GRAPHIC DESIGN
CORE CERTIFICATE

Program Duration: 1 Year (840 hours / 42 weeks)
Your Instructors: Victor Del Castillo, Mark Den Boer

Prices: Domestic $14,950.00

Prices: International $19,950.00

Start Dates: January, May, September

GRAPHIC DESIGN CORE CERTIFICATE - FULL-TIME

Where creativity becomes a career.

Where creativity becomes a professional skill.

In 42 immersive weeks (1 year), the Graphic Design Core Certificate builds your creative, technical, and professional foundation for a real-world career in graphic design and visual communication.

Designed for today’s fast-moving digital and creative industries, this intensive certificate blends design fundamentals, visual storytelling, UI/UX foundations, branding, motion, and AI-integrated workflows to prepare students for entry-level design roles or continued study in advanced diploma pathways at The Cut.

Study with industry-active designers inside a professional studio environment, and graduate with the skills, confidence, and portfolio needed to work across print, digital, branding, and interactive media.

PROGRAM DETAILS

The Graphic Design Core Certificate is built to give you a strong, practical, and industry-aligned foundation in graphic design. Through three structured terms, you will learn how ideas move from concept to composition, from typography to layout, and from visual systems to user-focused digital experiences.

Throughout the program, you will work with instructors who are active professionals in graphic design, UX/UI, digital media, and creative direction, guiding you through each stage of the creative process from ideation and execution to critique and presentation.

By the end of the year, you won’t just understand graphic design; you’ll design, refine, test, and present professional visual work across multiple platforms.

Whether your goal is to work in studios, agencies, in-house creative teams, freelance environments, or continue into advanced diploma pathways, this certificate prepares you with the discipline, tools, and portfolio to move forward confidently.

Program Structure & Hours

Duration: 42 Weeks

Total Program Hours: 840 hours

  • Instructional Hours: 504

  • Lab Hours: 336

Homework Expectation: ~8 hours/week

Delivery Method: In-class & Live Online (synchronous)

You’ll learn through demonstrations, critiques, hands-on projects, industry-style briefs, group work, and studio practice.

PROGRAM JOURNEY

  • You’ll learn:

    • Understand and apply the principles and elements of design, including balance, hierarchy, contrast, rhythm, and composition.

    • Develop strong visual thinking and problem-solving skills for creative briefs.

    • Explore colour theory and its emotional, cultural, and functional applications.

    • Gain proficiency in typography, type anatomy, pairing, and layout systems

    • Learn the design process from research and ideation to execution and critique.

    • Create cohesive brand identities aligned with audience profiles and objectives.

    • Develop editorial layouts for print and digital publications.

    • Understand information design and visual hierarchy for complex content.

    • Build confidence in presenting and articulating design concepts clearly.

    This term trains your creative eye, strengthens your visual language, and establishes professional design habits used throughout the industry.

  • You’ll learn:

    • Master Adobe Creative Suite tools, including Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, and XD

    • Design responsive web and interface layouts using UI principles.

    • Apply UX fundamentals, including human-centred design and user journeys.

    • Create wireframes, prototypes, and interactive mockups using Figma, XD, and InVision.

    • Understand accessibility, usability, and interface logic.

    • Translate client briefs into functional digital design solutions.

    • Design for digital platforms, including websites, apps, and marketing assets

    • Collaborate on projects using feedback, testing, and iteration.

    This term builds your technical confidence and prepares you to design intuitive, user-friendly digital experiences.

  • You’ll learn:

    • Fundamentals of motion graphics and computer animation

    • Create dynamic visuals for web, social media, and video platforms.

    • Apply AI-integrated tools to accelerate creative workflows and ideation.

    • Understand design ethics, cultural context, and inclusive design practices.

    • Analyze and respond to professional creative briefs.

    • Develop collaboration skills through group projects and critiques.

    • Build a cohesive professional portfolio across print, digital, and motion work.

    • Refine presentation, communication, and client-facing skills.

    This term strengthens your versatility as a designer and prepares you to transition into professional creative environments.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By graduation, Fashion Design & Creative Arts students can:

Creative & Technical Skills

✔ Apply professional design principles across print and digital media

✔ Use industry-standard design software with confidence

✔ Create strong visual identities and layout systems

✔ Design UI/UX concepts, wireframes, and prototypes

✔ Produce motion and dynamic media assets

Industry & Professional Skills

✔ Interpret and respond to creative briefs

✔ Communicate design concepts clearly and professionally

✔ Collaborate effectively in creative teams

✔ Apply AI tools ethically and strategically

✔ Present polished portfolio work

This certificate ensures you graduate industry-aware, skill-ready, and portfolio-prepared.


CAREER PATHS

Graduates of the Graphic Design Core Certificate leave with a strong creative foundation and practical skills that open doors to entry-level and junior roles across creative industries.

Career pathways include:

Graphic Designer

Create visual assets for print, digital, and branding projects.

Web Designer / UI Designer

Design interface layouts and digital experiences for websites and applications.

UX Assistant / Junior UX Designer

Support user research, wireframing, and experience design projects.

Brand Identity Designer

Develop logos, brand systems, and visual guidelines.

Motion Graphics / Multimedia Designer

Create animated and dynamic content for digital platforms.

Digital Marketing Designer

Design visual content for campaigns, social media, and online marketing.

Production Artist / Layout Designer

Prepare files and layouts for professional production environments.

This certificate is designed to give you real options, whether you enter the workforce or continue on to advanced diploma studies.

TUITION & GRANTS

Domestic Tuition: $14,950

International Tuition: $19,950

Additional fees may apply.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

To apply, you must meet the following criteria:

  • High school graduation or mature student status (19+)

  • Admissions interview (in person or via Skype)

  • Letter of Intent (minimum 250 words)

  • English proficiency, if applicable:

    • IELTS 5.5

    • TOEFL 57+

    • Equivalent accepted

This program has been approved by the Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIB).

MEET YOUR INSTRUCTORS

Mark ‘Marker’ S. den Boer

Alberta University for the Arts (AUArts - originally ACAD) Graduation Council Chair 1990-91 season. Mark has been teaching post-secondary design for 24 years at various colleges in Vancouver. A self-admitted polymath with a computing science background, for 33 years he has been a ‘Hybrid for Hire’, with his own freelance business in Vancouver, providing a host of clients with top quality corporate design, art direction, advertising, product photography & CAD. His European background provides a broad foundation of design aesthetics and art history that he brings to bear during course lectures. Mark is deeply committed to networking amongst the artistic communities to foster resources that make us more effective, stronger and productive.


Victor Del Castillo

Victor Del Castillo is a Senior UX/UI Visual designer who graduated from Vancouver Film School (VFS) from the Game Design Program and from the Fine Arts School of Design in Mexico City (EDINBA) as a graphic designer specializing in multimedia and advertising and working as an art and creative director for different brands such as Samsung, Adidas and Aeromexico. He lives and works in Vancouver, Canada as a UX/UI Instructor, teacher, speaker and mentor, empowering and inspiring students at several universities including Vancouver Film School, Cornerstone University, Tamwood and others, he also works as a Senior Artist (UX/UI Designer) at Gearbox Software, for the WWE 2K24 title, working for a former UX/UI Designer at Relic Entertainment/SEGA for the title Company of Heroes 3, previously UX/UI designer at Popreach for the mobile title Payday: Crime War, at Piranha Games for Mechwarrior 5: Mercenaries, Cleebo Casino, EA, Hard Rock Casino and other game studios. With 11 years working in the games industry, 15 years working in the advertising, multimedia, and graphic design industry, shipped 12 titles, worked on 15,he's worked for PC/Xbox/PlayStation and mobile titles for the gaming industry, teaching and mentoring since 1999 Victor Del Castillo has received several national and international awards in advertising and games.

LOOK FOR A WAY TO APPLY?

Applying is straightforward and designed to be personal.


The application is our first opportunity to get to know you. Once you submit the form, an Admissions will reach out to you.

This conversation allows us to share meaningful insights about the program, the industry, career pathways, job opportunities, and available tuition grants or financial aid options. Just as importantly, it gives us the chance to learn about you: your goals, what you hope to achieve through your training, and any questions or concerns we can support you with.

Please note that no enrolment deposit is required until you have been formally accepted into the program. We invite you to submit your application here below

Frequently Asked Questions

You have questions, we have answers.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for in our FAQ section below, use our online submission form.

 This program has been approved by the registrar of the Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIB) of the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills.
The Cut Design Academy is designated with PTIB