Discover Classes. Earn 10% Rewards.

Graphic Design Portfolio Bootcamp

Push your graphic design skills further and build a strong portfolio in this hands-on bootcamp. Learn to design professional logos, book covers, social media graphics, and more while picking up valuable feedback and critiques. Push your design career to the next level.

  • All levels
  • 18 and older
  • Earn 10% Rewards
  • Price Lock

    Secure your booking now and we'll match any price drop within 48 hours across all booking platforms, ensuring you never miss out on savings!

  • 185 Madison Ave, New York, NY & Virtually Online

Express Checkout – $1,295


Proceed to Checkout

No Booking Fees. Lowest Price Guaranteed. Earn 10% Rewards.

Give as a Gift

Start Dates (17) $1,295/person

Show all 5 sessions
  • Fri, Oct 30 at 10:00am - 5:00pm
  • Fri, Nov 06 at 10:00am - 5:00pm
  • Wed, Nov 11 at 10:00am - 5:00pm
  • Fri, Nov 13 at 10:00am - 5:00pm
  • Fri, Nov 20 at 10:00am - 5:00pm
20 left
Book
Show all 8 sessions
  • Mon, Nov 16 at 6:00pm - 9:00pm
  • Wed, Nov 18 at 6:00pm - 9:00pm
  • Mon, Nov 23 at 6:00pm - 9:00pm
  • Mon, Nov 30 at 6:00pm - 9:00pm
  • Wed, Dec 02 at 6:00pm - 9:00pm
  • Mon, Dec 07 at 6:00pm - 9:00pm
  • Wed, Dec 09 at 6:00pm - 9:00pm
  • Mon, Dec 14 at 6:00pm - 9:00pm
20 left
Book
Show all 4 sessions
  • Sun, Dec 06 at 10:00am - 5:00pm
  • Sun, Dec 13 at 10:00am - 5:00pm
  • Sun, Dec 20 at 10:00am - 5:00pm
  • Sun, Dec 27 at 10:00am - 5:00pm
20 left
Book
Show all 5 sessions
  • Fri, Dec 11 at 10:00am - 5:00pm
  • Fri, Dec 18 at 10:00am - 5:00pm
  • Thu, Dec 24 at 10:00am - 5:00pm
  • Wed, Dec 30 at 10:00am - 5:00pm
  • Fri, Jan 08 at 10:00am - 5:00pm
20 left
Book
Show all 5 sessions
  • Fri, Jan 15 at 10:00am - 5:00pm
  • Fri, Jan 22 at 10:00am - 5:00pm
  • Fri, Jan 29 at 10:00am - 5:00pm
  • Fri, Feb 05 at 10:00am - 5:00pm
  • Fri, Feb 12 at 10:00am - 5:00pm
20 left
Book
Showing 1 – 5 of 17

Book a Private Group Event

Booking this class for a group? Find great private group events

Or see all Graphic Design Group Events

Explore group events and team building activities ranging from cooking, art, escape rooms, trivia, and more.

Class Description

Description

This intensive hands-on bootcamp is designed to deepen your understanding of contemporary design principles, refine your design process, and create a robust collection of portfolio-quality work. The course presumes advanced technical proficiency in the core Adobe Creative Suite applications of Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator, and focuses specifically on applying these software skills to solve real design problems and create client-ready deliverables.

Portfolio Projects and Scope:

Throughout this bootcamp, you will conceive, design, and execute numerous professional design projects suitable for portfolio presentation to prospective employers or clients. The breadth of project types ensures comprehensive experience across diverse design disciplines. Your portfolio will showcase work including custom logo development, eye-catching social media graphics optimized for various platforms, branded stationery systems, book and eBook cover designs, album artwork, promotional event posters, and professional email marketing communications. Each assignment exposes you to distinct design challenges and client requirements that reflect real-world professional practice.

Critique, Feedback, and Iteration Process:

A central component of this program involves receiving substantive feedback on your design work. During each class meeting, your instructor provides a professional critique, and your peers offer constructive observations during structured group critiques. This peer evaluation process is essential for developing design judgment and communication skills. You will incorporate all feedback into revised versions of your work, completing refinements either during scheduled class time or as homework assignments requiring your outside work commitment. Upon finishing your portfolio projects, you will upload all work to Adobe Portfolio, which is included with Creative Cloud subscriptions, creating a professional online portfolio presence that showcases your design expertise to potential employers and clients.

Program Prerequisite:

Applicants must demonstrate advanced working mastery of Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator to succeed in this bootcamp.

Learn more details about our Graphic Design Portfolio Bootcamp at NYC Career Centers.

Syllabus

Section 1

What is Graphic Design?

  • Brief overview and discussion
  • Elements of design
  • Gestalt Principles

Word Work

  • Letterform Anatomy
  • Type Classifications
  • Speed design with limited source material!

Design Assignment: Logo Design

  • Brief slide show on what makes a good logo
  • Design assignment: Choice of logo redesign for an existing company or create your own personal logo design.
  • Create two distinct design options for your logo.

Section 2

Design Process

  • Explore ideation and the creative design process
  • Logo exploration (Ritos del Sol, Vaya)
  • Learn logo drafting using the template feature in Illustrator
  • Introduction of Photoshop mock-ups
  • Sketching exercise. Learn to work quickly and creatively within fixed parameters.

Color Interaction

  • What do colors mean?
  • How do designers use colors effectively
  • Color palettes: we will explore how to choose appropriate color palettes for different assignments

Design Assignment: Identity System

  • Finalize your logo to design an identity system using a "color study" and complimentary typeface. Use this visual system to either create a stationery design or social media graphics.

Section 3

Typography

  • Typographic Overview
  • Type Selection
  • Type Pairing
  • Foundry Overview
  • Optical Spacing

Design Assignment: Book/eBook Cover Redesign

  • Create either a book or eBook cover design for a re-issue of a famous piece of fiction. Use type and imagery to create a visually appealing cover that will entice a reader.

Section 4

Historical Design Movements

  • Arts & Crafts
  • Art Nouveau
  • Dada
  • Destijl
  • Constructivism
  • Bauhaus
  • Swiss International

Design Assignment: Album Art Cover/Spotify Graphic

  • Create cover art for a band to be used for online purchases of music or streaming music services. Use a mixture of typography, imagery, and basic graphic elements, with consideration for different screen sizes and resolutions.

Section 5

Information Hierarchy

  • What goes first? Second? Last? And why?
  • Are there rules? How can we be creative within these rules?
  • We explore the who, what, where, when, and why of laying out information.
  • Learn about grid systems.

Design Assignment: Event Poster or Email Announcement

  • Students will design a poster or email announcement for an event. Designs should convey a concept relating to the subject, and use a clearly identifiable visual hierarchy.

Section 6

Design Hero Slide Show

  • The instructor will show a brief slide show of past and present design visionaries

Portfolio Criteria & Revision

  • Ten points to consider when developing a professional Graphic Design portfolio.
  • Recommended book list
  • Revision, completion and collection of any final revised exercises or projects.

Refund Policy

  • Students may cancel up to 11 business days before the class/program start date and receive a refund, less the registration fee (10% of the undiscounted course price).
  • Cancellations within 11 business days are not permitted, but students may reschedule up to 4 business days before the class start date.

For cancellations and reschedules, please email us at [email protected]

Reviews of Classes at NYC Career Centers (686)

Similar Classes

NYC Career Centers

Career Centers is a premier provider of software training courses for individuals and businesses. With a wide range of offerings and a state-of-the-art training facility in NYC, they offer instructor-led classes, corporate training, and room rentals.

View school profile
NYC Career Centers
Vetted by CourseHorse

A verified Brooklyn educator.

Loading...