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Graphic Design and Illustration
Digital Graphic Design – an Introduction

Digital Graphic Design – an Introduction

Ages: 18+
Term: Autumn, spring
Length: 10 weeks

Overview

This 10-week course is ideal for anyone looking to learn and develop their skills in digital design or simply study the effective use of visual design within communication.

To book your place today, simply click the 'Book Now' button to be taken to AUB's secure online store, where you can complete your booking. You can also sign up to our newsletter for short course updates. 

What you need to know

Autumn 2024 

Monday 7 October – 9 December 2024 (10 Monday evenings, 18.00-21.00) 

Spring term 2025 

Monday 3 February – 7 April 2025 (10 Monday evenings, 18.00-21.00) 

Age

Suitable for adults aged 18+.

Level

Beginners or anyone with some experience who want to refresh or develop their skills further.

Experience or qualifications required

This is an introductory course and we have no formal academic entry requirements. However, it's essential that you have good general computer skills and knowledge.

If you'd like to discuss if this course is suitable for you, get in touch with us: shortcourses@aub.ac.uk or 01202 363222.

£339

Any additional costs 

You'll need to provide some basic equipment for this course. This'll incur an additional cost if you need to purchase one for the course. See the 'What to bring to class' section below for full details. 

Additional materials and resources will be provided by AUB and is included in your course fee.

USB flash drive
Notebook and pens/pencils to take notes

A student stands painting two cherries in a sketch book.

Suggested Suppliers

Information about resourcing specialist materials/consumables that you may need to bring these with you

A flower and a pair of sunglasses rest on a pair of boxes. A stiletto heel shoe and a handbag are sitting in front of another box. The other stiletto heel shoe is on top of one of the boxes.

Short Courses FAQs – Evening and Weekend and Saturday Art School

If you have any questions about our Evening and Saturday Short Courses, you may find the answers in here.

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Short Courses booking T&Cs

Please read our Terms and Conditions carefully before booking onto our Evening and Weekend courses.

About this course

This hands-on 10-week course is an all-round introduction to the three most used programs involved in graphic design: Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign. This course is ideal for anyone looking to learn and develop their skills in digital design or simply study the effective use of visual design within communication. This is a fast-paced course with plenty to do for even the more experienced designer.

Through hands-on experience you’ll learn and master the key skills and techniques needed to create digital designs. You'll also be introduced to layout, composition, type, and image.

As well as developing creative design strategies, you’ll be encouraged to bring your own experiences and interests to your work to find your own unique creative design identity.

The projects that you’ll undertake on this course will see you designing business collateral amongst other pieces that’ll help you apply your newly learned skills and knowledge in real life. You’ll cover ten different aspects of graphic design work using case studies which can be developed further into a portfolio of work upon completion of the course.

The scope and nature of graphic design in today’s ever-evolving industry
Specialist graphic design techniques – colour theory, photo re-touching, gradient meshing and basic animation
Putting theory into practice with typography, illustration, package design, magazine and book layout
Exploring design briefs and how to bid for jobs
Learning from other designers through research and comparative design

At the end of the course you'll:

Be able to demonstrate a wide range of graphic design principles and techniques to create your own pieces with confidence
Possess the skills to design using Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign
Be knowledgeable in a range of different graphic design elements and be prepared to take on a variety of different projects
Understand how the graphic design industry works, including the interpreting of design briefs and how to bid for them
Have increased confidence in your own skills and feel inspired
Have boosted creativity and imagination
Possess the foundations to continue creating beyond this course
You can request a certificate to confirm your achievements, providing you've a 100% attendance record. To request a certificate please get in touch with us at shortcourses@aub.ac.uk and confirm your name and the title of course you've completed

Will I be assessed?

No, there's no formal assessment. As the course progresses, your tutor will measure your overall performance and offer essential guidance and feedback so you know how you're getting on.

Book your place today

Book now

Meet your tutor

Eleni Dimitriou

Eleni Dimitriou is a Graphic Designer based in Bournemouth. She has studied Graphic Arts at UWCN and she has a MA in Interactive Media.

Graphic design gallery

Left-hand image shows three square cards, one of which has the text 'Hula hooping'. Right-hand image shows a card turned over out of a deck, showing illustrations of three different locations and the word 'Background' in the bottom-left corner.

Four posters stuck to a plain stone wall. Two have the text 'You are what you eat', the other two have the text, 'Food for thought?' A single chair sits in the centre.

Red coloured poster with text at the top reading "To be so dead". Poster shows a female figure flexing biceps whilst a male figure raises their arms in fear.

An assortment of marketing materials depicting fish and with text such as 'Pisces' and 'the future of fishing is bright' on it. A separate image shows a yellow flag flying against a cloudy sky. The text 'the future of fishing is bright' appears on the flag.

Several loose pieces of printed graphics within a folded case

Tutor giving student guidance on a computer

Image of a man sitting at a desk using Photoshop on an Apple Mac.

Beyond the course

This could just be the start of your creative journey! After this course, you could further your graphic design skills with another short course or look to the future and explore our creative qualifications that can prepare you to further your current career, enable you to retrain to an alternative career path or prepare you for future creative arts studies.