Udemy
Udemy Graphic Design Bootcamp Review — Derrick Mitchell, Photoshop + Illustrator + InDesign, 32 Opinions Analysed
Derrick Mitchell's Graphic Design Bootcamp is the best single Udemy course for an absolute beginner who wants Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign delivered together through real projects. Across 32 analysed opinions the consensus is strongly positive: a practical, project-first instructor who explains his workflow rather than just demonstrating tools, a Facebook community that provides actual feedback, and Udemy's fire-sale pricing that makes three apps feel almost free. The clear caveats are equally consistent: the bootcamp pace is occasionally rushed, design theory is thin, and intermediate users will find it too basic. A strong launchpad, not a complete design education.
Final score
from 32 analysed opinions
Published AI-researched, editor-audited
Distribution of opinions
Per-criterion scores
Covers Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign from scratch in 15.5+ hours across real-world projects — poster, logo, brochure and more. The project-first structure is consistently praised for making techniques stick. Capped because the format is application-led rather than principle-led (design theory is thin), some screencasts predate 2023 Photoshop AI features, and the bootcamp pace can leave nuance behind.
Derrick Mitchell is a working Creative Director with agency experience and brand credits (including an internship at Seven 2 Interactive, where he worked on campaigns for MTV, Nintendo and Netflix). Students consistently call him clear, practical, genuine and passionate. The course was developed with co-instructor Jenna Martin; reviewers praise the combination as clear and relatable. The 4.4 instructor rating on Udemy is consistent with these descriptions.
Udemy's listed price is over $100, but persistent sales bring it to $10-15, making three Adobe apps plus a Facebook community with 19,000+ members a very competitive offer. The updated November 2023 version extends shelf life. Capped marginally because a Udemy certificate carries limited hiring weight, and the sales model creates artificial pricing pressure.
Real deliverables anchor every section — you produce an event poster in Photoshop, a logo in Illustrator and a brochure in InDesign rather than watching disconnected demos. Students describe leaving with tangible pieces and a framework for approaching client work. Reviewers specifically cite Derrick breaking down his workflow as valuable because it teaches professional process, not just button clicks.
The three apps covered are the industry standard for print and marketing design, and the project deliverables are types a freelancer or in-house designer would encounter in week one. The honest ceiling is that the course teaches how to execute in the tools without deeply covering why certain design decisions work — graduates often need to supplement with a dedicated design-theory resource before their work looks truly professional.
What learners said
What people loved
6- Covers Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign in a single course — the most efficient on-ramp to all three core Adobe tools for beginners×14
- Project-first structure: every section builds a real deliverable (poster, logo, brochure) rather than disconnected demos×12
- Derrick is consistently described as clear, genuine and passionate — a working designer explaining a real workflow, not just a presenter×11
- Active Facebook community with 19,000+ members provides actual peer feedback on your work after you finish×8
- Exceptional value at Udemy sale price ($10-15), regularly listed in top affordable design course roundups×7
- Updated November 2023, keeping core content current with modern tool layouts×4
What frustrated learners
4- Bootcamp pace can feel rushed — some lessons move fast enough to lose nuance, and students need to pause and repeat steps more than on slower courses×8
- Too basic for intermediate designers who already know the apps — experienced users will find the beginner-level walkthroughs slow-moving×6
- Design theory is thin: the course teaches how to execute tasks, not the visual-design principles behind why they work×5
- Some screencasts predate Photoshop's 2023-24 AI features and updated panel layouts — still accurate for fundamentals but not AI tooling×4
Real quotes from real users
“I really enjoyed the whole course. Very practical and to the point. I also enjoyed the fast pace and only wished that it was a few hours longer. Totally worth my time, though. Learned a lot. I would definitely get another course by Derrick and would recommend this one to anyone who is interested in graphic design.”
“One thing I really liked about the course was how Derrick really broke down his work flow so I got both a practical and design side to approaching the tasks. He is a genuine guy that looks to expand your knowledge.”
“Great course! While I don't use Adobe products any more (long story), I was able to take the principles taught and apply them for the most part in what I do use. Also got some good feedback through the FB group for the course.”
“Derrick explains the material very clearly, and the illustrated graphics for explaining different concepts are really nicely done.”
“The instructor is passionate what he is doing and knowledgeable. Nice teaching with patience, and details within each step.”
“I love how Derrick and Jenna explain topics, individually and as well as together. They are clear, concise and relatable!”
“Occasionally a lesson can seem a bit rushed — but with the amount covered and it being a bootcamp course I don't think that's a bad thing since he keeps it flowing to maintain the interest of the student.”
Frequently asked questions
Ready to enrol?
You read the score, the pros, the cons and the quotes. If it's still a fit, here's the link.
Direct link to the official course page. We earn no commission on this link.
How we evaluated this
This review synthesizes 32 opinions collected across the public web. Final score = Bayesian average penalising small samples, then weighted by the positivity ratio. No paid placements, no hidden agenda.
- 18 from Blogs
- 8 from Official course platform
- 4 from Forums
- 2 from Other