Graphic Design Certificate (Self-Paced)

Learn to design professional page layouts at your own pace using Adobe InDesign. Work with text, images, and multiple pages while mastering essential tools, styles, and advanced techniques to create books, magazines, and advertisements.

• Design layouts incorporating text, color, and graphics
• Import and format text and graphics for professional-quality designs
• Apply and manage colors throughout your documents
• Create short and long-form publications, including brochures, ads, magazines, and books
• Prepare files for final output, including printing and PDF export
• Create and edit paragraph and character styles for consistent text formatting
• Use master pages to manage layouts across multi-page documents
• Work with anchored objects, tables, libraries, find/change functions, and other advanced tools

Retouch and enhance photos, create graphics, and work with layers, masks, and filters in Adobe Photoshop at your own pace. This self-paced course teaches essential techniques for color correction, image compositing, and preparing files for web, video, and print.

• Learn to retouch photos and design 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 formats
• Simplify edits with adjustment layers
• Remove backgrounds using layer masks
• Sharpen and refine photos
• Apply visual effects with filters, shadows, blend modes, and more

Learn to create and edit vector graphics at your own pace using Adobe Illustrator. This course covers everything from basic shapes to advanced design techniques, including the Pen tool, effects, layers, masks, and more—ideal for designing logos, icons, patterns, and packaging.

• Design a variety of graphics, including logos, icons, patterns, packaging, and typography
• Master vector drawing with the Pen tool using tracing templates
• Work with shapes, brushes, and painting tools to enhance your designs
• Create vibrant vector graphics using gradients and blends
• Develop patterns for graphic and fashion design projects
• Design graphics for packaging
• Export and save files optimized for web or print

Build a strong foundation in graphic design while working on real-world projects to expand your portfolio. This course covers key design principles, typography, color theory, and layout techniques, preparing you to create logos, posters, book covers, and digital assets.

• Explore essential design concepts, including composition, typography, and color theory.
• Develop a creative workflow, from ideation and sketching to final digital execution.
• Create portfolio-worthy projects such as logos, book covers, event posters, and album artwork.
• Learn to use design hierarchy and grid systems to create visually engaging layouts.
• Incorporate industry-standard tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign into your design process.
• Refine your work through critiques and upload your final projects to Adobe Portfolio.

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.

See examples of graphic design capstone projects from students.