Graphic Design Certificate Program

Hands-on training in adobe illustrator, indesign, and photoshop. Learn basic coding, website design, and creative solutions for print and digital. Graduate in just 10 months with a professional portfolio and real work experience. 

What is your role as a graphic designer? 

Graphic designers work with digital and print, designing everything from album covers and business logos, to websites and television shows.

Typical responsibilities for this role include:

• Consult with clients to determine design goals and concepts
• Prepare initial sketches and layouts for client approval
• Produce final illustrations and graphics using CAD software
• Generate 2D and 3D animated drawings/computer illustrations
• Help to create storyboards for multimedia and digital productions, television, and advertising
• Design print materials, such as product packaging, books, business cards, and stationery
• Create logos and other branding elements
• Estimate costs for design projects
• Create website designs, including wireframes, layouts, and mockups
• Edit designs based on client feedback
• Oversee the entire design process, from initial concept to final production

Herzing Toronto Graphic Design Certificate Program

Herzing’s Graphic Design certificate program teaches today’s most important design software. Students hone their skills by creating a wide range of digital and print designs. This is a hands-on, project based program.

• 10-month accelerated Graphic Design certificate program (20 hours/week)
• 6-week graphic design internship
• Hands-on training in Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, and Dreamweaver
• Learn CSS3 and HTML5 to create your own web pages and animations
• Learn the principles of graphic design, layout, typography, and colour theory
• Practice creating and producing print designs
• Understand how to plan and design websites
• Study on campus or a combination of on campus and online (hybrid)
• Multiple program start dates throughout the year
• Financial assistance is available for students who qualify

Career Outlook

Toronto is the ideal place to start a career in graphic design. The GTA is home to hundreds of design firms, marketing and advertising agencies, and many other organizations who hire graphic designers.

Find employment opportunities with:

• Film and television companies
• Marketing and advertising firms
• Graphic design firms
• Municipalities (for example, creating signage, posters and digital media for the city or the TTC)
• Publishing and media companies
• Private businesses (for branding, packaging, website design, etc.)

Career Options & Job Opportunities For Graphic Designers

Graphic designers enjoy many career options and opportunities for specialization. Herzing graduates are qualified to pursue careers in Print, Illustration, Web Design, UI/UX Design, Mobile App Design, Game Design, Video Content Marketing, Content Creation, Film, Animation, and more.

Graphic design jobs include positions like:

• Art Director
• Web Designer
• Graphic Designer
• Motion Graphics Designer
• Brand Designer
• Interactive Designer

Who Hires Herzing Graduates?

Graduates of our Graphic Design certificate program have been hired by many companies in the GTA, including:

• Cineflix Productions
• Eye Weekly
• Gladstone Media
• Lampo Communications

Study Topics

Herzing Graphic Design courses prepare students to create functional, beautiful designs for both print and digital. This program provides an excellent foundation in Adobe design software, technical design techniques, and creative expression.

Click to see a detailed description of each Graphic Design course.

Photoshop Image Design and Editing

This course provides the opportunity to develop knowledge and skill in graphics using Photoshop. Photoshop topics include working with file size and format; using Web-safe color palettes and managing color; image masking and image compression; Graphics Interface File (GIF) and Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) file formats; using tools to alter photographs; and applying filters and effects. 4 Weeks.

Vector Graphics (Illustrator)

This course provides the opportunity to develop knowledge and skill in the production and manipulation of vector graphics.  Topics include drawing, stroke and fill, shape tools, freeform drawing, manipulating objects, appearance, drawing aids, importation and conversion of bitmaps to vectors. 4 weeks.

Website Design

This course provides the opportunity to develop knowledge and skill in planning and developing well designed and effective client-side Web pages that meet an organization’s business objectives and address appropriate audience requirements.  Adobe Dreamweaver software will be the main tools used for teaching.  Topics include basic design strategies; planning and designing web pages; progressive enhancement, responsive web design (RWD), maintenance, assessment, and continuous improvement procedures and an overview of client-side web site types.  Projects developed during this portion will also be added to the student’s online portfolio. Students will use HTML5 and CSS to create both simple and complex web pages. 7 weeks.

Animation for the Web

In this course, students will learn how to create simple and complex animations for the web. Students will use CSS3 and HTML5 to create dynamic elements, menus, and complex vector animations. Topics include animated banner advertisements, using sound files, storyboarding, and interactivity with JavaScript. 4 weeks.

Digital Typography

This course provides the opportunity to develop knowledge and skill in the art of typography.  Topics include the evolution of typography, type basics, and categories of type, elements of type, controlling type within documents, designing with type, type and the Internet and the mechanics of type.  This is a great opportunity to review layout programs. 4 weeks.

Graphic Design and Layout

This course provides the opportunity to develop knowledge and skill in the graphic design and layout principles.  Topics include choosing the right shape to work on, correct line proportion, colour theory, selecting typefaces for headings and text. Projects will include designing stationery, business cards, colour brochures, advertising inserts for direct mail and point of sale packages. 4 weeks.

Graphic Design and Layout II (InDesign)

Type, illustration and photography are combined in this subject to solve design communication problems. The student draws on all the tools available to assist in solving the industry-based problems presented. 4 weeks.

Design Production or Technical Production

This course covers the information students need to prepare designs for print. Students will be able to properly set up files, understand print terminology, work effectively with printers and familiarize themselves with the print production process as well as the technology involved. 2 weeks.

Career Development

This course helps students establish the critical career links between their education and the social media industry. Students will be tasked with researching potential future employers. Topics include career planning research, job searching, graphical resumes and company profiling, and refining interview and communication skills. Students will post their social media resume online and participate in mock interviews. Students will also learn essential employment skills using the concepts of PRICE and The Pacific Institute training. 1 week.

Internship

The internship component of the program is the practical application of a student’s knowledge and skills in an industry environment. The industry shall be directly related to the student’s program of study. The internship recommends full-time day attendance working in the industry setting. The duration of the internship is six weeks, during which the student must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 120 hours of work experience.