Begin your journey as a professional graphic designer by learning the essential skills and tools used by industry experts. Gain hands-on experience in Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator, and create a stunning portfolio to showcase your talent to potential employers or clients.
Learn how to retouch and color correct photos, combine images, and create graphics in Photoshop. This course covers the basic and intermediate features of Photoshop such as color/contrast, photo retouching, layers, masks, filters, and saving files for web/video/print.
Learn how to design professional page layouts with text & graphics in Adobe InDesign. This course covers styling, importing, packaging, and advanced techniques like styles, master pages, and tables. Perfect for creating books, magazines, and ads.
Learn how to draw and edit vector graphics using Adobe Illustrator. This course covers the basics and advanced features, including the Pen tool, effects, layers, masks, and more. Perfect for creating logos, icons, and packaging.
Leverage the power of cutting-edge AI tools and features in Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and other Adobe apps in this hands-on class.
Learn the fundamentals of graphic design as you get hands-on experience and produce real-world projects. Broaden your understanding of graphic design concepts, understand the elements of design, and expand your portfolio in this comprehensive graphic design course.
Master Photoshop from the ground up and prepare for the Adobe Certified Professional exam with expert-led training, hands-on projects, and personalized tutoring. This comprehensive program is ideal for aspiring designers, photographers, and creative professionals looking to earn industry-recognized certification.
Advance your layout and design expertise while preparing for the Adobe Certified Professional exam in this hands-on InDesign Certification Program. Through expert-led classes, personalized tutoring, and real-world projects, you'll gain the skills and confidence to create polished magazines, brochures, books, and more.
Build professional-level Illustrator skills and earn your Adobe Certified Professional credential through hands-on classes, private tutoring, and real-world projects. This certification program covers everything from vector drawing to logo design, giving you the tools to succeed on the exam.
Develop high-impact motion graphics and visual effects while preparing for the Adobe After Effects Certification exam through hands-on classes and private tutoring. This in-depth program covers beginner to advanced techniques, equipping you with the skills and credentials to stand out in animation and video production.
Master the art of video editing and earn your Adobe Premiere Pro certification through expert-led training and one-on-one tutoring. This comprehensive program prepares you for the certification exam while helping you build professional-level editing skills.
Graphic design is all around us. It’s in the layout of your computer desktop and the label on your cereal box. When you study graphic design, you learn how light, color, text, layout, and other design considerations work together to communicate a message. In addition to design aesthetics, you will learn how to use powerful design tools used by professionals, including Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, and others.
Graphic design is an important element of many careers that depend on the professional presentation of visual content. A graphic design certificate will prepare you to begin a career as a UI Designer, Visual Designer, or Digital Designer, or make you more effective in your current field. Advanced study in After Effects, Sketch, Adobe XD, and Photoshop will give you an even more impressive resume.
In Chicago, you’ll find countless career opportunities in the field of graphic design. Chicago is a city that values public art and design, and is home to the Art Institute of Chicago and multiple art- and design-centered festivals. It’s also a major location for prominent international corporations like Accenture, IBM, and Target. The presence of companies that regularly spend millions or even billions on marketing and branding makes finding a design career in Chicago a promising prospect. There are also several organizations for helping professional designers in the city connect and network, including AIGA Chicago and the Chicago Graphic Design Club.
Salaries for graphic design careers in Chicago mostly fall in the range of $60,000 to $80,000. Typically, you can expect to make more if you work with web or digital design. Digital Designers in the Chicago area bring home about $75,000 per year, and UI Designers earn approximately $80,000 on average. Extensive graphic design experience may lead to a position as a Design Director, which is associated with an average salary of $120,000 in Chicago. Overall, most graphic design pay rates here are on par with the U.S. averages.
Graphic Design Certificate Program
Noble Desktop’s Graphic Design Certificate program is designed to impart a comprehensive understanding of graphic design principles to its students. The curriculum dives into the significant design tools in Adobe Creative Cloud, focusing on Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign capabilities. Through in-depth exploration of these applications, students become well-versed in foundational and sophisticated design techniques crucial to professional practice.
The educational journey begins with an introduction to the critical theories underpinning effective design, including composition, color theory, and typography. This theoretical framework sets the stage for practical application, allowing students to engage in hands-on projects that solidify their understanding of these concepts. As students progress, they learn to weave together the functionalities of different software to create cohesive design projects. Throughout this process, they benefit from the seasoned insights of experienced designers who provide detailed feedback. Peer critiques also play a pivotal role, offering diverse perspectives that contribute to the student’s skill enhancement and readiness for a thriving career in the graphic design industry.
Adobe Certification Courses
Noble Desktop’s suite of Adobe Certification Courses offers a dual benefit for students: it prepares them for industry-recognized certification and equips them with practical professional skills. These courses comprehensively cover essential design tools such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, making them suitable for novices and experienced designers. Participants will delve into these software tools’ complexities while engaging in real-world projects that sharpen their design abilities.
The program’s core focuses on preparing students for the Adobe Certified Professional exams, with expert instructors leading extensive hands-on sessions. These are supplemented by private tutoring opportunities, ensuring students have the support they need to excel in their certification exams. The course fee includes the cost of exam registration, streamlining the process for students. Each lesson serves a dual purpose: preparing students for the certification test and providing them with the skills to build an impressive design portfolio. While obtaining the certification validates their skills, students can opt out of the exam in exchange for additional tutoring. To further support students’ success, the program allows them to retake the course within a year and provides ongoing access to comprehensive study materials for those considering taking the exam at a later date.
Graphic Design Summer Program for High School Students
NextGen Bootcamp’s Graphic Design Summer Program is crafted specifically for high school students eager to explore the world of creative design. The course thoroughly introduces the core principles of graphic design, explaining the decision-making processes used by professional graphic designers. Students will build a solid foundation in design theories and learn about composition, which is pivotal in creating visually compelling work.
Throughout the program, students become proficient with the Adobe Creative Cloud suite, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Instruction focuses on the practical use of each tool and the best practices for combining them to produce sophisticated designs. As part of their learning journey, students undertake initial design projects that will contribute to developing their professional portfolio. This is an essential element for students considering future studies in art or commencing a career in graphic design, as it represents the initial step in showcasing their burgeoning talent and technical skill set.
Formal graphic design training can be a profitable way for Chicago companies to start building a dedicated design team or teach a current team how to use new technology. Noble Desktop offers a wide variety of graphic design courses for corporate clients, including training in Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, GIF creation, and more general design concepts.
Do you have a need besides these? Noble Desktop offers many courses, but your needs may require a different approach. In addition to their scheduled courses, Noble Desktop has custom training for individuals and organizations. For more information about training opportunities for you or your organization, please email Noble Desktop at corporate@nobledesktop.com.
In the heart of the Midwest’s finance capital, there’s opportunity everywhere. From tech startups in Fulton Market to powerhouse Fortune 500 firms in the Loop, Chicago offers a virtually endless array of ways to level up your skills in tech, business, data, and design. The city thrives on bold ideas, making it the perfect place to grow a career that is not only lucrative but also makes a real impact. With expert instructors with decades of experience, you’ll learn more about the subjects you’re interested in, all while receiving hands-on training. These instructors live and breathe to explore and work within their field, meaning they don’t just teach; they mentor, guide, and connect you to the heart of Chicago’s many successful industries and direct you to the most meaningful path to help you achieve your goals.
Noble Desktop’s partner school, Practical Programming, has state-of-the-art facilities conveniently located in downtown Chicago’s iconic Hayworth Building at 29 E. Madison Street, Chicago, IL, 60602. It’s an easy-to-find location for students from across the city to attend. The campus is modern, equipped with the necessary tech and tools you may need, and provides resources like Wi-Fi, comfortable workstations, and expert instructors and staff ready to help you learn. Getting there is simple, whether you’re commuting from the Loop, River North, or surrounding areas. The school is easily accessible from the CTA trains and buses, with nearby stops for major lines like the Red, Blue, and Brown. If you’re driving, you can park nearby at various parking decks and metered spots within walking distance. The central location means you won’t have to stress about making it to class, and that your training sessions can fit into any schedule with ease.
Graphic design plays a major role in Chicago’s advertising, media, and corporate branding scene. Students who take graphic design classes at Noble Desktop will learn visual principles and software techniques from instructors who have produced professional work for real clients.
Henry Gonzalez is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) with over 30 years of experience in the federal government, leading engineering, program management, and acquisition initiatives in naval warfare, air traffic management, and homeland security. A retired senior executive, Henry now serves as a part-time instructor in Chicago, where he teaches project and program management, leadership, and strategic planning to professionals of all kinds. He holds the highest level of federal certification one can hold for acquisition program management and systems engineering. In addition, Henry was part of the core team that updated the Project Management Institute’s Standard for Program Management. Henry is also a certified Balanced Scorecard Professional and holds a Bachelor of Science in Ocean Engineering from Florida Atlantic University, along with a dual Master of Science in Ocean Engineering and Ocean Systems Management from MIT.
Robert Simon is a highly accomplished financial management professional and educator with more than four decades of federal and private sector experience. As a Financial and Management Curricula Instructor at Graduate School USA since 2007, he teaches courses in financial management, federal travel regulations, and organizational leadership, both virtually and in person. Prior to his teaching career, he held senior roles at the General Services Administration, overseeing a six-state regional budget of approximately $100 million, and at the U.S. Treasury’s Financial Management Service, where he led national training initiatives on electronic banking. Robert’s background spans accounting, budgeting, and program analysis, holding certifications as a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Government Financial Manager.
Edward (Scott) Dillion is a seasoned financial expert with over three decades of experience in the Department of Defense, where he specialized in a range of financial management areas like budgeting and auditing, as well as performance-based management and cost analysis. He holds an MBA from Southern Illinois University and a B.A. in Business Administration from Grove City College. After retiring in 2014, Scott pivoted to a second career in education and consulting. He teaches project management and marketing at Graduate School USA and has also taught courses in federal budgeting. Additionally, Scott serves as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for Management Concepts Inc., where he helps develop financial management course materials. He also has a lifetime membership with the American Society of Military Comptrollers, holds a Top Secret security clearance with the Department of Defense, and is a recognized Tier 2 instructor at Graduate School USA for his wealth of experience.