Black Friday Sale: Save up to €500 on select courses. Ends in
Black Friday Sale: Save up to €500 on select courses. Ends in
Choose Your Start Date
Browse our upcoming live online classes. Download your brochure to learn more.
Secure your place by paying in full or availing of our payment plan. For Part-time, on demand and on campus courses, pay in three equal interest-free instalments. For full-time Bootcamps enrol with a 50% deposit and the rest at the course start date. T&C's apply.
Why UCD Professional Academy?
- Valuable, trusted certification
- Industry expert lecturers
- Flexible learning options
Digital Media Design Course Modules
Learn to create eye-catching visuals for online or print using photos, designs, and audio (your own or stock assets and templates). You'll also gain skills in creating videos, the number 1 format for social media content. You will discover the best hardware and software options for a range of media design tasks, learn about managing your projects and outputs, and explore the merits of a vlogging/podcasting strategy. This practical course will give you the skills to work on all types of visual or audio content.
Or browse our wide range of expert-led online courses and grow your career potential today.
1. From Visual Concept To Delivery: Composing Effective Digital Images
During this introductory module, you will dive straight into best practice for taking photos (on mobile or DSLR). Learn about file formats and protocols for exporting, uploading, and printing.
- Photo composition
- Settings and lighting
- Product photography
- Software/hardware solutions
- Ownership and copyright
- Stock photography options
2. Bringing Digital Images Alive With Photopea
Learn about the importance of image quality for both digital and print distribution. Understand the basics of photo manipulation and editing, with real-world examples to show you what’s possible.
- Quality levels
- Digital vs print performance
- Photo manipulation and transformations
- Editing options
- Using layers
- Selecting objects within photos
3. Effective Image Manipulation & Design Effects With Photopea
Understand how to repair images, remove elements, and manipulate designs using ‘healing’ tools. Discover how masks and smart objects can be used to create more advanced effects and designs.
- Image repair and healing tools
- Gradients and blending
- Masks
- Adjustment layers
- Correct/improve images using levels
- Non-destructive editing
4. Creating Engaging Social Media Visuals With Canva – Part 1
For the next four modules, you will use the popular graphic design platform, Canva, to create visuals. You will learn about brand guidelines and how to customise your brand assets.
- Canva and alternative platforms
- Branding and brand guidelines
- Colour for print and digital
- Typography and fonts
- File sizes, quality, and formats
- Uploading assets and organising projects
5. Creating Engaging Social Media Visuals With Canva – Part 2
Discover the world of Canva templates, as well as how to create your own. Create and publish customised visual ads in the correct size and format for the social media platform.
- Editing options and possibilities
- Templates and visual continuity
- Publishing to social media platforms
- Animating text, styles, images, etc.
- Automatic resizing
- Working effectively with colour
6. Creating Engaging Social Media Visuals With Canva – Part 3
Discover more complex formats and visuals, such as multi-image grids, tables, gradients, and creative font design. Use pre-set shapes to create editable display boxes and infographics.
- Digital and print outputs
- Editing and controlling grids
- Custom tables
- Type: spacing, tracking, leading, and kerning
- Shapes
- CMYK vs RGB vs Hex
7. Creating Engaging Social Media Visuals With Canva – Part 4
Discover how to create and customise presentations in Canva and present them as a slideshow. Create custom print designs, basic logos, videos, and animations. Learn to schedule posts for publication.
- Presentation slides, animations, and effects
- Exporting presentations
- Stationery, posters, and flyers
- Pre-made logos and editing possibilities
- Animations, videos, and audio
8. Vector Graphics & Infographics With Affinity Designer – Part 1
Discover the capabilities of Affinity Designer and navigate its interface and toolsets. Learn how to create basic and complex vector shapes for design projects, outputting for print and digital distribution.
- Pixel vs vector
- Vector design applications
- Affinity Designer workspace and use
- Working with shapes
- Printing requirements and standards
- PDFs
9. Vector Graphics & Infographics With Affinity Designer – Part 2
Learn when to use the various colour spaces: CMYK, RGB, Hex, Pantone, and Lab. Use and organise assets within the layers palette and create sophisticated, design-rich gradients to enhance your designs and presentations.
- Organising assets
- Installing and using fonts
- Gradients
- Colour spaces
- Infographics
- Social media icons
10. Working With Video & Audio: Adobe Premiere Rush – Part 1
Create, edit, and export a custom video for social media using Premiere Rush. Create a plan for your videos, then source professional quality video and audio content for your projects.
- The importance of video content
- Hardware and software options
- Video applications
- Storyboarding, scripting, planning, producing
- Importing, editing, and exporting video
- Organising assets, projects, and workflows
11. Working With Video & Audio: Adobe Premiere Rush – Part 2
Create an advanced video production clip using music, voiceover, effects, animated text, logos, video footage and colour grading. Learn to edit, improve, and export audio tracks using Adobe Premiere Rush.
- Sourcing video, audio, and graphics
- Timeline operations
- Text animation
- Transitions and cuts
- Voiceovers
- Audio levels and formats
12. Vlogging & Podcasting: Environment, Equipment, Software & File Storage
Learn to plan, design, and implement a vlogging or podcast strategy. Discover how to set up a mini studio on different budgets, plus the best methods for storing and distributing your content.
- Anatomy of successful vlogs
- Screen recording for presentations and demos
- Podcast planning and strategy
- Podcast resources
- Choosing the right vlogging equipment
- Choosing the right audio equipment
Access to thousands of journals, articles and papers. Free of charge.
Students taking part in this course will now have access to the EBSCO Online Library, free of charge, for the full duration of the course. Here you can browse thousands of relevant journals, articles and other reliable academic and commercial texts like the Harvard Business Review, Bloomberg Businessweek and Forbes Magazine, to supplement your learning and assignments.
Download BrochureWe've trained the employees of
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Relevant skills for your team, results for you.
Whether you’re interested in making your training budget work harder with volume discounts across our standard portfolio, or have bespoke training needs to be addressed, we’ll help you level up. Our team of upskilling experts are ready to take the pain out of meeting your training targets.
Talk to our expertsFrequently Asked Questions
Is this course right for me?
This course will give you a wide range of practical skills to create different kinds of visual content, plus introduce you to some of the best-known platforms used in the design process. You don’t need any previous design experience, as you will first learn principles/best practice and then have an opportunity to develop your skills through hands-on activities. In just 12 weeks, you will become equipped to plan and create content for a range of branding, communications, and marketing needs.
How will this course help with my career?
This course would suit anyone who needs to create appealing visual content for their job or business, or to help build their personal brand. Visual assets are a key ingredient of good marketing strategies and therefore needed by every size and type of organisation. Knowledge of professional standards and best practice, as well as hands-on experience using the tools required to implement designs, have become sought-after skills. The course assessments will provide three key assets to kickstart your design portfolio.
What is the learning experience like?
Many of our courses are now available in a variety of formats. All formats cover the same course content. You now have more choice in how you learn with us:
Live Online
Our online experience is designed to be just as interactive, supportive, and inspiring as the UCD Professional Academy campus experience.
Online courses can be accessed from any computer or laptop with an internet connection.
Live lectures are delivered using Zoom. During these lectures, your teachers will use technology interactively to ensure an engaging learning experience. When appropriate, students will be encouraged to activate their microphones so that they can ask questions and communicate with other students.
On Campus
UCD Professional Academy is delighted to welcome learners back on the UCD Belfield Campus. On Campus courses are delivered in-person with our industry experts in the O'Brien Science building.
On Demand
On Demand courses enable you to complete your course on your own schedule. Course modules are delivered in the form of one “lesson”. The lesson is broken up into short videos followed by activities designed to put the new information and concepts into practice through exercises, quizzes, forum participation and other activities.
What is the student experience like?
Student care is a high priority at UCD Professional Academy, which is why our Student Services team is on hand to support you throughout your time with us. They will respond to any queries you have, help you with any technical issues, and facilitate your learning experience at every point. All students are given access to our Student Portal, where you can see your timetable, access all your study materials, and manage your account.
What software and equipment will I need?
You will need two devices for this course, for example a laptop and an additional monitor. At minimum, you should have a laptop and a tablet to follow the lecture while using the applications.
You will learn the following applications, which can be accessed for free, or for a small fee:
Photopea (free)
Canva (free version, or €11.99 per month)
Affinity Designer (30 day free trial, once-off €54.99 fee)
Adobe Premier Rush (free)
Minimum requirements for Windows
Processor Recommended: Intel Core i5 or i7, or equivalent
Operating system: Microsoft Windows 10 with 64-bit support (Version 1903 or later)
If you are unable to upgrade your operating system because of hardware limitations, you can still use Adobe Premiere Rush on iOS or Android.
Note:
Premiere Rush version versions 1.5.62 or later are compatible with Windows 11 operating systems. However, you need to update your NVidia driver to version 472.12 or later to use Premiere Rush on Windows 11.
RAM 8 GB
Hard disk space
8 GB of available hard-disk space for installation; extra free space required during installation.
Monitor resolution - 1280x800 display (1920x1080 or larger recommended)
Sound card compatible with ASIO protocol or Microsoft Windows Driver Model
Minimum requirements for macOS
Processor - Intel Core i5 or i7, or equivalent)
Operating system - macOS Catalina v10.15 or later
RAM 8 GB of RAM
Hard disk space
8 GB of available hard-disk space for installation; extra free space required during installation
Monitor resolution
1280 x 800 display (1920 x 1080 or larger recommended)
Sound card compatible with Apple Core Audio
How do I get my Professional Academy Diploma?
Your UCD Professional Academy Diploma will be issued electronically on a secure platform, with a link that you can share with employers and others wishing to verify your credentials. You can also add this certificate to your LinkedIn profile.
What are the benefits of a Professional Academy Diploma?
UCD Professional Academy Diplomas and Certificates are designed to give your career an advantage. Developed in conjunction with industry thought leaders our courses teach practical, applied skills to support you to achieve your career and business goals. Professional Academy Diplomas are suitable for career minded learners wishing to advance their professional skills and prospects rather than their academic credentials.
The Professional Academy is an independent wholly owned part of UCD designed to address the need for skills development in the workforce. Courses tend to be short, designed and delivered by industry practitioners, and are not part of nor do they lead to a traditional University award such as a degree or a masters. They are widely accepted by employers and many students are sponsored to study by their organisation.
For full details of UCD Professional Academy’s Certifications & Governance please visit https://www.ucd.ie/professionalacademy/governance/
What payment options are available?
You can secure your spot on most of our Live Online, On-Campus, or On-Demand courses with a low 30% deposit. The remaining balance can be paid in two equal instalments (30 and 60 days later).
For full-time Bootcamp courses, you can secure your spot with a 50% deposit, with the remaining balance due prior to the start of your course.
Please note that standard terms and conditions apply, which you can review here: https://www.ucd.ie/professionalacademy/terms-and-conditions/