Graphic Design Certificate (Self-Paced)
IDCDFI

Self-paced online training with expert support Certificate with 6 courses

Begin your path toward a career in graphic design by learning the core tools and principles used by creative professionals. Gain hands-on experience with Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator while developing a strong understanding of design theory and practical techniques that help you produce polished work.

$2,995 132 clock hours Live Support Start anytime

This program includes

  • 132 hours of project-based training from experts
  • 100 training videos
  • Access to Adobe Creative Cloud Software (4 months)
  • Adobe Certificate Professional Exam in Photoshop
  • Additional elective course
  • Learn from an Adobe Certified Professional
  • Additional 1-on-1 mentoring outside of class
  • Proprietary workbooks included
  • Retake for free within 1 year
  • Verified digital certificate of completion
  • Learn at an accredited institution

This course is self-paced. For live online or in-person instruction, take the Graphic Design Certificate.

In this self-paced course, you'll master essential graphic design tools and creative workflows while building a portfolio that showcases your abilities.

Specifically, you'll learn Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, explore design theory and visual principles, and develop branding and marketing projects that demonstrate your ability to produce polished, professional work.

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Upgrade to our UI Design or Digital Design to learn how to design user interfaces for websites and mobile applications.

Courses & Videos in This Certificate Program

Download Syllabus PDF

Unit 1 30 Hours

Adobe InDesign Bootcamp (Self-Paced)
  • Design layouts combining text, color, and graphics
  • Import and style text and images
  • Apply and manage color in your designs
  • Create short and long documents, including brochures, advertisements, magazines, and books
  • Prepare files for final output, whether for print or PDF
  • Create and edit paragraph and character styles for consistent text formatting
  • Use master pages to control layouts in multi-page documents
  • Work with anchored objects, tables, libraries, find/change tools, and more
Lesson 1: InDesign Basics & Business Card Design
Lesson 2: Brochure Design & Layout
Lesson 3: Restaurant Menu Design
Lesson 4: Magazine Layout Design
Lesson 5: Advanced Magazine Techniques
Lesson 6: Book Design & Typography

Unit 2 30 Hours

Adobe Photoshop Bootcamp (Self-Paced)
  • Retouch photos and design custom graphics
  • Enhance images by adjusting color, brightness, and contrast
  • Use selections to edit specific areas of an image
  • Prepare images for digital, web, video, or print
  • Simplify edits with adjustment layers
  • Remove backgrounds using layer masks
  • Sharpen photos for clarity and impact
  • Apply visual effects with filters, shadows, blend modes, and more
Lesson 1: Photoshop Foundations & Image Editing
Lesson 2: Selections, Color, & Image Correction
Lesson 3: Sharpening, Filters, & Layer Masking
Lesson 4: Creative Image Enhancement & Presentation
Lesson 5: Camera Raw & Professional Photo Editing
Lesson 6: Automation, Design, & Mockups

Unit 3 30 Hours

Adobe Illustrator Bootcamp (Self-Paced)

Learn how to create and edit vector graphics using Adobe Illustrator, from basic shapes to advanced design techniques.

  • Design a range of graphics, including logos, icons, patterns, packaging, and typography
  • Master the Pen tool for vector drawings using tracing templates
  • Work with shapes, brushes, and painting tools
  • Apply gradients and blends to create colorful vector graphics
  • Develop patterns for graphic and fashion design
  • Create graphics specifically for packaging
  • Prepare and save files for web or print
Lesson 1: Illustrator Foundations
Lesson 2: Building & Exporting Graphics
Lesson 3: Mastering the Pen Tool
Lesson 4: Color, Strokes, & Patterns
Lesson 5: Advanced Appearance & Effects
Lesson 6: 3D, Mockups, & AI Tools

Unit 4 30 Hours

Graphic Design Portfolio Bootcamp (Self-Paced)

Build a strong foundation in graphic design while working on real-world projects to expand your portfolio.

  • Explore the fundamental elements of design
  • Build and expand your graphic design portfolio
  • Learn to present your work and incorporate constructive feedback
  • Deepen your understanding of both formal and conceptual design processes
  • Showcase your projects by uploading them to Adobe Portfolio to create a professional portfolio website

Unit 5

Graphic Design Capstone Project (Guided Self-Paced)

Throughout this program, you will complete a capstone project to showcase in your portfolio: 

  • Create a complete brand identity by researching, conceptualizing, and designing visual assets—including a logo, moodboard, and supporting materials—that reflect a clear brand strategy and aesthetic.
  • Apply the visual identity across various contexts such as packaging, signage, and digital platforms, while producing polished graphic design pieces that show consistency and creativity.
  • Document and present your work in a professional portfolio and final presentation, showcasing your creative process, technical skills, and the tools used to bring your branding concept to life.
  • Work on your capstone project both in and outside of class, using scheduled mentoring sessions to review your progress, ask questions, and get personalized feedback from your instructor.

Attend the AI for Graphic Design class for free as part of this certificate. Choose your date after you register for the program.

Bonus 12 Hours

AI for Graphic Design Course (Self-Paced)

Discover how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing graphic design through hands-on projects that integrate tools like Adobe Firefly, MidJourney, and ChatGPT. Learn to streamline workflows, enhance visual assets, and create cohesive brand packages using cutting-edge AI platforms.

  • Generate vector illustrations, photo edits, and layouts using AI tools in Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign
  • Create original visuals through prompt-based image generation with MidJourney, Leonardo AI, and DALL·E 3
  • Enhance and restore images with AI-powered sharpening, upscaling, and denoising techniques
  • Use ChatGPT and Notion AI to develop creative briefs, brand names, and design concepts
  • Build mood boards, style guides, and concept sets with free and paid AI design tools
  • Assemble a complete brand identity using multiple AI platforms within a simulated design workflow
Lesson 1: AI Foundations & AI in Photoshop
Lesson 2: AI in Illustrator
Lesson 3: AI in InDesign
Lesson 4: Adobe Firefly
Lesson 5: External AI Tools for Designers

Exam

This certificate includes this certification exam as well as the exam proctoring. The exam is optional.

Adobe Certified Professional in Visual Design Using Photoshop Exam

The Adobe Certified Professional Exam for Photoshop is designed to test skills in visual communication and digital imaging using Photoshop. This industry-recognized certification demonstrates proficiency with the software’s tools and is ideal for students and aspiring professionals in graphic design and other creative fields.

Exam details
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