Christmas Sale: Save up to €500 on select courses. Ends soon!
Christmas Sale: Save up to €500 on select courses. Ends soon!
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
A comprehensive, hands-on exploration of digital media design for those looking to produce content for platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn. Get to grips with the essential tools and techniques needed to create striking visuals, engaging social media content, and professional-quality videos. Each module gets you learning by doing - whether it’s mastering photo manipulation in Photoshop, designing compelling social media assets in Canva, or creating dynamic video content with CapCut and Premiere Pro. You’ll gain the confidence and skills to create everything from polished images and custom animations to short-form TikTok clips and full-length branded videos.
Learn how to set up your own vlogging and podcasting environments, work with advanced lighting setups, and use AI enhancements to push your designs further. As well as refining your technical abilities, you will develop a strong creative vision as you complete a portfolio of digital deliverables to showcase your expertise.
Or browse our wide range of expert-led online courses and grow your career potential today.
1. From Concept to Delivery: Composing Effective Digital Images
Discover the fundamentals of visual content creation, including technical aspects such as correct formats, best tools, and right equipment.
- Photo composition
- Equipment choices
- Photo editors
- Exporting and uploading files
- Ownership and copyright
- Stock photography
2. Using Adobe Photoshop Part 1: Creative Images
Understand the importance of image quality in digital and print, covering the basics of photo manipulation and editing.
- Photo editing options
- Classic editing vs AI editing
- Selecting and changing objects
- AI selection tools
- Using layers
- Digital vs print
3. Using Adobe Photoshop Part 2: Creative AI
Learn to use Adobe Photoshop to create your perfect image – repairing, removing, or manipulating elements and using various tools to adjust and enhance your pictures.
- AI healing
- Generative fill and expand
- Non-destructive editing
- Applying creative effects
- Using blending modes
- Correcting and improving images
4. Using Canva Part 1: Creating Engaging Social Media Visuals
Understand how to create visuals that are on-brand, exploring the main tools that designers use and how to work with stock assets as well custom images.
- Using brand guidelines
- Colour options and codes
- Typography and using fonts
- Canva alternatives
- Sourcing images
- Removing backgrounds from images
5. Using Canva Part 2: Creating Effective Brand Kits & AI for Brand Voice
Create a cohesive and impactful brand presence, including developing a brand voice with AI, and designing marketing materials that maintain visual consistency across platforms.
- Customise and store branding assets
- Edit and design with Canva templates
- Develop a brand voice using AI
- Custom marketing mock-ups
- Design and publish customised ads
- Applying animation
6. Using Canva Part 3: Creative AI & Magic Design
Dive into Canva's creative AI tools and Magic Design features to enhance your design workflow with multi-image displays, tables, and gradients. Experiment with typography, work with pre-set shapes for infographics, and learn how to design for both digital and print outputs.
- Image grids for multi-image layouts
- Sample and store brand colours
- Design custom tables
- Gradients and textures
- Creative typography techniques
- Design for digital and print
7. Using Canva Part 4: Creative Presentations, Brochure Websites & Video
Create and customise presentations, websites, print designs (stationery, posters, and flyers), and videos (adding animations, text, and audio). Explore how to schedule and automate posts across social media platforms.
- Slide-deck presentations
- Responsive websites
- Customised print materials
- Custom logos and videos
- Automating social media posts
- Source, customise, and publish content
8. Using CapCut: Quick Video Creation & Editing For Social Media Platforms
Create compelling, high-impact videos using CapCut (a content editor from the owners of TikTok). By understanding video’s role in marketing, you'll be able to create effective content that captures audience attention and enhances brand presence.
- Video and social media marketing
- Project planning techniques
- The CapCut interface
- AI enhancements, captions, and transitions
- Consistent brand presentation
- Export and save projects
9. Using Premiere Pro Part 1: Introduction To Professional Video Editing For Digital Marketing Outlets
Meet Adobe Premiere Pro, the industry-standard software for creating high-quality, polished videos tailored. Discover the essentials of video editing, from initial project setup to exporting final cuts optimised for different platforms. Dive into video production techniques, hardware requirements, and best practices for creating content that drives engagement.
- Premiere Pro’s interface and timeline
- Optimising hardware and software
- Importing footage and performing basic edits
- Adding audio, titles, transitions, and effects
- Exporting projects for various formats
- Best practices for social media video
10. Using Premiere Pro Part 2: Creating 'Talking Head' Multi-cam Interviews With B-Roll Integration
Learn how to film, edit, and produce engaging multi-cam 'talking head' interview videos, incorporating dynamic B-Roll footage for a professional finish. Gain the skills to handle complex projects, from initial planning and scripting to advanced editing and colour correction.
- Plan, script, and storyboard a production
- Set up and edit multi-cam interviews
- Adding audio and music
- Lower-thirds and motion graphic titles
- Integrating B-roll footage
- Working with colour correction
11. Using Premiere Pro Part 3: Creating Professional Marketing Videos Using AI-Enhanced Processes
Produce polished, compelling marketing videos from start to finish, incorporating AI-driven enhancements for efficiency and quality. Learn the complete process - from scriptwriting and storyboarding to advanced editing and exporting techniques that elevate your content.
- Structured narratives
- Scripts, storyboards, and assets
- AI tools and voice
- Text-based editing
- Generate and edit subtitles
- Other AI-driven features
12. Animating Stills, Vlogging & Podcasting: Environment, Equipment, Software & File Storage
This module covers everything you need to create dynamic videos from still images, build an effective vlogging or podcasting set-up, and handle essential production elements like lighting and file storage. You’ll gain practical skills to enhance your visual storytelling and streamline your creative process.
- The Ken Burns effect
- Full HD vs 4K
- Environment and lighting
- Hardware and software options
- Build a budget-friendly mini studio
- Storage solutions for sharing and archiving
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 is perfect for anyone eager to create eye-catching content, whether you’re a social media enthusiast, a marketing professional, or a budding digital creator. If you’re looking to build skills in visual design, video editing, and AI-enhanced content, you’ll feel right at home. Perfectly suited to professionals working in adjacent fields such as marketing, branding, or ecommerce and wanting to understand how to channel their creativity into creating top quality visual content. With its focus on hands-on design skills, this course does not cover the more theoretical or strategic areas of marketing, social media management, branding, etc.
How will this course help with my career?
This course will equip you with practical, in-demand skills that bridge the gap between content creation and digital marketing. By mastering well-known tools like Adobe Photoshop, Canva, CapCut, and Adobe Premiere Pro, you’ll be able to produce professional-grade visuals, videos, and social media content that stand out. Whether you're looking to boost your current career, transition into digital design, or expand your brand's online presence, the practical experience and portfolio-ready projects will give you the confidence to take on exciting new opportunities in the creative and marketing industries.
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?
Learners will require the use of two devices; one to view the Zoom session (this can be a second display, an additional computer/laptop or a tablet) and the second device will be required to enable students to practice in real-time with in-class exercises.
Learners must ensure that they have permissions to install the required software applications below on their computers. They will be guided on how to register, download, and activate these apps in-class as part of their lessons.
Adobe Photoshop (monthly subscription required - €26.86 p/month)
Canva Pro (monthly subscription required - €12.00 p/month - cancel any time)
CapCut (FREE 7-day trial version available – activate for week 8 of the course)
Adobe Premiere Pro (monthly subscription required - €26.86 p/month)
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 Apple Silicon)
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)
How is this course assessed?
This course is assessed through three key assignments. After Week 3, you will create a photo montage poster using Adobe Photoshop, applying image editing and AI-enhanced effects (worth 25% of your final grade). After Week 7, your assignment is to design a set of social media advertisements using Canva, applying branding principles and creative techniques (also worth 25%). Your main assessment (worth 50%) is due after the end of the course and involves creating a one-minute branded video using Adobe Premiere Pro, showcasing video editing, scripting, and professional production techniques.
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/