Full Stack Creative Design

Course Overview

This programme brings together four training areas: Photoshop for image editing, Illustrator for vector design and branding, After Effects for motion graphics, and content creation for Reels, Shorts and promotional videos. It combines software training with guided lab practice, assignments, portfolio projects and a final project review.

What You’ll Learn

• Image editing, retouching and colour correction in Photoshop
• Posters, advertisements and social media designs
• Vector design, logos and brand identity in Illustrator
• Icons, illustrations and brand collateral
• Motion graphics in After Effects: keyframes, logo reveals and kinetic text
• Basic compositing, masking and tracking
• Content planning with hooks, scripts and content calendars
• Shooting and editing Reels, Shorts and promotional videos

Course Syllabus

Four modules, from still design and vector branding to motion and short-form video. Daily topics may be adapted to student pace, software version and available lab hours.

1. Module 1

   Adobe Photoshop: Image Editing & Graphic Design

   Training structure: 10 days of software training + 20 days of lab work and portfolio creation.

   • Workspace, raster images, resolution, RGB/CMYK and document setup
   • Selection and crop tools
   • Layers, groups, masks and non-destructive editing
   • Brushes, retouching and image adjustments
   • Colour correction and enhancement
   • Typography, hierarchy, alignment and spacing
   • Compositing, blend modes, Smart Objects, perspective, shadows and lighting
   • Advertisement and social media layouts
   • Brand consistency, export formats and file optimisation

   Practical work and portfolio outputs: Photo editing and retouching; event, offer and product posters; a consistent social media post and story set for a sample brand; product advertisement and image compositing; branding collateral such as business cards, flyers and brochure covers; a client-style design brief with feedback and revisions; portfolio assembly, mockups and source-file organisation.

2. Module 2

   Adobe Illustrator: Vector Design & Branding

   Training structure: 10 days of software training + 20 days of lab work and portfolio creation.

   • Vector versus raster graphics, workspace, artboards and grids
   • Shape tools, alignment, distribution, grouping and Pathfinder
   • Pen tool, paths and anchor points
   • Fill, stroke, swatches, gradients, transparency and colour harmony
   • Typography and custom lettering basics
   • Logo design concepts
   • Icons, simple vector illustrations, symbols, patterns and clipping masks
   • Brand identity, business collateral and print setup
   • Digital and print exports

   Practical work and portfolio outputs: Vector shapes, tracing exercises, symbols and an icon set; logo concepts for three fictional businesses in monochrome and colour; a mini brand kit with logo, colours, typography and usage examples; business cards, letterhead, flyers and brochure covers; a vector illustration, repeat pattern and simple packaging label; a client-style project with concept presentation and refinement; project mockups, short project descriptions and portfolio pages.

3. Module 3

   Adobe After Effects: Animation & Motion Graphics

   Training structure: 1 month.

   • Workspace, projects, compositions, timelines and asset organisation
   • Layers, anchor points, transforms and keyframes
   • Easing, Graph Editor and motion paths
   • Parenting, null objects and pre-compositions
   • Shape layers, masks and track mattes
   • Text animators and kinetic typography
   • Logo reveals, lower thirds, motion blur, effects and basic colour work
   • Basic green-screen keying, masking, tracking and stabilisation
   • 3D layer, camera and light fundamentals
   • Audio syncing, rendering, codecs, resolution and export settings

   Practical work and portfolio outputs: An animated logo reveal; a kinetic typography or quote animation; a product or business promotional motion graphic; an animated social media advertisement; feedback, revisions, final exports, portfolio presentation and file organisation.

4. Module 4

   Content Creation: Reels, Shorts & Promotional Videos

   Training structure: 1 month.

   • Content workflow, audience research, content pillars and calendars
   • Idea generation, hooks, scripts, calls to action and short-form storytelling
   • Basic AI-assisted brainstorming and script drafting
   • Mobile camera settings, framing, shot types, camera movement and B-roll
   • Lighting and clean audio
   • Shooting for products, services and personal brands
   • Editing workflow in Premiere Pro or an equivalent editor
   • Cutting, pacing, transitions, captions and subtitles
   • Music, voice-over, sound effects, audio levels, colour correction and export settings
   • Reels and Shorts aspect ratios, safe zones and cover design
   • Social media branding and visual consistency
   • Basic reach, retention and engagement concepts
   • AI-assisted captions, thumbnail concepts and creative variations

   Practical work and portfolio outputs: A 7-day content plan and three short scripts; footage for a 30–45 second Reel; two edited short videos prepared for publishing; a mini campaign of 3–5 content pieces; portfolio review, revisions and presentation.

Practical Projects

• Posters, social media sets and a product advertisement in Photoshop
• Logo concepts and a mini brand kit in Illustrator
• An animated logo reveal, kinetic typography and a promotional motion graphic in After Effects
• A 7-day content plan, short scripts, edited short videos and a mini campaign
• Client-style design briefs with feedback and revisions

Final Portfolio

Suggested portfolio deliverables across the course, based on the training activities in the syllabus:

Learning Approach

Software training, guided lab practice, assignments, portfolio projects and a final project review.