Graphic Design with Photoshop and Illustrator (Software Included)

Graphic design continues to be a high-demand field across industries, with 20,000 job openings reported annually for professionals in this field through 2034, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. As businesses increasingly rely on visual communication to build brand identity, engage audiences, and drive marketing efforts, skilled designers are needed to create compelling visuals for web, social media, advertising, and print. This graphic design course aligns with current industry...

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9 Months / 165 Course Hrs
Open Enrollment
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CSU Channel Islands

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Graphic Design with Photoshop and Illustrator (Software Included)

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Course code: GES522

What you will learn

  • Develop industry-ready design skills by mastering core principles—color theory, typography, and composition
  • Create a professional digital portfolio that showcases creative range, technical expertise, and branding acumen across multiple formats including web, social media, and print
  • Achieve fluency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop by generating vector graphics, editing raster images, and applying advanced design techniques such as masking, compositing, and retouching
  • Design compelling marketing visuals by analyzing audience needs and applying branding strategies to create high-impact campaigns for digital and print platforms
  • Integrate emerging technologies like generative AI into the design workflow, exploring how innovation can enhance creativity, efficiency, and relevance in a rapidly evolving field

How you will benefit

  • Gain practical, in-demand capabilities that align with employer expectations and prepare you for real-world graphic design roles
  • Position yourself to confidently present your work to potential employers or freelance clients, enhancing job search and career advancement opportunities
  • Builds your proficiency in the most widely used tools in the design industry, providing you with more competitive and versatility in the job market
  • Understand how to contribute to brand identity and engagement efforts, a key value-add in marketing-driven design roles
  • Stay ahead of industry trends and prepare yourself to successfully adapt to future tools and methodologies in professional practice

How the course is taught

  • Self-paced, online course
  • 9 Months to complete
  • Open enrollment, begin anytime
  • 165 course hours
  1. DIGITAL MEDIA AND GRAPHIC DESIGN
    1. Welcome to Graphic Design
    2. Digital Image Basics
    3. Raster and Vector Graphics
    4. Digital Image Files
    5. Obtaining Images
    6. Intellectual Property
    7. Inclusive Graphic Design
    8. AI Generated Images
  2. PRINCIPLES AND THEORY OF GRAPHIC DESIGN
    1. Visual Principles
    2. Design Principles
    3. Designing for an Audience
    4. Color
    5. Layout and Composition
  3. VECTOR GRAPHICS AND ILLUSTRATOR PART 1
    1. Introduction to Illustrator
    2. Vector Graphics
    3. Adobe Illustrator Interface
    4. Getting Started with Illustrator
  4. TYPOGRAPHY
    1. Understanding Typography
    2. Typographic Hierarchy
    3. Applying Typography
    4. Type on Screens vs Print
    5. Working with Type in Illustrator
  5. VECTOR GRAPHICS AND ILLUSTRATOR PART 2
    1. Organizing a Project
    2. Advanced Illustrations
    3. Advanced Management of Shapes
    4. Project Components, Importing, Custom Styles
  6. IMAGE EDITING IN PHOTOSHOP PART 1
    1. Introduction to Photoshop
    2. Image Editing Basics
    3. Photoshop Interface
    4. Selections, Masking and Advanced Compositing
  7. IMAGE EDITING IN PHOTOSHOP PART 2
    1. Image Retouching
    2. Reconstructing and Retouching
    3. Layers, Selections, and Automated Techniques
    4. Digital Painting and Brushes
  8. DESIGNING FOR MARKETING
    1. Basic Principles of Marketing
    2. Branding
    3. Typography and Visual Communication
    4. Designing for Web, Mobile, and Social Media
    5. Packaging and Exporting
  9. WORKING WITH CLIENTS AND THE DESIGN PROCESS
    1. Working with Clients
    2. The Design Process
    3. The Business Side of Graphic Design
  10. THE PORTFOLIO AND JOB SEARCH
    1. Career Paths
    2. Physical Mock-ups
    3. Your Portfolio
  11. CAPSTONE PROJECT
    1. Create a Tourism Campaign (Order: Upper-Roman/Upper-Latin/Decimal)

Chad Walker

Chad Walker has been in the comic book and video game industry for over 26 years, with experience in all leadership positions and production fields, including art (graphic design, animation, conceptual design, and character design), design (world/gameplay), and coding.

Chad is well-versed in Adobe Suite packages, including Photoshop and Illustrator. He has worked on numerous projects in graphic design for print, car wraps, and websites using Photoshop for production-ready content.

Chad is a published author, grant writer, professional comic book illustrator, speaker, and former professor at Southern Methodist University (SMU) Guildhall for game development and Oral Roberts University (ORU) as head of game development. He has taught Graphic Design, Photoshop, and other Adobe products for over 20 years at the university level and in studio workshops. Most notable titles include "Age of Empires," "Age of Kings," and "Age of Conquerors."

Corie Seed

Corie Seed is an experienced graphic designer who has worked for major technology companies, government organizations, and small businesses to provide corporate branding, web design, marketing, and layout services. She has also taught various aspects of design at Algonquin College and Carleton University. Corie's undergraduate studies include graphic design, visual and creative arts, photography, and multimedia design. Her graduate studies explored industrial design, service design and in depth research on decolonizing design education through methods of critical self-reflection.

Prerequisites:

This program is designed to prepare you for a career in graphic design. Previous experience with Photoshop is not necessary. You will need an internet connection, be familiar with using the internet, have emailing capabilities, and be familiar navigating folders as well as naming and saving files to your computer.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

  • This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac. Chromebooks are not compatible.

Software Requirements:

  • PC: Windows 10 or later.
  • Mac: macOS 12 or later.
  • Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
  • Microsoft Word Online.
  • Adobe Photoshop (included in enrollment)
  • Adobe Acrobat Reader.
  • Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

  • Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment. The following textbooks will be shipped to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment:

  • The Elements of Graphic Design by Alex W. White
  • Your enrollment in this course also includes a subscription to Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. You will learn how to activate this subscription during the course.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for graphic designers was $61,300 in May 2024 (last reporting).

Figma notes that graphic design is the practice of creating visual content to communicate ideas. Whether creating product packaging or a social media post, graphic designers use color, texture, shapes, and typography to create eye-catching designs that grab attention and convey a message.

Adobe states that graphic or digital designers are industry professionals within the realm of visual arts. They blend technical skills and creative talents to design informative, appealing, and memorable content. They work with clients, art directors, and other designers to develop a project's overall look and feel. To create the final product, they assemble visual elements like text, typography, animations, images, web pages, and motion graphics.

No.

This course is open enrollment, so you can register and start the course as soon as you are ready. Access to your course can take 24-48 business hours.

This course is self-paced and open enrollment, so you can start when you want and finish at your own pace. When you register, you'll receive nine (9) months to complete the course.

The time allotted for course completion has been calculated based on the number of course hours. However, if you are unable to complete the course, contact the student advising team to see what options you may have available to work out a suitable completion date. Please note that an extension fee may be charged.

Our courses are designed to accommodate various learning preferences. Depending on the course structure, you may get different forms of support. Self-paced courses are designed to be user-friendly and independent, minimizing the need for external support. In courses with instructors, our direct platform support feature includes opportunities for questions, discussions, and remediation, with email and phone support available for select courses. Our student advising team is available to guide you on program requirements and administrative requests, but they do not provide assistance with course content. Our goal is to provide you with the necessary support for success, whether it's through self-paced exploration, direct communication, or guidance from our advising team.

Upon successful completion of the course, you will be awarded a Certificate of Completion.

This course will provide you with the skills you need to obtain an entry-level position in most cases. Potential students should always do research on the job market in their area before registering.

This course is non-credit, so it does not qualify for federal aid, FAFSA and Pell Grant. In some states, vocational rehab or workforce development boards will pay for qualified students to take our courses. Additionally, some students may qualify for financial assistance when they enroll, if they meet certain requirements. Financing is available from select schools. Learn more about financial assistance.

If you have questions that are not answered on our website, representatives are available via LIVE chat. You can also call us at 1-877-221-5151 during regular business hours to have your questions promptly answered. If you are visiting us during non-business hours, please send us a question using the "Contact Us" form.

Like most things, practice makes perfect. You'll have the basic design skills and Photoshop abilities to take on most graphic design projects, but it's recommended that you do some pro-bono (no-charge, for needy organizations, family businesses, etc.) work before you put yourself out there as an experienced designer. Build your portfolio based on what you learn in this class and apply your experience to a few jobs before you making an official leap as a Professional Graphic Designer.

Yes, if you work hard and develop a good client list. It's important to seek clients out, provide all the services you can to these clients, and make good connections for word-of-mouth referrals. Also, stay involved with professional organizations, chambers of commerce, or local small business networking groups. Get your name out there, and use social media to promote your services.

Graphic Design with Photoshop and IllustratorAdvanced Career Training
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Graphic Design with Photoshop and Illustrator