# AI for Graphic Design Course Canonical URL: ## Overview AI is transforming the world of creative design. In this course, you’ll learn how to integrate AI into Adobe applications to boost your creativity and streamline your workflow. Designed for Graphic and Visual Designers, the class covers advanced AI tools within Adobe’s suite, helping you refine your creative process and work more efficiently. By the end of the course, you will be able to: - Understand how artificial intelligence fits into graphic design workflows and recognize the capabilities of leading AI tools, including Adobe Firefly, MidJourney, and Leonardo AI. - Use AI-powered features in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign to generate professional-grade design assets and create visuals through prompt-based generation. - Assess the strengths and limitations of free and paid AI platforms, enhance image quality with sharpening, upscaling, and de-noising, and develop a cohesive brand identity package by integrating multiple AI tools into a seamless creative workflow. ## What you'll learn - Generate vector illustrations, photo edits, and layouts using AI tools in Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign - Create original visuals through prompt-based image generation with MidJourney, Leonardo AI, and DALL·E 3 - Enhance and restore images with AI-powered sharpening, upscaling, and denoising techniques - Use ChatGPT and Notion AI to develop creative briefs, brand names, and design concepts - Build mood boards, style guides, and concept sets with free and paid AI design tools - Assemble a complete brand identity using multiple AI platforms within a simulated design workflow ## Prerequisites Students should have a basic understanding of graphic design and the major Adobe apps, including [Photoshop](/courses/photoshop-beginner), [Illustrator](/courses/illustrator), and [InDesign.](/courses/indesign-beginner) ## Curriculum ### Session 1: Foundations & Visual Generation #### Introduction to AI in Design - What is AI, and how does it generate visual content - How AI is transforming design workflows - Examples of AI-generated visuals in real-world projects #### Adobe AI Tools - Illustrator: Text-to-vector, auto-coloring, Firefly integration - Photoshop: Generative fill, AI background removal, object expansion - InDesign: AI-assisted layouts, background/content-aware expansion #### AI Image Generators - Tools: MidJourney, Leonardo AI, DALL·E 3 - Prompt writing tips - Free vs. paid versions - Use cases: mood boards and style scapes, concept art, branding assets #### Copyright, Ethics & AI - Ownership of AI-generated designs - Terms of service and licensing rules - Ethical concerns in client work and publishing ### Session 2: Productivity, Advanced Workflows & Toolkits #### AI for Brainstorming & Creativity - Prompt engineering for visuals - ChatGPT for creative briefs, naming, and taglines - Moodboard and style guide creation with apps such as Notion AI or Canva AI #### Free AI Tools for Designers - Overview and demonstration of tools like [Remove.bg](http://remove.bg/), Clipdrop, Khroma, Photopea - Mini-challenge: Visual creation using two free tools #### Paid AI Tools Worth the Investment - Runway ML, Topaz AI, [Vectorizer.ai](http://vectorizer.ai/), [Krea.ai](http://krea.ai/) - Advanced tools for image editing, vector conversion, and experimentation #### Enhancing Image Quality with AI - Sharpening blurry images - Upscaling low-res images - De-noising vintage or scanned materials #### AI Workflow Simulation - End-to-end workflow to create a brand identity - Combining multiple AI tools to build a logo, visual assets, and a mockup - Real-time feedback and iteration #### Wrap-Up + Q&A + Resource Pack - A cheat sheet of tools - Prompt libraries and guides - Communities and sources to stay updated ### Final Deliverables (Design-Based Only) #### AI-Enhanced Poster or Social Media Graphic - Created using Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop with AI features. #### Visual Concept Set - 3–5 AI-generated images for a branding or packaging project using tools like MidJourney, Leonardo AI, or Chat GPT. #### AI Moodboard or Style Guide - Created with Notion AI, Canva AI, or Milanote based on a theme or project. #### Image Enhancement Set - Includes before-and-after versions using AI tools for sharpening, de-noising, and upscaling. #### Final Brand Package - Includes logo, one social media post, and 1 product or packaging mockup created using a combination of AI tools. ## Schedule - Jun 1, 2026 – Jun 2, 2026 — Live Online - Aug 17, 2026 – Aug 18, 2026 — Live Online - Sep 28, 2026 – Sep 29, 2026 — Live Online - Nov 9, 2026 – Nov 10, 2026 — Live Online ## Instructors ### Bruce Gay — Instructor Bruce is an engaging trainers and program manager who brings 25+ years practical experience to deliver effective and experiential training to students. Able to engage adult learners with a range of backgrounds and professional experiences. Successful at building effective stakeholder relationships and coordinating multi-disciplinary teams for solution delivery. Bruce has over 25 years of project and program management experience across multiple industries. He has a Masters degree from The George Washington University and a B.A. from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Bruce currently runs his own freelance training and consulting business, helping project managers and team leaders improve their business skills, become better leaders, and achieve professional greatness. Bruce is a well-received speaker in the areas of design thinking, project management, cross-team collaboration, and AI tools for projects, and has presented at regional and international conferences. ### Steve Pesklo — Instructor Steve is an energetic trainer who focuses on applying technical concepts to everyday work practices. He is the founder and president of SoftLake Solutions, a company that specializes in providing data and AI applications to identify fraud for Internal Audit, Criminal Investigations, Forensic Accounting, Privacy, and Compliance. Steve brings a large amount of experience across multiple industries and government agencies. He is an expert in implementing large data analysis projects across the world, including Inland Revenue in the UK and Argentina, New Zealand, Africa and across Europe. Previously, he was the manager of Data Architecture and Data Services for a large mortgage company. He is a frequent speaker on data analytics and project management topics and speaks fluent German. He has been teaching at the Graduate School for over 10 years. Steve has an M.B.A. from the University of St. Thomas and a B.S. in Computer Science from California Lutheran University and the Universität Salzburg in Austria. He is certified as a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Project Management Professional (PMP), and a Certified ScrumMaster (CSM). ### Brian Simms — Instructor Brian Simms is a seasoned educator and training leader with extensive experience developing and delivering innovative learning programs in project management and emerging technologies. Over the course of his career, he has designed adaptive learning models that combine instructor-led sessions, live online experiences, and self-paced study, ensuring professionals can access training in flexible and effective ways. His work has emphasized the integration of artificial intelligence into professional development, helping organizations and individuals understand how AI can be applied to solve real-world challenges in leadership, project execution, and decision-making. In addition to his instructional expertise, Brian has guided curriculum development, led large training initiatives, and advanced the use of collaboration tools that improve learner engagement and retention. His depth of experience and forward-looking perspective make him uniquely equipped to prepare federal professionals to navigate the complexities of data, project management, and the transformative potential of AI. ### Clarissa J. Corbin — Instructor Clarissa J. Corbin is an accomplished corporate trainer, project manager, and business consultant with over 25 years of experience designing and delivering impactful learning experiences. As President and CEO of Projections Training Solutions, she partners with federal agencies, private corporations, and international organizations to provide results-driven training in leadership, project management, business analysis, and emerging technologies. Clarissa has trained more than 10,000 professionals worldwide, serving clients such as the DoD, NASA, FEMA, Microsoft, Citibank, PNC Bank, Del Monte, and Symantec. Her expertise has taken her across the globe, leading initiatives in Singapore, China, Japan, South Korea, Africa, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, and St. Thomas, USVI. Known for her ability to engage diverse audiences and create interactive, high-impact sessions, Clarissa equips participants with practical solutions they can apply immediately. At Graduate School USA (GSUSA), Clarissa is regarded as one of the most versatile and trusted instructors. She teaches across multiple programs. She played a pivotal role in redesigning the flagship “Managing for Results” course, while also contributing to the development and review of numerous others. Her contributions have earned her two GSUSA Customer Excellence Awards and a two-year appointment to the GSUSA Instructor Advisory Council, underscoring her commitment to innovation, quality, and learner success. ### Natalya H. Bah — Instructor Natalya Bah has been a part-time instructor at the Graduate School USA for over fifteen years. Natalya teaches across multiple curricula, including Leadership and Management, Project Management, and Human Resources. She has created a curriculum for the school, including Change Management Workshops and project management courses. She has served as an action learning coach, instructor, and facilitator for government leadership programs in the Center for Leadership and Management. Natalya also provides self-assessments and dynamic team-building sessions on behalf of the Graduate School USA. Outside of Graduate School USA, Ms. Bah is a self-employed business owner providing executive coaching, training, and consulting services to the public and private sectors. She created the Define and Achieve Your Goals Process™ and is a certified Birkman Method© Consultant. She received her Master of Science degree in Project Management from George Washington University’s School of Business, where she served as a teaching assistant and received the Project Management Award. She is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). ### Michiel Pruijssers Michiel is a Principal Designer and Forward Deployed Engineer at Microsoft's Industry Solutions Engineering Division, where he partners with strategic enterprise customers to architect and ship production AI systems. With over 15 years of experience, he operates at the intersection of user research, design, engineering, and cloud architecture, anchored by deep expertise in machine learning. His career spans senior roles at Snorkel AI, Determined.ai, and earlier Microsoft teams behind foundational AI products including LUIS.ai, Azure Bot Service, and Azure Stack, where he led both customer discovery and platform design for some of the industry's most technically ambitious ML offerings. He pairs rigorous qualitative research with hands-on building, shipping his own production SaaS products in Python while also teaching students through cohort-based AI courses. His instruction is grounded in real practice: what it takes to design, build, and operate AI systems that actually hold up in the wild. ## Pricing **Tuition:** $695