California Institute of the Arts Courses

Ableton Live Course: Sound Production for Musicians and Artists

47 reviews

Hands-on production, mixing, and sound design with Ableton Live. Learn audio fundamentals, gain staging, effects processing, sequencing, virtual instruments, and advanced techniques for creating professional-quality music and soundscapes.

• Kadenze
• 54 hours
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course

• Best of All Time

Introduction to Real-Time Audio Programming in ChucK

33 reviews

Learn real-time audio programming with ChucK, covering fundamentals to advanced topics. Create expressive digital instruments, explore sound synthesis, and gain skills applicable to other programming languages.

• Kadenze
• 48 hours
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course

• Best of All Time

Fundamentals of Graphic Design

22 reviews

Explore fundamental principles of graphic design through hands-on exercises in imagemaking, typography, composition, color, and shape. Develop practical skills for visual communication and creative expression.

• Coursera
• 15 hours 23 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course (Audit)

Sharpened Visions: A Poetry Workshop

19 reviews

Why just write poems when you can write better ones? This course is built on the notion that the most exciting writing begins after the first draft.

• Coursera
• 8-9 hours
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course (Audit)

Introduction to Game Design

14 reviews

Explore game design fundamentals, from basic concepts to rules, storytelling, and character dynamics. Create your own board game while learning what makes games compelling and engaging.

• Coursera
• 6 hours 12 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course (Audit)

Introduction to Typography

11 reviews

Explore letterforms, typeface history, and expressive typography. Learn to select, combine, and manipulate type for effective visual communication and meaning-making in graphic design.

• Coursera
• 8 hours 39 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course (Audit)

Story and Narrative Development for Video Games

9 reviews

Explore storytelling techniques for video games, from traditional narrative structures to gameplay-driven narratives. Learn to craft compelling characters, settings, and plots for immersive gaming experiences.

• Coursera
• 11 hours 33 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course (Audit)

Sound Synthesis Using Reaktor

9 reviews

Explore audio synthesis methods, visual programming, and sound design using Native Instruments' Reaktor. Learn about synthesizer history, electronic music trends, and essential audio production techniques.

• Kadenze
• 54 hours
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course

Character Design for Video Games

6 reviews

Explore character design for video games with industry pros, covering foundational concepts, technical challenges, purposeful design, and personal style development.

• Coursera
• 9 hours 1 minute
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course (Audit)

World Design for Video Games

5 reviews

Explore game world creation, from research and inspiration to design strategies. Learn to craft immersive environments, define gameplay elements, and bring your unique vision to life.

• Coursera
• 7 hours 32 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course (Audit)

Introduction to Imagemaking

2875 ratings at Coursera

Explore imagemaking techniques, expand visual vocabulary, and learn to create compositions, culminating in designing an image-based book. Experiment fearlessly and focus on hands-on practice.

• Coursera
• 11 hours 43 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course (Audit)

Web Design: Strategy and Information Architecture

1223 ratings at Coursera

Explore UX design strategies, focusing on research, planning, and structuring content for responsive websites. Learn to define project scope, develop information architecture, and create effective sitemaps.

• Coursera
• 11 hours 51 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course (Audit)

The Language of Design: Form and Meaning

852 ratings at Coursera

Recall and explain a lexicon of key terms relating to form, meaning, and audience, and apply them successfully within an appraisal of graphic design.

• Coursera
• 8 hours 10 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course (Audit)

Web Development and Design using Wordpress

2 reviews

Learn to create and customize a distinctive website for your artistic portfolio using WordPress, HTML, CSS, and PHP. Develop essential web design skills and build a live site with advanced features.

• Kadenze
• 48 hours
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course

UX Design Fundamentals

2166 ratings at Coursera

Hands-on course teaching UX design process from ideation to digital prototyping. Learn best practices, conventions, and fundamental principles to shape user experiences for multi-screen apps.

• Coursera
• 16 hours 22 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course (Audit)