Adobe Graphic Designer Professional Certificate Course Syllabus

Overview: This comprehensive program is designed for beginners and spans approximately five months with a recommended commitment of 10 hours per week. The course blends foundational design principles with hands-on experience in Adobe's industry-standard tools, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and Acrobat. Learners will also explore the integration of Generative AI in creative workflows. Through a series of guided projects and real-world applications, students build a professional portfolio, culminating in a final capstone project. The curriculum is self-paced, offering lifetime access, and ends with a certificate recognized by employers in the creative industry.

Module 1: Design Fundamentals

Estimated time: 40 hours

• Core principles of layout, typography, and color theory
• Visual storytelling for effective communication
• Finding inspiration and organizing design ideas
• Using layers and artboards to manage content

Module 2: Generative AI in Design

Estimated time: 60 hours

• Integrating AI tools into the creative workflow
• Using AI-powered features in Adobe applications
• Enhancing creativity and efficiency with AI
• Exploring ethical considerations in AI-generated design

Module 3: Image Editing with Adobe Photoshop

Estimated time: 60 hours

• Mastering essential Photoshop tools
• Techniques for image enhancement and retouching
• Creating composites and digital art
• Applying design principles to visual projects

Module 4: Graphics and Illustration with Adobe Illustrator

Estimated time: 50 hours

• Creating vector graphics and illustrations
• Combining shapes and using selection tools
• Adding color and refining vector artwork
• Practical projects using industry best practices

Module 5: Document Design and Management with Adobe Acrobat

Estimated time: 40 hours

• Creating professional and functional PDF documents
• Optimizing PDFs for quality and accessibility
• Managing client-facing workflows in Acrobat
• Understanding business systems for document sharing

Module 6: Final Project

Estimated time: 50 hours

• Create a professional design portfolio
• Develop a multi-format visual campaign using Adobe tools
• Incorporate Generative AI and design principles in final deliverables

Prerequisites

• Basic computer literacy
• Access to Adobe Creative Cloud applications
• No prior design experience required

What You'll Be Able to Do After

• Apply core design principles to visual projects
• Use Adobe Photoshop for image editing and retouching
• Create vector graphics and illustrations with Adobe Illustrator
• Design and manage professional PDF documents using Adobe Acrobat
• Integrate Generative AI tools to enhance creative workflows