Graphic Design
Our foundation course in graphic design is one year, and our students will learn a wide range of visual communication skills with an emphasis on creative problem solving for graphic design. The course has been designed to offer students an opportunity to develop core skills required for continued study in the areas of graphic design, visual communications, digital media, photography, and illustration. We use the latest graphic design software such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects.
| Award Name | Level 5 Certificate (Level 5 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | QQI |
| NFQ Level | Level 5 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 5 Certificate (Level 5 NFQ) | Major | QQI | Level 5 NFQ |
Duration
1 year Full time course
Entry Requirements
Leaving Certificate, Leaving Cert Applied, Mature students are welcome to apply.
Applicants will be required to meet with the course team, to learn more about the course and to present a small sample of creative work – for example: drawings, sculpture, collage, 3D work, technical drawing, poster design, photography etc. – to ensure this course is a good fit.
You will be notified in advance with a date and time to meet with the course team. This meeting will be held on our Raheny Campus.
Careers / Further progression
Career Opportunities
Graphic design, UI/UX, marketing and publishing studios, freelance design and illustration work, web design and development companies, branding, and advertising agencies, print companies and large multinationals in Ireland and abroad. Illustration, book design, motion graphics, film, and media.
Further information
The college welcomes applications from qualified international applicants. International (non-EU) learners must comply with Irish immigration requirements and must present either a student visa or a letter of permission to remain in Ireland issued by the Immigration section of the Department of Justice. Non-EU applicants may be liable for an extra fee of €3654.
All courses are delivered through English. Learners are advised that to benefit from their chosen course they should be proficient in written and spoken English. Learners may be required to do an English Language proficiency assessment as part of the interview process.
Year 1: €50
Students undertaking any full time Further Education course may apply for a means tested maintenance grant. Application forms are available from www.susi.ie. Students from designated disadvantaged partnership areas may be eligible for financial assistance towards course charges.
Step 1 – Apply Online
When you complete your application, you will receive an acknowledgement email with login details, username and password, for your new account on our college applications system (Enrol). Please ensure you receive this email as it sometimes goes into spam/junk folders.
You will need to log into the college applications system (Enrol) regularly to manage your application to CDCFE. Please note that your login details must be kept, by you, in a safe and secure place as they will be needed to access your account each time.
Step 2 – Offer of Place
After applying, provisional places* are offered on a first come, first served basis.
Within 10 working days from the date of your application, your provisional offer letter will be uploaded to your Enrol account and you should receive a notification sms and email. To view it, please login using the Enrol login details found in the initial acknowledgement email you received after applying.
*This offer is provisional and is subject to places being available and any specific course requirements being met, such as an audition, sample artwork, specific Leaving Cert. Results, relevant experience, attending a meet & greet with the course coordinator, etc. Refer to the course entry requirement for the course you are applying for on the course page here.
Applicants to courses that have additional requirements will be contacted directly about how to fulfil the additional requirements e.g., uploading sample artwork, auditions etc.
Uploading of Sample Artwork for all courses in the Art & Design Department – “How To“
Login to your MIT account
Select the Documents TAB
Click on the “+” button and upload your 4 pieces of work. For specifications please check individual course pages. Please name each file with a suitable file name if possible. E.G. Sample piece 1 etc.
Step-3 – Pay a non-refundable Course Charge online to secure your place.
Once you have received your offer letter, you will need to pay a non-refundable €50 course charge in order to hold your place. Please go to the college website and click on the Pay Fees button (or you may login to your account in the usual way). This will take you to the login page of the college applications system. Please ensure you login to the Academic year 2024/25. Once you are logged in, select the Payments tab to pay the course charge. Failure to pay your charge by the given deadline may result in your application being cancelled and the loss of your place. Click here to login to your account and pay your charge.
Your login details are on the initial email you received after making your application.
Step 4 – Complete Registration
We will contact you during the summer with details on how to complete your registration. You will be required to upload your Academic certification, Leaving Certificate results etc., to your application account.
You are also required to upload proof of identity in the form of a photo of your passport or driver’s license. All of this will be checked and verified when you attend registration week in September (dates to follow).
Medical Card
Please upload a copy of your medical card if you hold a full medical card in your own right or you are the dependent child of a full medical card holder.
Uploading Documentation to your account – “How To“
Medical Card (if applicable)
Leaving Cert Results
Click on the “+” button and upload a photo/scan of the document. If possible please name the file e.g. Medical Card with your initials.
Graphic Design (Visual Communications)
Certificate in Graphic Design QQI Level 5 (Award 5M1995) – Year 1
Advanced Certificate in Graphic Design QQI Level 6 – Year 2
We continually encourage our students to experiment and take risks with their design projects. Our working environment creates a positive design culture that encourages creative thinking and innovation. A team of experienced art & design tutors are there to help students refine their ideas and learn how to present work to a professional level. Students will finish year one with a creative portfolio that showcases a broad spectrum of graphic design skills.
Advanced Cert in Graphic design QQI level 6
This course aims to build on graphic design skills students would have previously gained in the areas such as graphic design, photography, digital media and other related courses or previous work. The courses enabled students to enhance their approach to design thinking, conceptual development, and graphic design technical skills with a special focus on drawing, illustration, and typography. We also introduce students to motion graphics and web development. The course content provides a progressive approach to learning which includes working with real client, professional presentations, industry workshops, regular trips to galleries, museums and design conferences
The course concludes with a negotiated major project and group exhibition in a professional gallery space. Students will have developed the skills necessary to work in the graphic design industry or continued study and will have the opportunity to build a professional portfolio.
Course Content
Graphic Design
Design Skills
Drawing
Typography
Computer Illustrated Graphics
Digital Photography
Appreciation of Art
Work Experience
Communications
*Course content is subject to change
Students will engage in professional workshops in areas of Printmaking, bookbinding, illustration techniques and other area so students can explore and experiment with different skills.
Museum visits, exhibitions, and class excursions play an integral part of the course experience.
Professional Software
Graphic design students work in a design studio which is equipped with Mac computers and have access to industry standard software. Colour printing and course materials are provided.
Adobe suite is included in course fees and students will learn to be proficient in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and receive an introduction to motion graphics software.
Work Placement
We encourage students to complete work experience within a design company or as part of a real live project where they can gain experience working on a project from inception to completion.
Each year some of our students have joined the Erasmus programme to complete a three-week work placement in a European city. The students are selected via an interview process and accompanied by a tutor for the first week of work placement. This is an exciting opportunity for our design students and the programme is fully funded.
5M1995 - Graphic Design
Certification
Graphic Design QQI level 5 – Award Graphic design 5M1995
Coolock Campus:
Barryscourt Road, Coolock, Dublin 17.
Eircode: D17 T227
Tel: 01 848 1400
Fax: 01 848 1544
Email: coolock@cdcfe.cdetb.ie
Kilbarrack Campus:
Briarfield Villas, Kilbarrack, Dublin 5.
Eircode: D05 NR25
Tel: 01 832 2735
Fax: 01 832 6393
Email: kilbarrack@cdcfe.cdetb.ie
Raheny Campus:
Springdale Road, Raheny, Dublin 5.
Eircode: D05 XN65
Tel: 01 831 4677
Fax: 01 832 9405
Email: raheny@cdcfe.cdetb.ie