Advanced Graphic Design

The Advanced Graphic Design Certificate is built for adults who want professional design skills and a portfolio that reflects the range of work employers and clients actually hire for. Every session meets in real time with a working designer as instructor and a small cohort working toward the same goals. Average student-to-instructor ratio is 5 to 1.

The program starts with design theory before any software is opened, because understanding why visual decisions work is what separates a trained designer from someone who knows where the buttons are. From there, each module adds a layer of practical Adobe expertise, moving through raster graphics in Photoshop, vector and brand assets in Illustrator, multi-page layout in InDesign, and a complete brand identity system built with Illustrator and Figma. AI tools are integrated throughout rather than treated as a single topic at the end: Photoshop generative fill in Module 2, Illustrator generative tools in Module 3, InDesign layout assistance in Module 4, and Adobe Firefly and third-party concepting tools in Module 5.

The six modules are:

• Module 1: Design Fundamentals. Hierarchy, balance, rhythm, spatial organization, typography, color theory, and structured design critique.
• Module 2: Adobe Photoshop for Media Production. Image correction, compositing, advanced selection, masking and blending, print-ready and social media assets, generative AI tools.
• Module 3: Adobe Illustrator and Graphic Assets. Vector graphics, logos and brand marks, pen and shape tools, design systems, style guides, and asset libraries.
• Module 4: Adobe InDesign and Complex Layouts. Master pages, paragraph and character styles, advanced typography, image and object management, interactive PDFs and eBooks.
• Module 5: Advanced Branding and Identity Design. Brand discovery, moodboards, positioning, logo development, design systems, Figma for collaborative design, AI-assisted ideation, and a full brand package with style guide.
• Module 6: Portfolios and Capstone Project. Portfolio refinement, resume writing for creatives, job search and outreach strategy, personal branding, and a full-scope Capstone presented live for peer and instructor critique.

Sessions are scheduled in the evening so the program remains workable for students who are employed or actively job searching. The cohort schedule includes a two-week mid-term break.

• 115.5 hours of live, instructor-led training across six modules
• Small cohort format with an average 5 to 1 student-to-instructor ratio
• Portfolio project work in every module, plus a live Capstone presentation and critique
• DWC Advanced Graphic Design Certificate, issued as a higher education professional certificate by the State of Colorado Division of Private Occupational Schools
• Preparation for Adobe Certified Professional (ACP) exams in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign (exams optional, fees separate)
• Unlimited career coaching: resume review, portfolio feedback, LinkedIn optimization, and interview preparation
• Admissions advising from pre-enrollment through the first day of class
• Instructor mentorship before, during, and after the program
• Dedicated student support for account setup, technology assessment, and file access
• Technical support by Slack, email, or phone throughout the program
• Access to the DWC micro-internship network and alumni community
• Class recordings available by request

Not included: an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription is required for this program and is the student's responsibility to obtain. Figma's free tier is sufficient for the program. No other paid software is required.

By the end of this program, students will be able to:

• Apply core design principles including balance, contrast, rhythm, and hierarchy to real-world projects
• Select and pair typefaces effectively for readability and tone, and use color theory to create accessible, visually effective designs
• Participate in and lead structured design critiques, and articulate design rationale clearly to collaborators and clients
• Perform professional-grade photo correction, retouching, compositing, and masking in Adobe Photoshop
• Create scalable vector graphics, logos, icons, and brand marks in Adobe Illustrator
• Build and manage brand style guides and asset libraries for cross-platform use
• Produce multi-page layouts in Adobe InDesign using master pages and style systems, and determine when InDesign is the right tool versus Photoshop or Illustrator
• Design documents for print, digital, and interactive output including PDFs and eBooks
• Develop a complete brand identity system from discovery and positioning through final execution and presentation
• Use Figma for collaborative design and prototyping
• Apply AI tools including Adobe Firefly and in-application generative features to accelerate ideation, layout, and production while retaining design judgment over what ships
• Export and prepare files correctly for print, web, and video integration
• Assemble an interview-ready portfolio and present a full-scope Capstone project under live critique
• Execute a job search as a designer, including creative resume writing, personal branding, and client or employer outreach

This program is designed for adults who want to develop professional graphic design skills and need a structured, instructor-led path rather than a self-paced course they will abandon when they get stuck on the pen tool. It fits marketing and communications professionals who produce or manage design work but have never had formal training in the visual principles behind it, freelancers who have been working from tutorials and want to close the gaps holding their client work back, and career changers moving into design from an adjacent field.

Prior professional context transfers well here. Marketing and communications backgrounds bring an understanding of audience and business objectives. Writers and editors bring typographic sensitivity. Business owners bring domain expertise and a real client problem to solve. This program is not built for design school graduates looking for software-only training.

Delivery is 100% live online instruction. Registration is for the complete program as a single enrollment; modules are sequential and are not offered individually. Cohorts start in January, April, July, and October. To review upcoming start dates or speak with an admissions advisor, attend a free info session or request program information.

No prior design experience or Adobe software familiarity is required. Module 1 begins with design theory rather than software, so students with no exposure to Photoshop or Illustrator start on equal footing.

Students will need:

• A computer capable of running Adobe Creative Cloud applications
• A reliable internet connection
• A webcam and a microphone
• An active Adobe Creative Cloud subscription (required, not included in tuition; monthly and education pricing available from Adobe)
• A free Figma account (used in Module 5)

DWC walks every student through a technology check before the first session.

• Program tuition: $5,995 ($7,995 private option)
• Financing through Climb Credit
• Community Heroes Discount (active nurses, teachers, first responders, firefighters, police): 40% off
• Next Mission Scholarship (qualifying veterans): 80% off
• WIOA and DVR funding: may cover full tuition at no out-of-pocket cost for eligible students

Tuition covers the complete six-month program. 

An Adobe Creative Cloud subscription is required and is not included in tuition. Adobe Certified Professional exam fees, if a student chooses to sit for them, are also separate.