Graphic Design Courses
Graphic & Web Design Courses
Our Courses
We run four courses: the accredited Certificate IV In Design, the 12 Module Intensive Foundation Course, the Certificate IV in Design Upgrade Course and the Foundation Web Design Course. Please choose one in the tabs above for more information.
The Graphic Design Courses are run completely Online, offering you the flexibility to study in your own time and at your own pace, around your lifestyle!
Our courses have been specially designed to create a dynamic and interactive student community. Students have the opportunity to communicate and exchange ideas with tutors, staff and fellow students in the forum. A gallery and a free e-library stacked the latest design magazines, books and videos are just some of the ways we ensure a rich learning experience… Our reputation depends upon it!
Certificate IV in Design
More than just a graphic design course, The Graphic Design School brings its ethos of teaching students more than design skills, we aim to instill an understanding of the culture of design combined with the techniques of a solid design process, from design brief to idea generation, sketching and refining design comps to working in the Adobe suite. Graduates will experience the confidence needed to be able to market their design skills at the end of the course.
The Certificate IV in Design is an online intensive course in graphic design. You will cover 13 modules during the course and be issued a Certificate IV in Design qualification after successfully completing the course. This course will arm you with all the skills needed to be a graphic designer. You will complete the course with a well rounded portfolio showcasing your skills. The 13 modules within the course have been holistically designed around the 18 units of competency comprised in the Certificate IV in Design CUV40303 training package.
Students have up to 15 months to complete the 13 modules. The course has been designed to be completed within 32 weeks. However, as the course is self-paced, you can decide how many hours a week you wish to concentrate on study. An approximate guide is 780 hours to complete the 13 Modules.
Course Outlines
- Module 1
- Introduction to Graphic Design
- Module 2
- Design Basics
- Module 3
- Introduction to Design Illustration
- Module 4
- Introduction to Typography
- Module 5
- Color
- Module 6
- Advanced Typography
- Module 7
- Photography
- Module 8
- Logotype Design
- Module 9
- Design Systems
- Module 10
- Layout Design
- Module 11
- Design Systems II
- Module 12
- Preparing for the Job
- Module 13
- Advanced Portfolio Refinement and Enhancement; Preparing for the Job 2
A breakdown of these modules can be found on the Course Curriculum page of this site
We are Austudy approved. Students who wish to apply for Austudy may do so via this full enrolment option.
Below are the Units of Competency that are covered in the above 13 modules. These Units will appear on your qualification at the end of your course.
Core units of competency
- BSBOHS201A
- Participate in OHS processes
- BSBDES301A
- Explore the use of colour
- BSBDES302A
- Explore and apply the creative design process to 2D forms
- BSBDES303A
- Explore and apply the creative design process to 3D forms
- BSBDES304A
- Source and apply design industry knowledge
- BSBDES305A
- Source and apply information on the history and theory of design
- BSBDES402A
- Interpret and respond to a design brief
- CUVCOR04B
- Originate concept for own work and conduct critical discourse
- CUVCOR09B
- Select and apply drawing techniques and media to represent and communicate the concept
- CUVDES04B
- Integrate colour theory and design processes in response to a brief
Elective Units of Competency
- BSBDES401A
- Generate design solutions
- CUVCRS05B
- Use typography techniques for design work
- CUVDSP07B
- Research and apply techniques for graphic design
- CUVDSP11B
- Research and apply techniques for illustrative work
- CUVPHI06B
- Plan and carry out image capture in response to a brief
- CUVPHI07B
- Process photo images to work print/file stage
- CUVPHI08B
- Enhance, manipulate and output photo images
- CUVCRS03B
- Produce computer aided drawings
Fees
The Certificate IV in Design costs a full price one off payment of $4290. Students may also opt to pay for the course via the part payment method. There are two choices of payment in the part payment method:
- Payment Option
- Payment
- Frequency
- Total
- One off payment
- $4290
- on enrolment
- $4290
- 3 months
- $1500
- per month
- $4500
- 6 months
- $775
- per month
- $4650
Please note: Part payments incur administration and bank charges. The prices in the table above include these charges. You can read more about our part payment direct debit agreement in our terms and conditions page
Enroll Today in the Certificate IV in DesignPrices, Plans & Enrollments »Intensive Foundation Course
The Intensive Foundation Course is an online intensive foundational course in graphic design. You will cover 12 modules during the course and be issued a Certificate of Completion after successfully completing the course. This course will arm you with all the skills needed to be a graphic designer. You will complete the course with a well rounded portfolio showcasing your skills. The Graphic Design School offers this course for people who are wanting to become graphic designers yet do not feel they need a government accredited qualification to do so.
The Graphic design industry is reputed to be an industry based on portfolio. This considered, The Graphic Design School believes that offering an alternate to the government accredited qualification pathway offers students the flexibility to undertake study without the price tag attached to a qualification. Approximate time to complete this course is 750 hours.
About The Intensive Foundation Course
The Intensive Foundation Course delivered by The Graphic Design School is designed as a course that provides a pathway to a career in Graphic Design. There are 12 modules that make up the course.
Course Outlines
- Module 1
- Introduction to Graphic Design
- Module 2
- Design Basics
- Module 3
- Introduction to Design Illustration
- Module 4
- Introduction to Typography
- Module 5
- Color
- Module 6
- Advanced Typography
- Module 7
- Photography
- Module 8
- Logotype Design
- Module 9
- Design Systems
- Module 10
- Layout Design
- Module 11
- Design Systems II
- Module 12
- Preparing for the Job
A breakdown of these modules can be found on the Course Curriculum page of this site
Fees
The online Intensive Foundation Course costs a full price one off payment of $1990. Students may also opt to pay for the course via the part payment method. There are two choices of payment in the part payment method:
- Payment Option
- Payment
- Frequency
- Total
- One off payment
- $1990
- on enrolment
- $1990
- 3 months
- $725
- per month
- $2175
- 6 months
- $400
- per month
- $2400
Please note: Part payments incur administration and bank charges. The prices in the table above include these charges. You can read more about our part payment direct debit agreement in our terms and conditions page
Enroll Today in the Intensive Foundation CoursePrices, Plans & Enrollments »Certificate IV in Design Upgrade
If you have completed the Intensive Foundation Course and you need a qualification for your studies, we have the solution. Students who complete the Intensive Foundation Course are eligible to upgrade to the accredited Certificate IV in Design qualification.
The first step to upgrading to the Certificate IV in Design is a recognition process conducted by the school. Because you have submitted your work online, we have a record of your progress that we check off in our marking systems against the 18 units of competency in the Certificate IV in Design. After you enroll in the accredited course, one of our experienced tutors will go back to the work you submitted in Modules 1- 12 and mark it against the accredited qualification and its units of competency. So, you have a ton of recognition of high quality work that flows into the Certificate IV in Design assessment records.
As part of the upgrade you will submit 6 extra assessments and these will complete the accredited qualification criteria. These assessments are industry related and will prepare you all the more for workplace expectations. Approximate time to complete the upgrade is 30 hours.
What assessments will I have to do?
- The extra 6 assessments for the Certificate IV in Design upgrade course are as follows:
- Refined Digital Portfolio
- Resumé & Cover Letter
- Industry Consultation on a past project
- OHS assessment
- Photography assessment
- Copyright questionnaire assessment
Students will also be given the opportunity to refine their portfolios according to feedback given in module 12 of the Intensive Foundation Course. The refined portfolio can then be submitted for review by tutors.
Approximate time to complete the 6 assessments in the course upgrade is 30 hours.
The qualification in perspective
The government accredited Certificate IV in Design CUV40303 qualification is recognized by employers and industry groups Australia wide. This qualification is part of the national vocational education and training (VET) system, competency based and based on Training Packages.
Fees
The online Certificate IV in Design upgrade course costs a full price one off payment of $2300. Students may also opt to pay for the course via a part payment method. $1175 upfront fee followed by a $1175 fee the following month. The above part payment schedule includes a small fee of $50 for school administration and bank charges.
- Payment Option
- Start
- Milestone *
- Total
- One off payment
- $2300
- on registration
- $2300
- 2 payments
- $1175
- per month
- $2350
* The first payment of will be deducted on the day of course upgrade. The subsequent payment will be deducted automatically from the nominated credit card or PayPal account on the same date the following month or on the day of course completion, whichever comes first.
* The above Certificate IV in Design upgrade course costs will be invoiced when you decide to upgrade. These costs are additional to the initial costs to enroll in the Intensive Foundation Course costs. Therefore the total cost to obtain the Certificate IV in Design qualification is: $1990+$2300=. We know that it can be expensive to study, this is one of the reasons why the courses have been broken in two. Students who wish to obtain the Certificate IV in Design qualification can enroll in the first course, then a year later enroll in the second. Spreading out course fees over time. Easy part payment plans are also our way of enabling access to a quality study curriculum without the hefty upfront payments.
You have up to 3 months to complete the Certificate IV in Design Upgrade Course. Although approximate time to complete the five assessments is 30 hours, the course is still self paced.
Web Design Course
The Foundation Web Design Course will give you strong understanding of the principles of graphic design for the web/screen environment.
You will cover 4 modules during the course and be issued a Certificate of Completion after successfully completing the course.
The course is suitable for aspiring web designers. It is also suitable for graphic designers who want to expand their portfolio to include web design, self-taught designers, web developers who want to learn about web design and people with an interest in design. The course will equip you with all the skills necessary to understand information and interface design, and the ability to plan and design a multi-page website project. Approximate time to complete the course is 200 hours.
Students have 6 months to complete the course, as the course is entirely self paced students can study online and in their own time. Enrollments are taken all year round any day of the year. The approximate time to complete the course is 200 hours. This varies from student to student.
There are many job definitions within the web design discipline. A Web designer is a person who creates the visual elements of websites. Web designers design the overall look for a website and let a Webmaster/Developer do the actual coding. Most often, they are also proficient with Web graphics and images.
Web Design Course Curriculum
- Module 1
-
- Learnings
- The Internet And The Web
- The History Of The Internet
- Understanding Web Design
- Graphic Design in the Web Environment
- Color on the Web
- Type on the Web
- Studies:
- Interaction Design
- Interaction Design in the real world
- Interfaces On The Web
- Elements In Interface Design
- Analyzing Websites
- Determining The Canvas Size
- Research User Statistics
- Calculate The Canvas
- Research Designing The Canvas
- Identifying Color Schemes
- Color Conversion Studies
- Color Scheme Development
- Applying Color Schemes To A Design
- Testing For Accessibility Compliance
- Color Studies
- Typographic Studies
- Font Case Studies
- Making Sense Of Text With Visual Hierarchy
- Developing Visual Hierarchy In Design
- Module 2
-
- Learnings
- Images and Multimedia on the Web
- Layout in Interface Design
- Studies
- Definitions and Resolution
- Understanding File Formats
- Different Image Techniques
- Grid Studies
- Grid Journal Studies
- Using a Grid For Page Design
- Module 3
-
- Learnings
- Designing Information and Navigation
- Interaction Design
- Studies
- Understanding information architecture design
- Develop a taxonomical structure
- Understanding users
- Understanding interaction design elements
- Module 4
-
- Learnings
- Scoping a Website and Main Design Project
- Using real world companies and design briefs, students develop a complete website including banner ad campaigns.
- A deep analysis of working with Photoshop, Illustrator or Fireworks and which tools are best for which web design tasks.
- Understanding Web development
- Working with and developing real world web design briefs
- Designing of Banner Ads in the context of a design system
- Main Assignment–Complete Web Design Project
- Assessment W4.1 :: Specification Document & Research
- Assessment W4.2 :: Information Architecture
- Assessment W4.3 :: Visual Design Concept
- Assessment W4.4 :: GUI Templates
- Assessment W4.5 :: Style Guide
- Assessment W4.6 :: Final Design
- Assessment W4.7 :: Banner Ad Design as part of the major web design project
- Assessment W4.8 :: Project Analysis
- Assessment W4.9 :: Banner Ad Design tying into an external design system
Students will need to be deemed competent in all assessments to pass and be issued their certificate
- What you will learn
- Advanced understanding of the principles of graphic design for the web/screen environment.
- Understanding of the principles of user–centered design and it's application in web design.
- Understanding of the principles of information design.
- Understanding of the principles of interface design.
- Understanding of the role of markup languages for web design and what they do.
- Ability to plan and design a multi–page website project.
- Ability to plan and design a multi–page website project.
- Working with and developing real world web design briefs.
- Designing of Banner Ads in the context of a design system.
- Understanding which Adobe tools are right for which web design tasks.
- What you will not learn
- Back–end development (what is happening on the server). Programming with PHP. Programming with Javascript
- Why don$t we teach back–end development in this course?
- Back–end web development is a profession in itself. Web designers and developers communicate with each other and blend their skills to create complete website projects. A back-end and web developer is a software engineer and not a designer.
In order to undertake this course you must possess an intermediate level of software proficiency. You will be learning to design web layouts in a range of programs using your Adobe Creative Suite skills in Illustrator, Photoshop & InDesign.
Fees
The online Web Design Course costs a full price one off payment of $695. Students may also opt to pay for the course via the part payment method. There are two choices of payment in the part payment method:
- Payment Option
- Payment
- Frequency
- Total
- One off payment
- $695
- on enrolment
- $695
- 3 months
- $255
- per month
- $765
Please note: Part payments incur administration and bank charges. The prices in the table above include these charges. You can read more about our part payment direct debit agreement in our terms and conditions page
Enroll Today in the Web Design CoursePrices, Plans & Enrollments »
socialize with us
«