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Get an in-depth understanding of what graphic design is, why you should consider getting certified in it, and what to expect from a graphic design certification course. Discover the wide range of applications and career opportunities available to graphic designers in today's digital age.

Key Insights

• Graphic design involves using text, graphics, and images to communicate with a mass audience. It's used in various media forms, from print materials like books, magazines, and brochures to digital applications such as websites, social media advertisem*nts, and email marketing.
• Graphic design is a popular career choice for creatives, offering job security and professional growth opportunities, especially with the advent of digital media.
• Certification in graphic design can provide comprehensive training in necessary skills and improve the competitiveness of one's resume. Certificate programs typically offer extensive training in less time and at a fraction of the cost of a traditional degree program.
• Enrolling in a certificate program allows students to develop a professional portfolio of design work, a crucial asset when applying for jobs.
• A graphic design certificate program typically covers design principles, Adobe Creative Cloud applications, typography, and digital design.
• Graphic design certifications, like Adobe Certified Expert in Photoshop CC, are different from certificate programs. They don't provide comprehensive preparation for a career, rather they validate proficiency in specific design tools.

Learn more below

What is Graphic Design?

Graphic design refers to any mode of using text, graphics and images in an effort to communicate with a mass audience. The term dates back to just over 100 years ago, when William Addison Dwiggins introduced the concept to the world in his Boston Evening Transcript article, “New Kind of Printing Calls for New Design.” Dwiggins coined the phrase “graphic design” to describe his own work managing the layout and other visuals of books, but today, the field of graphic design includes the creation of visuals for a myriad of print and digital media.

Books, of course, still require graphic design, as do magazines, newspapers, and other publications. Graphic designers also work on other printed materials, including packaging, signage, posters, and brochures. Meanwhile, digital uses of graphic design range from user interface design of websites and applications to social media advertisem*nts and email marketing. Many Graphic Designers today specialize in logos and other branding elements, which must be designed to work equally well in both print and digital contexts. Still, others add motion graphics skills to their repertoire to work in video games and other animation.

Why Become Certified in Graphic Design?

One of the most popular career choices for creatives, graphic design allows artists to get paid while doing what they love. Job security is a given in the 21st century, where Graphic Designers are needed across industries to create visuals for websites, marketing, packaging, publications, and a myriad of other applications. Graphic Designers also have the opportunity for professional growth, whether they want to move up to a job as Design Director or learn new skills such as motion graphics and animation to add variety to their career path. While job growth in graphic design is steady, the desirability of jobs in the field means it is a relatively competitive one. It’s understandable, then, that anyone wanting to go into graphic design will want to optimize their training, resume, and portfolio to give themselves the best chance of standing out when applying for their first entry-level job.

As an aspiring Graphic Designer explores possible educational paths, graphic design certificate programs will likely stand out for all the benefits they offer, especially to true beginners in the field. Comprehensive graphic design certificate programs are much like ultra-streamlined college degree programs, offering extensive training in the skills one needs to succeed as a Graphic Designer. Certificate programs grant graduates a certificate that, like a diploma, verifies that the student has completed the educational program. Unlike a university degree program, however, a certificate program does not require electives or classes in other subject areas. While some may prefer this well-rounded education, many appreciate that they can complete a certificate program for a fraction of the price of a college degree and in a year or less compared to the two or four years required for an undergraduate graphic design degree.

A graphic design certificate and the skills learned in the certificate program are an excellent way to fill an entry-level job candidate’s resume. However, hiring teams are typically most interested in whether their potential Graphic Designers can do the job, and they look for a professional portfolio of previous design work to ascertain the ultimate desirability of an applicant. A good certificate program offers ample opportunities to create hands-on projects to fill out this portfolio and even entire portfolio development units, so graduates of the program are fully ready to impress hiring managers when they complete their training. Graphic design certificates should not be confused with graphic design certifications, such as Adobe Certified Expert in Photoshop CC. Individuals can take classes to prepare for these exams, but graphic design certifications and their preparation courses don’t offer the same comprehensive preparation for a career as that provided by a graphic design certificate program.

What You’ll Learn While Becoming Graphic Design Certified

As a graphic design certificate program student, individuals will learn essential design principles and the vital hands-on skills Graphic Designers need to perform their job well. These skills include the most commonly used applications in the field, nearly all of which are included in Adobe Creative Cloud. Typography is another essential skill in nearly every area of Graphic Design. Most programs will also cover the concepts and hard skills needed to excel in digital and print design.

Design Concepts and Principles

In addition to the hands-on know-how aspiring Graphic Designers need to perform their work, they also require a deep understanding of the governing concepts and principles that shape all excellent design. Comprehensive graphic design certificate programs will include instruction in this knowledge, whether in a dedicated lecture or module or throughout the course as students perform their hands-on work. Instructors will reference different lists of essential design principles, but some that will be included in every program include white space, alignment, balance, and emphasis.

Adobe Creative Cloud

No graphic design certificate program will cover all 20+ applications in Adobe Creative Cloud, but virtually all of them will include extensive instruction in the vital tool of Photoshop. Many will also feature Illustrator and InDesign in their curriculum, as well. Motion design and animation certificate programs usually teach Premiere Pro, After Effects, or both.

Typography

Typography is the artful management of text, ensuring it communicates the desired message in an aesthetically pleasing way. Understanding how to apply the principles of typography when designing for print and digital projects is essential for all Graphic Designers to create text that is readable while maintaining harmony with other visual elements of the work. Practical skills are also part of typography, including how to choose the ideal typeface, what factors to consider when sizing the text, and how to adjust line spacing and kerning.

Digital Design

While many graphic design skills are vital in both digital and print design, some are exclusive to the world of designing for digital projects. A comprehensive graphic design program will feature instruction in both the practical know-how and information one needs to excel when designing for applications, websites, email newsletters, and other digital products. Students will learn how to work with hex colors, design for user experience, and keep responsive layout needs in mind when designing for the digital world.

Design for Print

Aside from graphic design certificate programs specializing in UI design or motion graphics, most will feature instruction on design skills, especially for print. While many of the same principles apply to digital and print design, the latter utilizes CMYK colors rather than hex ones. Other factors that differ between designing for the different formats include higher resolutions needed when designs are intended to be printed and the need to consider the color, size, and weight of the material to be printed upon.

Graphic Design Industries in NJ

Many New Jersey-based Graphic Designers opt to work for organizations headquartered in NYC. However, various New Jersey industries offer ample opportunities for designers throughout the state.

Several of New Jersey's top industries require graphic design professionals to create effective and aesthetically pleasing visuals in branding, packaging, marketing, web design, infographics, and other print and digital communications. Many designers will find work in the state’s tech sector, which has always been a cutting-edge one. Today, 25% of the world’s top FinTech companies call New Jersey home.

Often called the Medicine Chest of the World, New Jersey’s pharmaceutical industry is massive, employing over 64,000 individuals in 2022. This number includes designers who manage the visuals of their branding, websites, packaging, marketing, and other communications, both internal and external.

Graphic Design Careers in NJ

Many considering pursuing a graphic design certificate have already set their sights on the career path of Graphic Designer. While this is an excellent option, many other jobs fall under the umbrella of graphic design. Designer, Digital Designer, User Experience Designer, and Visual Designer are just a few alternatives to consider in the field, some requiring different areas of specialization than others. Senior designers can also look forward to potential career growth toward work as a Design Director, a position that brings in an average annual wage of $123,000 in New Jersey.

Working as a Graphic Designer in New Jersey has considerable perks, not the least of which is the overflow of business in the field from New York City. Newark and Jersey City are included in the New York City metropolitan area by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and this region employed more Graphic Designers than any other metropolitan area in the U.S. in 2022. New Jersey was home to almost 6,000 Graphic Designers the same year. According to Indeed, the average base salary for Graphic Designers in New Jersey is $64,000, 12% above the national average. Other designer positions can bring in higher wages, including User Experience Designers whose average base annual wage is $124,000, 19% above the national average.

Should You Pursue a Certificate or Certification

Graphic design certificates and graphic design certifications may sound like synonyms, but they are surprisingly different things. Individuals earn certificates by completing a training program, much like a diploma. Like a diploma, a certificate will never expire, as it verifies that the individual has completed a particular educational experience. Certifications, on the other hand, are evidence that an individual passed an exam rather than that they completed a training program. Almost all graphic design certifications are in various Adobe Creative Cloud applications and may need to be renewed as the programs are updated.

Beginners in graphic design will benefit the most from a certificate, as the educational program to earn one is typically comprehensive and offers authentic career preparation, including support in building the professional portfolio required to land a job in the field. Certificates can also be listed in the education section of a resume, showcasing the job applicant’s skills gained in the program and the hard work and dedication required to complete it. Certifications also have value, especially for mid-career graphic design experts hoping to add to their arsenal of skills and qualifications. While certification prep classes are unnecessary, some opt to take them to increase their chances of passing the exams. Certificate classes usually cover the information needed to ace certification exams, as well.

Top Graphic Design Certificate Programs in NJ

A graphic design certificate program is an excellent educational option for individuals wanting to begin a new design career. An individual with zero experience upon entering a comprehensive graphic design certificate program can learn all the skills they need to succeed in their first job as a Graphic Designer. With the portfolio they develop in the course and the verified certificate of completion they earn at the end of the program, graduates of graphic design certificate programs will be some of the most desirable applicants for the entry-level jobs of their dreams.

Graphic Design Certificate

NYC design and coding school Noble Desktop offers a Graphic Design Certificate program live online and at their Midtown Manhattan location, both ideal options for students based in New Jersey. No experience is required for the program, provided you are 18 and older and comfortable using a computer. You may pay the program’s tuition of $2,995 in installments or via a 12-month financing plan. Noble includes many perks in the price of the program in addition to its 84 hours of hands-on instruction, including six sessions of one-on-one mentoring, a free retake option for one year from the start date, and a NY-state-licensed certificate of completion for no additional charge.

You can complete Noble’s Graphic Design Certificate program in one month with a full-time schedule or three months on a part-time schedule. The program’s four units include three Adobe Creative Cloud applications—InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator—and one Graphic Design Portfolio Bootcamp. Noble’s expert instructors will assist you through project-based explorations of the Graphic Designer’s most essential software while instructing you in concepts and principles that apply to all good design. By the end of the program, you will be job-ready and able to prove it to your future employers with your certificate of completion and high-quality graphic design portfolio.

Adobe Creative Cloud Bootcamp

The Adobe Creative Cloud Bootcamp is another Noble Desktop option available online or in-person in NYC. This certificate program will prepare you to excel in various design careers, including graphic design, motion graphics design, and UI and UX design. The cost of the Adobe Creative Cloud Bootcamp is $4,195, which is payable via an installment plan. This fee covers 102 hours of project-based training led by expert instructors, the option to retake the program or any part within one year, and a verified certificate of completion. Students should be 18 or older and comfortable using a computer. A Noble team member will assist online students with computer setup if needed, while Noble will provide a computer for in-person students.

Noble’s Adobe Creative Cloud Bootcamp features six modules, each focusing on a different Adobe application. These include InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Figma, Premiere Pro, and After Effects. You will learn the essential graphic design skills in the Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign bootcamps. The Figma Bootcamp will introduce participants to this vital program for building clickable prototypes, UI design, and UX design. Finally, the Premiere Pro Bootcamp and After Effects Bootcamp will prepare you for a motion graphics and animation career. By the end of this program, you will be ready to pursue a career in a variety of areas of graphic design.

Adobe Photoshop Bootcamp

If you are looking for a graphic design certificate with a streamlined focus on Photoshop, Noble Desktop provides an Adobe Photoshop Bootcamp to meet your needs. Tuition for the program is $975, which covers 18 hours of hands-on training, an option to retake the bootcamp for up to a year, and a verified certificate of completion. You can complete the program on a part-time evening schedule in four weeks or three full-time weekday sessions.

In Noble’s Adobe Photoshop Bootcamp, you will learn how to create professional-quality graphics and expertly edited photos with the application. Your highly experienced instructors will lead you through several projects in which you’ll discover the many tools of the program, such as layers, filters, and masks. When you complete the bootcamp, you’ll be able to confidently make selections, move and remove elements in an image, adjust color and contrast, and perform other essential steps of the Photoshop workflow.

Graphic Design Summer Program (High School)

High school students can pursue a graphic design certificate with NextGen Bootcamp’s Graphic Design Summer Program (High School). This 50-hour program is available in-person at their Midtown Manhattan campus. Tuition for this Graphic Design certificate program is $2,495. The fee covers a proprietary workbook and verified digital certificate of completion. The program features five full-time weekday sessions. Students who miss a class can make it up by watching a recording.

NextGen’s Graphic Design Summer Bootcamp teaches teens essential Adobe applications for Graphic Designers, including Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, and theoretical concepts through real-world projects. In the Photoshop unit, students will learn how to retouch photos, create graphics for websites, and combine images. Participants will also learn to create layouts with graphics and text using InDesign. Finally, students will learn to use Illustrator to develop a variety of illustrations and graphics. By the end of the program, high schoolers will have a professional-quality graphic design portfolio packed with projects completed through the course.

Graphic Design 101

One River School of Art and Design offers an in-person beginner-level graphic designer course at their Englewood campus. While this class doesn’t provide a certificate of completion, it is a low-commitment option for individuals wanting to learn graphic design basics before signing up for a full certificate program.

For $120, One River School invites students to this single-day graphic design workshop. Participants will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience using industry-standard applications to create projects like website icons, logos, and graphic art. By the end of the program, students will have a basic understanding of the fundamental concepts necessary for creating visually appealing designs.