6-month graphic design course

Graphic Design for Beginners

Turn your creative ideas into design work you can explain, improve and confidently show.

You do not need previous design experience. You learn the foundations of graphic design alongside Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign, then apply them in practical assignments and portfolio work.

Learn the craft Typography, colour, layout and visual hierarchy.
Learn the tools Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign.
Build your portfolio Create work you can develop and present.
View enrolment options Book a personal consult
Course details

Duration

6 months

Format

Live online via Zoom

Tuition

€2,975 · VAT free

Payment

5 instalments possible

Level

Beginners welcome

Included

Feedback, materials and portfolio work

Small groups Personal feedback Professional Adobe tools Practical assignments Portfolio development

Is this where you are now?

You have creative ideas, but turning them into finished design still feels difficult

  • You know what you like visually, but cannot always explain why.
  • Canva or templates only take you so far.
  • Adobe software still feels intimidating or fragmented.
  • You want work that looks more considered and professional.
  • You need structure and feedback instead of learning everything alone.

What changes

Build the confidence to make your own visual choices

  • Start a design with a clear idea instead of a blank screen.
  • Choose type, colour and composition with more intention.
  • Work more independently in Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign.
  • Develop a visual identity instead of combining random elements.
  • Build portfolio work that shows both skill and creative thinking.

What you learn

Build your design skills step by step

The programme combines software with visual thinking. You learn the tools while working on design problems, so technique and creative judgement grow together.

Photoshop

Image and visual storytelling

Edit images, work with layers and selections, combine material and develop stronger visual compositions.

Illustrator

Shape, icons and logos

Learn vector drawing and use shape, line and form to create graphic elements and identity work.

InDesign

Layout and publications

Work with grids, typography and images to create clear multi-page designs.

Design principles

Typography, colour and composition

Understand hierarchy, contrast, balance and the visual decisions behind professional design.

Branding

Build a visual identity

Bring colour, type, imagery and graphic elements together into a recognisable visual direction.

Final project

Create portfolio work

Bring your skills together in a personal project, refine it with feedback and prepare it for presentation.

Student experiences

Learning becomes easier when you can ask questions and receive useful feedback

Students come from different professional backgrounds. What they have in common is the wish to understand design and become more confident in their own work.

“I used to work in hospitality. After this course, I landed my first paid project: a full branding package for a café. It was a dream come true.”

Eva

“I took this alongside my job in communications. I wanted to design things myself instead of always outsourcing. This course gave me insight and confidence.”

Tjerk

Woman sketching design plans at a wooden table with color swatches, a laptop, and a mug nearby.

Who this course is for

A practical starting point if you want to grow into design

You may be changing careers, working in communication, building your own business or simply ready to take your creative interest more seriously. You do not need a design background to begin.

  • Career switchers who want structure, guidance and portfolio work
  • Marketing and communication professionals who want to create stronger visual work themselves
  • Freelancers and business owners who want more control over their visual identity
  • Creative beginners who want to move beyond templates and learn professional tools

After the course

Create work you can use outside the classroom

The aim is not simply to know more software. You learn how to take a brief, develop an idea, make visual choices and bring the work to a presentable result.

Social content

Create visual content for digital channels with stronger hierarchy and consistency.

Publications

Design brochures and multi-page layouts using grids, typography and image.

Visual identities

Develop a recognisable direction using colour, type and graphic elements.

Portfolio pieces

Present finished projects that show both your skills and design thinking.

Your portfolio

Finish with work you can keep developing

Your assignments help you develop your first professional portfolio pieces. You receive feedback on the work and practical advice on how to present it clearly.

  • Develop work from a brief
  • Improve projects through feedback
  • Select your strongest work
  • Learn how to present a project professionally

Professional direction

Use design skills in a way that fits your ambitions

The course can support a move into design, strengthen the visual side of your current role or help you create more independently as a freelancer or entrepreneur.

  • Graphic design
  • Content creation
  • Marketing and communication
  • Freelance and entrepreneurial work
  • Further creative education

Optional diploma exam

Want formal assessment as well as portfolio work?

€255

Optional and not included in the tuition fee

The optional exam combines practical design work with a written component. After passing, you receive an Art and the City diploma.

  • Two larger final design assignments
  • A short theory assessment
  • Evaluation by a senior instructor
  • Diploma after successful completion

Without the exam

Focus on learning and portfolio development

The diploma exam is optional. If you prefer not to take it, you can still complete the course, develop your portfolio and receive a certificate of participation.

This gives you the freedom to choose whether formal assessment matters for your next step.

Good to know

Questions before you decide

Do I need previous design experience?
No. The course is designed for beginners. You start with the foundations and build your skills through practical assignments and feedback.
Which software will I use?
You work with Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign. You need access to Adobe Creative Cloud and a computer that can run the software comfortably.
Is this mainly a software course?
No. Software is part of the course, but the focus is broader. You also learn typography, colour, composition, visual storytelling, branding and layout.
Will I build a portfolio?
Yes. You develop design work throughout the programme and receive feedback on how to strengthen and present your projects.
Do I have to take the exam?
No. The official exam is optional and costs €255. If you pass it, you receive a diploma. Without the exam, you receive a certificate of participation.
Can I combine the course with a job?
The programme is taught live online, which makes it easier to combine with work. You should also allow time for assignments and portfolio development outside the live lessons.
Can I pay in instalments?
Yes. The tuition can be paid in five instalments of €594.

Graphic Design for Beginners

Give your creative ideas the skills to match

Learn professional design tools, understand the principles behind strong visual work and build projects you can confidently show.

View enrolment options Book a personal consult

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