPAN! Too good.

Campuses: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane

If you want to take your design education seriously – and get seriously inspired at the same time – then we’d recommend a Foundry Pathway, in beautiful Tasmania. Take two years to deep-dive into design while taking a creative retreat and earning a set of qualifications that represent you as a creative. Foundry is fast becoming the go-to for industry-relevant creative education in Australia, with its national guest speaker program, The Wild program, annual visits from global industry leaders and a growing international reputation. Studying in Tasmania also means the air is cleaner, the wilderness is closer and the design scene is booming. You can’t go wrong.

Campuses: Hobart, Launceston

If you were going to pick your favourite local industry legends, throw them together and dream up some awesome courses, Newcastle’s Pumphouse School might be what you come up with. With courses like ‘Design Your Own Children’s Book’, ‘App Design’, ‘Brush Script Lettering’ or just ‘Adobe Basics’, each course is taught by awesome industry folk who know what it takes to get hired. This school is perfect for graduates wanting to specialise in a specific area – the train to Newcastle is worth every second!

Campuses: Newcastle (Australia)

Guys – Bali AND advancing your career? No brainer! IOC’s 10 day web develeopmetn bootcamp will take you from little or no experience to creating your very own beautiful, responsive websites, learning how to use HTML, CSS and Javascript to design, create and build websites from scratch. There is no prior experience or skills required before joining this bootcamp. Would suit a freelance creative, entrepreneur, business owner or marketer. They alos offer a sweet 10 day Socail Media and Content Marketing bootcamp for those keen on becoming a successful social media manager or influencer from experts in the field. Sign up for both we say!

Campuses: Campuses: Bali, Indonesia