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Visualdo Graphic Design School

8 Oct 2024 - We are the best graphic design school in Nairobi, Kenya offering short course, certificate and diploma in graphic design. Whether you're a beginner or looking to advance your skills, our courses will prepare you for a successful career in graphic design.

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The Best Graphic Design School in Kenya is Visualdo

Visualdo Institute stands out as the best college to study graphic design courses in Kenya due to its comprehensive curriculum and focus on industry-relevant skills. The institute offers specialized diploma and certificate in graphic design courses, emphasizing hands-on training in tools like Adobe Photoshop , InDesign and Illustrator. Our experienced faculty, state-of-the-art equipment, and real-world projects ensure students are job-ready. Additionally, we fosters creativity, provides networking opportunities, and supports career placement, making us a top choice for aspiring graphic designers looking for graphic design courses.

About Graphic Design Course at Visualdo. Diploma in Graphic Design. Fee Structure

Our graphic design course graduates get to work immediately when they leave us. We concentrate on competitive design skills for immediate entry into the job market. Our curriculum is strong on graphic design fundamentals, exploring and adapting to emerging designs trends. Students get a deeper understand and knowledge on design principles including hierarchy, effective layout, and composition.

We have;
Diploma
Certificate
Short course

Is graphic design marketable in Kenya?

Yes. Graphic design is highly marketable in Kenya because businesses are increasingly relying on strong visual identities and digital marketing, hence the demand for skilled graphic designers continues to rise. Opportunities exist in many industries, including advertising, media, technology, and retail.

Q&A in GRAPHIC DESIGN COURSE

What is Graphic Design?

Graphic design is the art and practice of planning and creating visual content to communicate messages or ideas. It involves the use of typography, imagery, color, and layout to design everything from logos and branding to websites, advertisements, and print materials. Graphic designers combine creativity with technical skills to make visually appealing designs that attract, inform, and engage audiences.

Key Components:

  1. Typography: The style, arrangement, and appearance of text to enhance readability and visual appeal.
  2. Imagery: The use of photography, illustration, icons, and other visual elements to convey messages or concepts.
  3. Color: Selecting and combining colors to evoke emotions, set moods, and create brand identity.
  4. Layout: Arranging visual elements (text, images, etc.) in a way that leads the viewer’s eye and conveys information effectively.
  5. Hierarchy: Organizing information so the most important elements stand out and guide viewers’ attention.

Types:

  1. Branding and Identity Design: Creating visual elements that represent a company, such as logos, business cards, and letterheads.
  2. Marketing and Advertising: Designing print and digital ads, brochures, posters, and promotional materials to engage potential customers.
  3. Web and Digital Design: Designing websites, mobile apps, social media graphics, and user interfaces (UI/UX) to enhance user experiences online.
  4. Print Design: Creating designs for physical media like books, magazines, packaging, and product labels.
  5. Environmental Design: Designing for physical spaces, such as signage, exhibitions, and interior graphics.

Importance:

  • Visual Communication: Graphic design is essential in helping businesses, organizations, and individuals communicate their messages clearly and effectively.
  • Brand Identity: It plays a key role in establishing and maintaining a strong, memorable brand presence.
  • Marketing and Sales: Well-designed visuals can attract customers, influence buying decisions, and increase sales.
  • User Experience: In digital design, graphic design ensures that interfaces are intuitive and visually appealing, enhancing user experience.

Why Become a Graphic Designer?

Becoming a graphic designer can be a highly rewarding career choice, both creatively and professionally. Here are several compelling reasons why you might consider pursuing a career in graphic design:

1. Creative Expression

  • Artistic Freedom: You will be able to turn your ideas and creativity into tangible visual products. You can express yourself while helping others communicate their messages through visual design.
  • Diverse Projects: Every project is unique, giving you the opportunity to experiment with different styles, concepts, and mediums, from digital illustrations to branding and advertising.

2. High Demand for Designers

  • Growing Industry: As businesses increasingly rely on strong visual identities and digital marketing, the demand for skilled graphic designers continues to rise. Opportunities exist in many industries, including advertising, media, technology, and retail.
  • Versatile Career Paths: Graphic designers can work in a variety of environments, from design agencies and corporations to freelancing and even starting their own design businesses.

3. Flexible Career Options

  • Freelance or Full-Time: Graphic designing offers flexibility in terms of how you work. Many designers choose to freelance, which allows for greater freedom and control over projects, schedules, and work-life balance.
  • Remote Work Opportunities: The digital nature of graphic design means that you can often work from anywhere, making it an ideal career for those seeking remote or freelance work options.

4. Impactful and Meaningful Work

  • Shaping Brands: You will have a direct impact on how brands and businesses are perceived. Your work can help shape brand identities, create memorable logos, and build lasting visual experiences for consumers.
  • Problem Solving: Graphic designing is not just about making things look good—it’s about solving visual communication challenges and making complex ideas more understandable.

5. Continuous Learning and Growth

  • Evolving Field: The design world is constantly changing with new trends, tools, and technologies. As a designer, you’ll be continually learning and evolving, keeping your work exciting and fresh.
  • Mastering New Tools: You’ll work with the latest design software (like Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, or Procreate) and can explore innovative mediums, including animation, 3D design, and augmented reality.

6. Good Earning Potential

  • Varied Income Sources: Whether you work for a company, freelance, or sell your own designs, there are multiple ways to generate income. Experienced and specialized designers, such as those in UX/UI design, branding, or motion graphics, can command competitive salaries.

7. Career Flexibility and Growth

  • Multiple Industries: Graphic designing skills are needed in many industries, from advertising and publishing to tech companies, e-commerce, and entertainment, giving you diverse career opportunities.
  • Room for Advancement: As you gain experience, you can move into roles such as art director, creative director, or UX/UI designer, which offer increased responsibility and higher earnings.

8. Satisfaction of Creating Impactful Work

  • Seeing Your Work Come to Life: Whether it’s a logo for a startup or a billboard for a major brand, graphic design allows you to see your work in real-world settings, giving you a sense of accomplishment.
  • Influence on Pop Culture and Society: Your designs can impact people’s perceptions, influence buying decisions, and even shape cultural trends.

9. Building a Diverse Portfolio

  • Showcasing Your Talent: Graphic designing allows you to build an impressive and diverse portfolio that demonstrates your skills, creativity, and range. A strong portfolio is key to attracting new clients or securing job opportunities.
  • Personal Growth: Each project presents new challenges and learning opportunities, allowing you to continually grow as a designer and expand your skillset.

In summary, becoming a graphic designer provides a perfect blend of creative freedom, professional growth, and practical impact. Whether you’re passionate about art, technology, or visual storytelling, graphic design offers a dynamic and fulfilling career path.

Why Study Graphic Design Course at Visualdo Institute?

First of all, Visualdo is the best graphic design school in Nairobi, Kenya.

Choosing to study Graphic Design Course at Visualdo Institute might be appealing for several reasons.

Here are some general factors that might make studying graphic design course at Visualdo beneficial:

1. Specialized Curriculum

Visualdo Institute provides a well-structured, up-to-date curriculum that covers both traditional design principles and modern digital tools. This would give you a solid foundation in design theory, typography, color theory, and software like Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop or other relevant platforms.

2. Industry-Relevant Training

Visualdo has a focus on creative arts and we often work closely with industry professionals. This could mean access to real-world projects, collaborations with brands, or internships that help you gain practical experience.

3. Experienced Faculty

Our faculty consist of experienced graphic designers and industry professionals. Learning from instructors who have real-world design experience can give you insights into the latest trends and best practices.

4. Portfolio Development

Our strong graphic design program will help you build a professional portfolio that showcases your skills across a range of projects. A well-curated portfolio is essential for securing jobs or freelance opportunities in the competitive design industry.

5. Networking Opportunities

Visualdo offers networking opportunities through events, guest lectures, and connections with alumni. Being part of a design community is invaluable for building professional relationships and staying current with industry trends.

6. Access to Advanced Tools & Technologies

Visualdo provide students with access to the latest design software, technology, and resources. This hands-on access can enhance your technical skills and keep you updated on the latest design technologies.

7. Creative Environment

Studying in a creative environment where students from various design disciplines collaborate can foster creativity and innovation. Visualdo offers such an environment, encouraging collaboration between graphic design, digital media, and other arts students.

8. Career Services

Visualdo have a strong career placement services, offering job placement, mentorship, and portfolio reviews to help graduates transition smoothly into the workforce.

Guide to becoming a graphic designer

Becoming a graphic designer requires a combination of creativity, technical skills, and an understanding of design principles.

Here’s a guide to help you get started:

1. Understand the Role of a Graphic Designer

Graphic designers create visual content to communicate messages through elements like typography, images, colors, and layouts. They work in various fields, including advertising, branding, digital marketing, web design, and product design.

2. Develop a Strong Foundation in Design Basics

  • Learn Design Principles: Study key design principles like balance, contrast, alignment, proximity, hierarchy, and repetition.
  • Understand Color Theory: Learn how colors interact, affect moods, and contribute to the design’s message.
  • Typography: Master the art of arranging type to make written language legible, readable, and visually appealing.
  • Composition: Learn how to organize visual elements within a space, including layouts and grids.

3. Learn the Necessary Tools

Graphic designers use software to create and manipulate visuals. Popular tools include:

  • Adobe Creative Suite: Especially Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.
  • Figma or Sketch: For UI/UX design.
  • CorelDRAW: Another vector-based design tool.
  • Affinity Designer: A cost-effective alternative to Adobe products.

Spend time learning these tools through tutorials and practice. Focus on mastering a few key software programs that align with your design interests.

4. Get Educated

  • Formal Education: Getting at least a diploma in graphic design, visual arts, or a related field can provide structured learning and a deeper understanding of design. You can get the diploma in graphic design from Visualdo Institute.

5. Start Building a Portfolio

Your portfolio is the most important tool in showcasing your skills. Focus on:

  • Personal Projects: Start by designing logos, posters, or websites for imaginary clients, personal passion projects, or friends.
  • Mock Client Work: Create work that demonstrates your problem-solving skills for hypothetical clients. For example, rebranding a famous company or redesigning a website.
  • Freelance Projects: Take on small freelance gigs from platforms like Fiverr or Upwork to gain real-world experience.

6. Seek Feedback and Mentorship

  • Join Design Communities: Platforms like Behance, Dribbble, or design-focused Reddit forums are great places to share your work and get constructive feedback.
  • Mentorship: Find experienced designers to mentor you or give feedback on your portfolio.

7. Understand Industry Trends

Stay updated with current design trends, tools, and techniques. Some trends to follow might include:

  • Minimalism: Clean, simple, and effective designs.
  • 3D Graphics: Using three-dimensional visuals in branding and web design.
  • Motion Design: Animations and transitions are becoming popular, especially in UI/UX.

8. Specialize or Be a Generalist

  • Generalist: Some designers have a wide range of skills and work on various projects like branding, web design, print media, and more.
  • Specialist: Others prefer to focus on specific areas like logo design, packaging design, or UI/UX. Consider your interests and career goals when choosing.

9. Gain Real-world Experience

  • Internships: Working as a design intern can give you hands-on experience and expose you to working with clients and teams.
  • Freelancing: Start taking freelance projects to gain experience, build your network, and refine your skills.
  • In-house or Agency Work: Working at a design agency or as part of an in-house team can provide exposure to larger projects and clients.

10. Keep Learning and Growing

Graphic design is constantly evolving with new tools and techniques. Never stop learning and improving. Regularly update your skills, portfolio, and knowledge of trends.

11. Network

  • Attend Design Conferences/Workshops: Events like Adobe MAX or AIGA conferences can be valuable for learning and networking.
  • Social Media: Follow design influencers and join online design communities on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram to stay connected.

12. Job Search

  • Once you feel confident in your skills and have a strong portfolio, you can start applying for graphic design jobs in various industries such as marketing, advertising, or technology. Job boards like Indeed, Glassdoor, and LinkedIn often post design opportunities.

Key Takeaways:

  • Practice regularly and stay curious.
  • Build a portfolio that showcases your best work.
  • Stay adaptable as design trends and tools evolve frequently.
  • Network and seek mentorship for growth opportunities.

With consistent effort and passion, you can successfully build a career as a graphic designer!

Graphic Design Courses and Units (How long is graphic design course?)

The following are the course units covered at diploma level(2years), certificate level(1 year) and short course level(3 months) at Visualdo.

SHORT COURSE UNITS

3 months

A short course in graphic design is a focused, fast-paced program designed to teach essential graphic design skills in a condensed timeframe. It typically covers:

  • Design fundamentals: Introduction to typography, color theory, and layout principles.
  • Software training: Hands-on learning on Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and CORELDraw.
  • Project-based learning: Practical assignments to build a portfolio, such as logo design, brochures, and digital artwork.
  • Basics of branding and visual communication: Understanding how to create cohesive designs that effectively communicate messages.

This short course is ideal for professionals looking to quickly improve their graphic design skills.

CERTIFICATE COURSE UNITS

5 semesters - 1 year

SEMESTER 1 SEMESTER 2 SEMESTER 3 SEMESTER 4 ATTACHMENT
  • Elements and Principle of Design
  • Hand Drawing
  • Design Ethics and Law
  • Entrepreneurial Skills 1
  • Digital Literacy
  • Conceptualization
  • Digital Design
  • Graphic Illustrations
  • Occupational Safety and Health
  • Entrepreneurial Skills 2
  • Communication Skills 1
  • Final Project 1
  • Graphic Artwork
  • Communication Skills 2
  • Employability Skills
  • Final Project 1
  • Graphic Artwork Production
  • Environmental Literacy
  • Numeracy Skills
  • 3 Months
  • Log Book & Assessment
  • Submission of Final Project 1

DIPLOMA COURSE UNITS

9 semesters - 2 years

SEMESTER 1 SEMESTER 2 SEMESTER 3 SEMESTER 4 SEMESTER 5
  • Elements and Principle of Design
  • Hand Drawing
  • Design Ethics and Law
  • Entrepreneurship 1
  • Digital Literacy
  • Graphic Design Conceptualization
  • Digital Design
  • Graphic Illustrations
  • Occupational Safety and Health
  • Entrepreneurship 2
  • Communications 1
  • Final Project 1
  • Graphic Artwork
  • Communication Skills 2
  • Employability Skills
  • Final Project 1
  • Graphic Artwork Production
  • Environmental Literacy
  • Numeracy Skills
  • Publication Design
  • Corporate Identity
SEMESTER 6 SEMESTER 7 SEMESTER 8 ATTACHMENT GRADUATION
  • Packaging Design
  • Typography
  • Web Design 1
  • Photography
  • Final Project 2
  • Advertising Design
  • Graphic Illustrations 2
  • Web Design 2
  • Final Project 2
  • Signage Production
  • Graphic Production
  • Budget
  • Digital Marketing & Social Media Management
  • 3 Months
  • Log Book & Assessment
  • Submission of Final Project 2

Fee Structure / Particulars

Costs and duration of graphic design course at Visualdo

  • Intakes: January, April, July, October
  • Certificate: 15 months (5 semesters)
  • Diploma: 27 months (9 semesters)
  • One semester = 3 months
  • Fees: Ksh42,000 a semester (payable in instalments of Ksh14,000 a month)
  • Grade(KCSE): Diploma C-, Certificate D-
  • Short course: 3 months: fees Ksh90,000 total (payable in instalments of Ksh30,000 a month)
  • Grade for short course: Open enrollment

Class Requirements: What are the requirements for graphic design courses in Nairobi?

Students are required to have the following items in the graphic design class.

  1. Pencils HB, 2B, 3B, 4B, 6B
  2. Drawing Book A3, A4
  3. Water Color Paints
  4. Brushes No.1, 3, 12
  5. Steel Ruler
  6. Staedtler Rubber
  7. Flash Disk
  8. Cutter
  9. Paint Tray Palette
  10. Mathematical set
  11. Masking tape
  12. Laptop (8gb RAM, 2gb Graphics Card, 512gb Hard disk, Core i3+)

School Requirements

  • Paid Non-refundable Application Fees of Ksh2000.
  • Submitted Application Form.
  • 1 Passport size photo.
  • Copy of National ID or Passport (or wait list).
  • KCSE Certificate results (Diploma entry grade is C-, Certificate is D-).
  • Short course has no entry grade.
  • Pay your semester school fees before starting class.
  • PAY VIA MPESA: Paybill number: 4107253 Account number: Student name.
  • Maximum of 2 installments are allowed per semester.
  • After payment send the confirmation to +254.798.325.330.
  • Hostels are not part of school fees.
  • TVET (KNEC) Exams fees – paid later.
  • PEARSON Exams fees – paid later.
  • PROJECT / LAB / ACTIVITIES fees – paid later.

Visualdo Institute is a great place for graphic design students

  • Visualdo is the best graphic design school in Nairobi, Kenya.
  • Visualdo graphic design short courses in Nairobi, Kenya are great for those who want to learn graphic design in a short time.
  • Visualdo graphic design courses in Nairobi fees are affordable compared to other institutions.
  • Visualdo has online graphic design courses in Nairobi, Kenya
  • Best graphic design courses in Nairobi, Kenya are the best.
  • Visualdo has certificate and diploma in graphic design.