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Graphic Design Certificate
The Graphic Design Certificate at American Graphics Institute is a hands-on program that teaches both strategic design principles along with practical skills using modern digital design tools. Learn graphic design processes and techniques through significant hands-on work in small group classes. With each course section in the graphic design certificate program limited to 10 participants, you receive individualized attention and work collaboratively with instructors and a dedicated career counselor. If you prefer, you can choose to attend individual graphic design courses or many of the Graphic Design Certificate courses without job placement assistance as part of the Graphic Design Bootcamp.
What you learn in the Graphic Design Certificate
- Discover graphic design principles that apply to all creative work
- Gain expert-level skills with professional design tools
- Learn to edit and retouch images using Photoshop
- Create compositions that assemble many images into one
- Build images and illustrations for use online, in social media, or print
- Assemble flyers, brochures and newsletters with InDesign
- Create logos, illustrations, and charts using Illustrator
- Build a comprehensive portfolio to showcase your work
- Work with a career counselor to secure a job or identify career paths at your current employer
- Receive one-on-one mentoring from design and marketing professionals
About the Graphic Design Certificate
The Graphic Design Certificate provides a foundation in graphic design skills using modern digital tools and prepares you for work creating illustrations, retouching images, and creating layouts for distribution in digital and print formats. Attend the Graphic Design Certificate online or in-person in Boston. Both formats of the certificate program provide classes and workshops led by live instructors. You can start your graphic design certificate program at any time with the rolling-admission program, with new classes starting monthly. All certificate courses in both formats are led by live instructors with personalized attention from our instructors and staff.
What’s included with the Graphic Design Certificate
- 112 hours of live instruction
- One-on-one mentoring
- Dedicated career counselor
- All books and lesson files, including AGI’s proprietary curriculum
- Retake any course for a full year at no cost
- Receive a verified Certificate from American Graphics Institute
- AGI is Licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Private Licensed Schools
Ways to attend the Graphic Design Certificate
- Live online from your home or office
- Live in-person at AGI’s classroom in Boston
- Hybrid, attending some classes online and others in-person
Graphic Design Certificate Program part-time or full-time
Clock Hours: 112
Weeks: 4 (full-time) or up to 52 (part-time)
Course Days: Monday through Friday
Format: Live online or in-person
Next Start date: October 23, 2023
Live online or in-person at American Graphics Institute's Boston location
Applying to the Graphic Design Certificate Program
Admission for the Graphic Design Certificate program is rolling. Applications are accepted at any time. You can click here to start your application online. If you have questions, you can speak to an admissions representative by completing the form on this page or calling 781-376-6044.
Tuition for Graphic Design Certificate
Tuition for the Graphic Design Certificate program is $3,600. You can pay in full or pay at the time of each course in the program. Longer term payment plans are also available; call or submit an inquiry for details.
Career Services for Graphic Design Certificate
Participants in the Graphic Design Certificate have access to a dedicated career counselor. Whether you are seeking a new role, or want assistance to advance your career with your current employer, our career counseling staff helps you. Receive assistance with interview preparation, how to best present your experience, and locating opportunities. You can attend in-person or from any location and receive these services.
Using VA Education Benefits for the Graphic Design Certificate
American Graphics Institute and the Graphic Design Certificate have been approved for GI Bill benefits. Eligible participants can use their Veterans Affairs (VA) funds for the Graphic Design Certificate program.
Courses in this Graphic Design Certificate
Course information for the Graphic Design Certificate
Graphic Design course
Learn design concepts and principles to increase your confidence in designs that you create while making certain they follow best practices and principles in this intensive graphic design course. Discover how guidelines and theories impact layout, type and color in this one-day graphic design course that teaches fundamental skills that are practical for users across various roles and functions.
Photoshop class - Introduction
This introductory Photoshop class teaches foundation skills for working effectively and creatively. Learn to be more productive and to create higher quality images efficiently. Gain skills for editing, retouching, and enhancing images. Learn how to make selective changes, color correct, and retouch your images using Photoshop. Whether learning Photoshop for graphic design, marketing, or digital imaging, this class is a great starting point. This Photoshop course is led by a live instructor, as are all classes at American Graphics Institute.
Photoshop Class - Intermediate
This intermediate Photoshop class covers more advanced use of Photoshop's tools, filters, and layers used to create complex graphic designs and digital images. Discover how to take advantage of a comprehensive range of creative effects. Learn to improve efficiency through the use automation features, such as actions, buttons, smart objects, and Photoshop's artificial intelligence capabilities.
InDesign course - Introduction
In this introductory InDesign course learn to create professional designs such as flyers, brochures, marketing sheets that can be shared in print or as PDF. In this InDesign course you'll discover how to efficiently create documents using advanced typographic controls and intuitive graphic features. You will also discover techniques that will help to make your InDesign publications look polished and professional. This course is suitable for those working in marketing, communication, graphic design, publishing and other roles where there is a need to create professional publications.
InDesign Course - Intermediate
This intermediate InDesign course helps you to work more efficiently and build more complex documents. Learn to work with longer documents, create books, discover advanced typography, color controls, snippets and libraries in this intermediate InDesign class. Become an expert at using styles to efficiently apply consistent formatting to text and images across documents, automating repetitive work while keeping documents looking professional and consistent. This class also teaches advanced methods for working with tables along with efficient ways to import, format and manage graphics with skills that help graphic designers, publishers, and digital marketers to efficiently create documents and publications.
Adobe Illustrator class - Introduction
In this introduction to Adobe Illustrator class, you discover the tools that help you create professional quality artwork and illustrations. This Illustrator course introduces you to the workspace, methods for drawings using the pen and shape tools, and additional options for working with color and text. You also discover how to use layers so that you can maximize your productivity right away. This Illustrator course is for beginners who are new to the application or for those who have experience but have received no formal Illustrator training. Whether using Illustrator for graphic design, creating logos, icons, or user interfaces, this Adobe Illustrator training is a good starting point.
Adobe Illustrator Class - Advanced
In this advanced Adobe Illustrator class discover how to take advantage of symbols, effects, styles, and transparencies along with advanced drawing and blending techniques. This Illustrator course covers advanced design techniques for creating artwork with more impact, while using the tools to work more efficiently. This class is for those who have completed the introductory Illustrator training or have a complete understanding of all topics covered in the introduction to Adobe Illustrator course.
Graphic Design Project
This course consists of a practical graphic design project in which students apply the design skills they have learned into a project that is selected by the student and reviewed by their instructor. The graphic design project starts with planning, meeting with the client, creating a creative brief, developing the product, client review and feedback, final delivery, and project review by their peers and instructor. This graphic design course is available as part of the Graphic Design Certificate program.
Graphic Design Portfolio
In this portfolio course, graphic design certificate program participants work with their instructor to select projects to showcase, create a portfolio showcasing their talents, and discuss which works to show and how to present them. This class involved developing an online portfolio to show and share work that has been developed both as part of the program and independently. This workshop is designed to help you both create your online portfolio and to showcase skills and capabilities.
Earn a Graphic Design Certificate from a licensed school
After successfully completing the program, you will receive a Graphic Design Certificate from American Graphics Institute, a private licensed school in Massachusetts. You’ll have access to both a printed certificate suitable for framing and a digital certificate that you can share. You can also share your achievement on LinkedIn.
Career services included with the Graphic Design Certificate
Work with a dedicated career counselor whose full time role is to find you a job. There are no time limits or hour limits on our career counselor, as we assist you until you find a job. Your career counselor has more than two decades of experience in helping find professionals jobs in creative, design, video, UX, UI, and marketing roles. Receive assistance with interview preparation, how to best present your experience, locating opportunities, interview preparation, salary negotiations, and presenting your portfolio.
Your career counselor:
- Calls companies on your behalf.
- Seeks out job openings appropriate for you and your interests
- Provides interview preparation for each specific job interview
- Gives resume guidance aligned to what hiring managers are seeking.
- Reviews your LinkedIn profile and provides a strategy for online job outreach.
- Offers advice on the job application process, and how to tailor applications for specific roles.
- Helps you to define career goals and planning
- Provides assistance with salary expectations and salary negotiations.
One-on-one mentoring from Graphic Design Certificate instructors
In addition to career counseling, you’ll also benefit from one-on-one mentoring with our instructors as they help you:
- Complete projects that showcase your skills
- Build your portfolio
- Review technical questions
- Provide guidance on technology, marketing, and design trends
Small class sizes with personal attention
Each class in the Graphic Design Certificate program is limited to 10 students, and as you move beyond classes into working on projects, you’ll work in even smaller groups and one-on-one with instructors as you showcase your skills.
Develop a portfolio as part of the Graphic Design Certificate
After the classroom training is complete, you will work one-on-one with an instructor mentor and in small groups with a cohort of fellow Graphic Design Certificate certificate students to complete designs that can be showcased in your portfolio. You’ll receive guidance as to what to include in the portfolio, and how to best showcase your work to prospective employers.
Why attend the Graphic Design Certificate at AGI
- Hands-on learning: Learn in the Graphic Design Certificate by doing, using our proven method of explanations, demonstrations, and exercises help you quickly gain skills.
- Proven curriculum: We have delivered courses from the Graphic Design Certificate program to thousands over 25 years.
- Expert instructors: Our instructors in the Graphic Design Certificate are the best-in-class who are skilled technically and are also exceptional educators.
- Small class sizes: Receive personalized attention with 10 or fewer participants per class.
- Repeat for Free: If you need a refresher or miss a class day, retake the class at no cost.
- Discounted classes: The Graphic Design Certificate tuition includes more than a 20% discount compared to individual class fees.
Exceptional Graphic Design Certificate Course Materials
All course curriculum materials are included with the program. Our proprietary curriculum has been proven effective in teaching to thousands who have attended the courses that are part of the Graphic Design Certificate. You’ll receive our extensive written reference along with lesson files for you to continue your practice following the class. Receive extensive curriculum written by our team of expert instructors. The instructors teaching the Graphic Design Certificate courses have authored more than 50 training books and use this extensive curriculum development experience to develop practical and detailed training materials and project files that are part of the program. The curriculum also serves as a reference for use after class completion, and includes detailed notes, definitions, best practices and practical advice.
Repeat for Free
If you need a refresher or miss a day of class during your certificate program, you can repeat the class at no additional cost for one year.
Interactive Graphic Design Certificate
Live classes in the Graphic Design Certificate with small class sizes
Learn from a live instructor dedicated to your class with the smallest class sizes that are limited to 10 students per class as part of the Graphic Design Certificate . When we reach our class size limit, we close enrollment or add another section. You receive personalized attention and can get questions answered in the small-group learning environment where our instructors make certain you are progressing appropriately through the material.
On campus
In-person, face-to-face classes with a live instructor in the same classroom with you is available in Boston. You can attend a hands-on course with your choice of a Mac or Windows computer provided for use during the course.
Live online Graphic Design Certificate
Learn from a dedicated instructor with our small-group, live online classes. Our live online classes are limited to 10 participants, which is less than half the size of most other online classes. You receive personalized attention, get your questions answered, and receive assistance with projects. We provide a dedicated online learning environment, with an instructor that you can see and hear clearly, talk with, ask questions, and share your screen for guidance.
Graphic Design Certificate Locations
You can attend the Graphic Design Certificate online or in-person at our Boston location. Additionally, a hybrid option is available, with some classes in-person, and others online. Graphic Design Certificate participants can attend from anywhere with a broadband Internet connection.
All Graphic Design Certificate courses are delivered by live instructors in small-group sessions, with most classes limited to 10 participants. This provides the opportunity to get questions answered, and work on projects with input and personalized attention from instructors.
The instructors teaching Graphic Design Certificate courses at AGI average more than a decade of experience that they bring to each class.
Graphic Design Certificate Prerequisites
No previous experience with the software tools is required to enroll in the Graphic Design Certificate. For enrollment, the admissions team evaluates existing skills that are generally necessary for a professional career. These include communications skills and general computer skills.
If attending the Graphic Design Certificate in-person, computers are provided at AGI’s classroom. If enrolling in the Graphic Design Certificate and attending courses online, a computer capable of running the Adobe Creative Cloud apps is needed.
Night and Weekend Graphic Design Certificate
American Graphics Institute offers some weekend and night courses within the Graphic Design Certificate. These options are listed within the course schedules listed above, or contact us for a schedule of upcoming night and weekend dates. While some classes are available nights and weekends, other classes require weekday class attendance.
Choosing the right Graphic Design Certificate
Although there are many Graphic Design Certificate options, there’s a reason that American Graphics Institute is considered a top school for receiving a Graphic Design Certificate. This includes expert instructors with many years of practical experience who have authored books, and have extensive teaching experience. Along with this, career services provided by a dedicated and experienced career counselor can help make the difference in securing an interview and landing a job. As part of the Graphic Design Certificate there are required courses, most of which are two days or four nights in duration.
Courses in the Graphic Design Certificate start with a foundational, introductory training before progressing into advanced topics. Even if you have previous experience, the introductory classes serve as a cornerstone for the future skills you learn. From there, you can move on to learn more advanced skills and concepts.
The delivery format for classes in the Graphic Design Certificate should also be considered as you decide which course to attend. Both in-person and online courses are led by a live instructor. AGI offers regularly scheduled live online courses which allow you to see the instructor’s screen, ask questions, and share your screen if you need assistance. You can also retake any course in the Graphic Design Certificate program at no cost if you need additional practice or if you don't end up using your new skills right away. All courses in the Graphic Design Certificate are offered at regularly scheduled dates, with most available every 30 to 45 days.
If you have questions or wish to talk with our staff regarding the Graphic Design Certificate, you can call us at 781-376-6044, reach us using online chat, or visit our Contact page for all options to reach AGI.
Graphic Design Certificate
The Graphic Design Certificate program is available online , in-person in Boston, or blended. You can start your Photoshop certificate program online or in Boston as part of our rolling-admissions process. New classes start every 45 days. If you prefer to start with an individual Graphic Design course to try the program, you can later apply the coursework and fees from individual Graphic Design courses to the Graphic Design Certificate program. American Graphics Institute and the Graphic Design Certificate have been approved for GI Bill benefits for in-person courses. Eligible participants can use their Veterans Affairs (VA) funds for this Certificate program.
How a graphic design certificate is useful
Obtaining a graphic design certificate is useful because it prepares you for a role as a graphic designer or one of the many fields that use and benefit from design, including marketing communications and design roles. The skills from learning graphic design can be applied when creating visual communications such as flyers, brochures, and magazines along with layouts for print or online use. You should learn graphic design if you need to create professional communications including:
Web pages
Advertisements
Magazines
Brochures
Flyers
Newsletters
Marketing Collateral
Using a graphic design certificate for a new career
Obtaining a graphic design certificate can serve as a starting point for a design career, although design skills are only one part of what is needed for a graphic design career. Design careers require a well-rounded set of skills including an understanding of graphic design principles, along with related skills with tools such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Marketing and communications roles that use graphic design also require skills in communications and analytics.
Graphic design is the art of visual communication for sharing information, meaning, and emotion. A graphic design certificate provides the foundational skills for working in this field. Those who learn graphic design are able to define the aesthetics for projects using various elements including color, shape, size, form, space, and typography. Projects created by graphic designers range from store displays and advertisements to on-screen visuals used online, in television and broadcast.
A professional skilled in graphic design can create media that supports a brand, build recognition, and creates an identity. Graphic designers produce posters, bus wraps, billboards, logos, infographics, pamphlets, advertisements, window displays, menus, advertisements, and digital content.To work on these projects, learning graphic design is an essential skill. Along with learning graphic design skills, it is also necessary to learn the related tools and apps listed above to help secure a graphic design job.
Careers that use graphic design
There are many jobs and careers that use graphic design including:
Graphic Designer
Graphic Artist
Multimedia Designer
Visual Designer
Marketing Manager
Corporate Communications Manager
Public Relations Professional
Book Designer
Catalog Designer
Because graphic design skills are used for creating such a wide variety of projects, you may wish to read more regarding how to become a graphic designer.
Becoming a designer by learning graphic design
Learning graphic design is one of the skills needed to become a professional in most design fields. A graphic designer uses their skills to produce posters, flyers, advertisements, window displays, menus, advertisements, and a range of content that visually shares meaning and ideas.
Graphic designers also have the responsibility of preparing ideas and refining them through collaboration with clients. The graphic design process is iterative and requires collaboration, and as such graphic designers must have strong communication skills and work well with teams and clients.
Graphic designers must be able to assist clients achieve objectives, such as communicate a specific message, present a brand identity, or sell a concept or product. Successful graphic designers translate a client’s vision into visual presentations to meet their objectives.
Graphic designers have an average salary between $45,000 and $49,000 annually, or wages of $24.05 per hour. Information about graphic design salaries in specific markets is available from indeed.com and glassdoor.com.
Along with a graphic design certificate, AGI also offers a graphic design fundamentals course which teaches foundational graphic design skills to non-designers and designers. This course helps make designs such as presentations, signs, and documents look great and clearly communicate the intended message. You can also learn more about becoming a graphic designer.
Graphic design certificate program for high school students
There are specific graphic design programs for high school students interested in pursuing studies or a career in a design-related field. The graphic design programs for high school students offers the opportunity to learn graphic design concepts and gain skills with common graphic design tools in a program specifically geared towards high school students. The program described on this page is not intended for high school students.
Graphic Design Careers and Job Outlook
Graphic Design is used in roles across many different industries and in a variety of job roles nationally and locally. Creative service firms, digital agencies, and in-house marketing departments all hire skilled Graphic Design professionals. Obtaining a graphic design certificate provides a foundational skill for working in many of the careers across these organizations.
Skills with Graphic Design are also transferable to a variety of other roles. Those with strong Graphic Design skills may consider gaining more specialized skills and working in the fields of user experience (UX) design or user interface (UI) design. Both of these are growing fields nationally, with job growth of nearly 6% expected over the next decade according to national projections from the U.S. Labor Department. With specialized skills and higher than average growth prospects, jobs in these fields command above-average compensation.
Because Graphic Design skills are used in digital agencies, advertising, marketing, and media, they are essential for anyone wanting to work in these fields. A graphic design certificate provides a foundation for working in creative roles, many of which are available as remote positions. These roles provide a solid career opportunity, with average earnings of $55,000 annually.
Graphic design certificate program FAQ
We have assembled a list of frequently asked questions about the graphic design certificate along with answers:
Can you learn graphic design on your own?
While you can teach yourself graphic design using graphic design tutorials and graphic design books, the fastest way to learn graphic design is through graphic design classes. For more details on individual courses instead of the entire certificate program read about the best graphic design courses.
How do I become certified in graphic design?
You can obtain a graphic design certificate by successfully completing the 112 hour certificate program offered by American Graphics Institute. This independent certification program is available in-person or online.
How long does it take to learn graphic design?
You can learn the basic principles of graphic design in a single course, although more in-depth training is required to work in the field of graphic design. A professional graphic designer needs more than 100 hours of training in a certificate or bootcamp program, and may benefit from an associate's or bachelor’s degree. Graphic designers need to continue learning and gain new skills to design for emerging mediums and formats.
Are online graphic design certificates better than in-person graphic design certificate programs?
The live online graphic design certificate program is led by the same instructors that lead in-person courses at American Graphics Institute. The online class format allows participants to join into a live class that they might not be able to otherwise attend due to distance or travel time and cost.
If I’ve worked in the graphic design field previously, do I still need an introductory class?
For those with no formal training, the introductory graphic design fundamentals course is the best place to start learning. The introduction class provides a foundation in core design skills and principles for creating effective designs.
When can I take graphic design classes
You can attend graphic design classes any month, with new classes offered every 30 to 45 days, with both live online and live in-person courses available. All courses are available weekdays, some classes are available nights.
Will a graphic design certificate help me get a job
Graphic design is an important skill for gaining work in a design, communications, or marketing role. Although other skills are also required, a strong foundation of graphic design principles along with skills using graphic design tools are required for most roles. These skills should be learned as part of the coordinated learning needed to obtain a graphic design job or work in a visual design or communications role. Along with the certificate, a portfolio, resume, and interview preparation are all critical to getting a job. A career counselor at American Graphics Institute works with graphic design certificate participants on all these necessary skills.
How much do graphic design courses cost
Individual graphic design courses cost between $495 and $695, while the comprehensive graphic design certificate program is $3,600. These fees include all materials and are for courses led by a live instructor from American Graphics Institute.
Is there a discount or coupon for the Graphic Design Certificate
The courses assembled in the Graphic Design Certificate are offered at a discount of more than 20%. This discount is already reflected in the certificate program cost.
Can I try a single course before enrolling in the graphic design certificate program?
You can attend individual Graphic Design courses and later apply the full tuition towards the Graphic Design Certificate program.
Do I receive a certificate?
As a private licensed school, AGI provides a certificate upon completion of the Graphic Design Certificate program which can be shared on LinkedIn and verified digitally on the AGI website.
How many students are in each class of the Graphic Design Certificate
AGI limits its class sizes so that you receive personalized attention. Classes are limited to no more than 10 participants.
Can I get specific questions answered
Yes, during the live classes you can ask the instructor detailed questions. You can also get technical questions answered in the one-on-one mentoring sessions with the instructors, or career questions answered with the dedicated career counselor.
Does this class include job placement support
AGI provides job support as part of this certificate program. AGI has a dedicated career counselor assigned to each certificate student. You will meet with the career counselor at the start of the program, and as the program progresses.
Are the classes in the Graphic Design Certificate for Mac or Windows?
You can attend classes using either a Mac or Windows computer. Programs in the Graphic Design Certificate have identical functionality for both. If attending in our classrooms, a computer is provided using the operating system of your choice as well as the most recent version of the Creative Cloud.