Graphic Design for Beginners: From Novice to Pro
Go from zero to confident designer. You'll learn the principles behind good design and the industry tools Tanzanian studios use every day — then put them to work on flyers, posters, social posts and print-ready artwork.
Course overview
This is our foundation course and the best place to start if you are new to design. We begin with how designers think: layout, hierarchy, colour, typography and the creative brief. From there you'll get hands-on with Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and CorelDRAW — the tools you'll find in most print shops and agencies across Tanzania.
Every week ends with a practical brief modelled on real local jobs — a church event poster, a duka price list, a wedding invitation, a campaign post for an NGO — so by graduation you have a portfolio, not just a certificate.
What you'll learn
- Core design principles: balance, contrast, alignment and hierarchy
- Colour theory, CMYK vs RGB and choosing palettes that print well
- Typography that reads clearly in English and Kiswahili
- Photo editing, retouching and compositing in Photoshop
- Vector design and logo basics in Illustrator and CorelDRAW
- Designing flyers, posters, banners and social media posts
- Preparing print-ready files: bleed, resolution and export settings
- Presenting work to clients and handling feedback
Curriculum
- How designers solve problems
- Reading and writing a creative brief
- Mood boards and references
- Sketching ideas before the screen
- Grids, spacing and alignment
- Colour psychology and palettes
- Type pairing and readability
- Designing for Kiswahili and English text
- Layers, masks and adjustments
- Retouching portraits and product photos
- Compositing for posters and banners
- Exporting for web, WhatsApp and print
- Pen tool and vector shapes
- Simple logos and icons
- Business cards, letterheads and stickers
- Working with print shop file formats
- Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp formats
- Templates and consistent campaigns
- Designing with real product photos
- Client-style brief from start to finish
- Mentor critique and revisions
- Portfolio presentation day
Tools you'll use
Who this course is for
Complete beginners, school leavers, small business owners and anyone who wants to start freelancing in design.
Class schedules
| Option | Days | Time | Mode |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekday mornings | Mon – Thu | 9:00 – 12:00 | In-person or live online |
| Weekday evenings | Mon – Thu | 17:30 – 19:30 | In-person or live online |
| Weekend class | Saturdays | 9:00 – 15:00 | In-person or live online |
Choose your preferred schedule when you enroll. In-person classes are held in Dar es Salaam; online classes run live on Zoom or Google Meet.
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Ready to take the next step in your creative journey?
January 2027 intake is open. Reserve your seat in a design or IT class — in Dar es Salaam or online.
Enroll now
