Visual Design & AI

Make your ideas
look as strong
as they feel

Learn to think, choose and create like a visual designer.

Develop your visual eye See why something works and know how to make it stronger.
Build stronger concepts Turn loose ideas into clear visual directions with purpose.
Create with confidence Make decisions you can explain and present professionally.
Enroll now Book a free consult
6 months Live online lessons 2 sessions in Amsterdam Portfolio development

01

Trust your own eye

Stop wondering whether something looks right. Learn to recognise what works and what needs to change.

02

Give your ideas direction

Move beyond inspiration and develop ideas into clear, consistent visual concepts.

03

Create work worth showing

Build visual projects that feel considered, professional and ready for your portfolio.

04

Work more independently

Rely less on templates and trial and error. Know how to take a project from idea to finished work.

The difference you want to feel

From guessing to making deliberate creative choices

The goal is not simply to make more. It is to understand what you are doing and know how to make it better.

“Something feels off.”
→
“I know what needs to change.”
Too many ideas
→
A clear visual direction
Following templates
→
Making your own choices
Work you keep to yourself
→
Work you confidently present

Small groups

Space for questions and personal attention.

Personal feedback

Understand what works and how to improve it.

Learn by making

Practical projects instead of disconnected theory.

Build your portfolio

Turn your progress into work you can show.

Is this where you are now?

You have creative ideas. You want more control over the result.

You may already create content, campaigns, presentations, brand materials or your own visual work. Now you want to understand why some choices work better than others.

  • Your ideas often feel stronger in your head than they look on screen.
  • You want more confidence in colour, composition, typography and image.
  • AI gives you plenty of output, but not always the result you had in mind.
  • You want a clearer visual style instead of starting from scratch every time.
  • You want feedback from someone who can explain what works and why.
  • You want your work to look professional enough for clients, colleagues or your portfolio.

The skills you develop

Learn to think and work like a visual designer

Build the creative judgement to take an idea from first thought to a clear and professional visual result.

Visual judgement

See why one solution is stronger than another.

Concept development

Turn a starting idea into a clear visual direction.

Composition

Create hierarchy, balance and focus in your work.

Typography & colour

Make intentional choices in type, colour and contrast.

Visual language

Bring image, type and graphic elements into one coherent style.

Art direction

Choose a direction and guide a project toward a stronger result.

Visual identity

Create a recognisable and consistent visual character.

Motion & storytelling

Use movement, sequence and rhythm to communicate ideas.

Presenting your work

Explain your thinking and present your choices with confidence.

The tools support the skills. You work with Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign, alongside generative AI for research, image creation and creative exploration.

A process you can use again and again

From first idea to finished visual work

Step 1

Understand

Define the goal, audience and context.

Step 2

Develop

Explore ideas, references and possible directions.

Step 3

Make & choose

Create possibilities and recognise the strongest solution.

Step 4

Refine & present

Improve the details and present the result professionally.

Student experiences

Clear guidance makes creative growth easier

“A very interesting course about AI. As a designer you need to keep up. The teacher explains everything clearly and brings lots of inspiration.”

Bob · Designer

“The personal guidance was very helpful. Everything was explained clearly. It gave me a strong foundation.”

AI Design student

“I learned many new things I had never thought about before. It helps me make better choices when creating images.”

Visual Design with AI student

Experiences from previous Art and the City design and AI courses. Translated from Dutch.

visual design

How you build those skills

Six stages toward your own visual direction

Each stage adds new skills while you keep developing your own visual work and portfolio.

Stage 1

Build a stronger eye for image and composition

Learn how colour, contrast, composition and editing change what an image communicates.

Practice includes Photoshop and professional image editing.

Stage 2

Create with AI without losing your own direction

Use AI to explore possibilities, then learn to select, correct and refine until the result fits your idea.

Practice includes generative AI, prompting and image editing.

Stage 3

Create a recognisable visual identity

Combine shape, typography and graphic elements into a coherent visual language.

Practice includes Illustrator, vector design and branding.

Stage 4

Make information clear and visually strong

Work with typography, hierarchy, grids and spacing to create layouts that guide the eye.

Practice includes InDesign and editorial layout.

Stage 5

Bring visual ideas into motion

Explore movement, rhythm, sequence and sound to communicate ideas over time.

Practice includes video, motion and current AI tools.

Stage 6

Bring everything together

Develop your own visual concept, refine the result and select the strongest work for your portfolio.

Focus: concept, art direction, campaign thinking and portfolio.

Two live sessions in Amsterdam

Step back, look at your work and see how far you’ve come

Portfolio Review

Portfolio Review & Creative Direction

Review what you have made, identify your strengths and decide what you want to develop further.

Presentation

Portfolio & Pitch

Present your strongest work and explain the thinking and creative choices behind it.

How you learn

Creative confidence grows through making and feedback

Small groups

Space to ask questions and receive personal attention.

Personal feedback

Understand what is strong and what will improve your work.

Practical projects

Apply what you learn immediately in your own work.

Portfolio development

Build and improve your work throughout the programme.

Practical information

Visual Design & AI

Duration

6 months

Format

Live online via Zoom

Amsterdam

2 live sessions

Tuition

€3,040 incl. VAT

Payment

5 instalments possible

Completion

Certificate + portfolio

Your next step

Ready to feel more confident about what you create?

Enroll directly or book a free consultation to discuss your current level and creative goals.

Enroll now Free consult

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

Do I need previous design experience?
No. You do not need to be a professional designer. The programme builds the key visual and technical skills step by step.
Do I need previous Adobe experience?
No. You learn the relevant Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign techniques while working on practical design projects.
Is this mainly a software course?
No. Software is a means to an end. The main focus is visual communication: concept, composition, typography, colour, image, art direction, motion and presenting your work professionally.
How is AI used?
AI is used for research, concept exploration, prompting, image generation, variations and creative production. You also learn how to judge and improve AI output.
Which tools will I use?
You work with Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign alongside relevant generative AI tools.
Will I build a portfolio?
Yes. Portfolio development runs throughout the programme. You create your own projects, receive feedback and learn to present your strongest work professionally.
Is this suitable for a career change?
Yes. The programme suits professionals who want stronger visual skills as well as people exploring a more creative professional direction.
Do I need to be good at drawing?
No. Drawing is not a requirement. The focus is on visual ideas and strong choices in image, type, colour, composition and style.
Are the lessons online or in Amsterdam?
The lessons take place live online via Zoom. There are also two live sessions in Amsterdam for portfolio feedback and presentation.
What do I receive after completing the programme?
You receive a certificate of participation. The most important outcome is the work you create, your portfolio and the visual skills you develop.
What does the programme cost?
Tuition is €3,040 including VAT. Payment in five instalments is possible.

Visual Design & AI

Stop doubting your visual choices. Start creating with direction.

Develop your eye, strengthen your ideas and create work that feels considered, professional and recognisably yours.

Enroll in Visual Design & AI Book a free consult

Explore related programmes

Looking for a different creative direction?

Visual Design & AI is one route into professional creative work. Explore related programmes in graphic design, concept development and digital design.

English programme

Graphic Design Course in English

Build a strong foundation in Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, typography and visual communication, with practical assignments and portfolio development.

View Graphic Design →

Concept & creative direction

Art Direction & Concept

Go further into concept development, storytelling, visual language, campaigns and creative direction.

View Art Direction & Concept →

Digital design

Webdesigner

Learn UX/UI, Figma, responsive design and accessible web design. A good fit if you want to apply your visual skills to websites and digital interfaces.

View Webdesigner →