This program includes

84 hours of live training. Project-based, in person at 185 Madison Avenue with an instructor in the room.
5 courses in the program. Scheduled classes, not recorded lectures; labs marked (Self-Paced) below run on your own time.
1 elective course. Included at no extra cost: AI for Graphic Design.
1-on-1 mentoring. Time with an instructor outside of class, scheduled around your commitments.
Software access. The software used in class, for the duration of the program.
Free retake within one year. Repeat any class in the program at no cost.
Class recordings. Available for 30 days after each class, so a missed session is recoverable.
A verified certificate. Noble Desktop is licensed by the New York State Education Department.
A VA certifying official. One of our School Certifying Officials submits your enrollment certification to VA so you are not chasing it.
Interest-free payment plans. If your benefit leaves a balance: a pay-as-you-go installment plan, or Climb Credit. 0% interest, no fees.
Job-search support. Portfolio review, resume, and interview preparation with an instructor. Support, not a placement promise.

Learn the Skills Guarantee™

Master the concepts and skills outlined in the program, or your tuition is refunded. It applies to every course here. See the full terms on nobledesktop.com/benefits.

Program overview

Special Limited Time Promotion : Receive our AI for Graphic Design course for free when you register for this certificate program.

Adobe Creative Cloud Applications:: Gain hands-on experience with Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, the key tools for any Graphic Designer. Learn to retouch images, create scalable vector graphics, and design cohesive layouts, preparing you for a range of design tasks.
Graphic Design Theory:: Develop a deep understanding of essential design concepts, including composition, color theory, typography, and design principles. Learn how to apply these concepts to create visually compelling and balanced designs across various media formats, from print to digital.
Design for Branding & Marketing Materials:: Expand your portfolio by working on branding and marketing projects such as logos, packaging, and promotional materials. These real-world design tasks will demonstrate your ability to create impactful designs that communicate brand identity effectively.
Portfolio Projects & Industry-Ready Skills:: Through a series of portfolio-building assignments, you’ll create and refine projects that meet professional design standards. These projects, including digital and print designs, will ensure you leave the program with a portfolio that highlights your range of skills and creativity.

Projects you build

Work you produce in this program, the same examples shown on nobledesktop.com. Coursework you keep, not client work we place for you.

photo showing before and after retouching

Remove unwanted elements from your photos. Retouch images using the Healing tools and Content-Aware Fill.

Backgrounds swapped out in Photoshop

Learn how to select parts of a photo and to replace the background.

social media graphic designed in Photoshop

Design social media graphics for Facebook, Instagram, or any social media platform. Combine photos, text, and graphics such as logos.

New background added and color changed with Photoshop

Change the color, contrast, and more with Photoshop’s non-destructive adjustment layers. Choose what areas you want to change using masks.

Business card mockup made with Photoshop

Make professional-looking presentations by placing your designs (such as a business card) into realistic mockups

Student project — Illustrator’s Pen tool is powerful but challenging. We’ll guide you in how to use it, so you can draw custom vector shapes.

Courses in this program

5 courses, 84 hours total. Scheduled, in-person classes, plus self-paced lab time.

Adobe InDesign Bootcamp18 hrs
Adobe Photoshop Bootcamp18 hrs
Adobe Illustrator Bootcamp18 hrs
Graphic Design Portfolio Bootcamp30 hrs
Graphic Design Capstone Project (Guided Self-Paced)18 hrs

Electives included at no extra cost

AI for Graphic Design 12 hrs

Full curriculum on nobledesktop.com

Self-paced online option

Learn online at your own pace with video training and live support from our instructors. If you purchase the self-paced option, you can attend the live course for free within one year.

Ask before you enrol either way: VA treats an exclusively-online program differently from one that meets in person, and that affects what it pays. One of our School Certifying Officials will walk you through it.

Schedule and enrollment

Length

84 hours

Full tuition

$2,995

Format

In person, 185 Madison Ave

VA benefits

Chapters 33, 31, 35, 30

Free retake within a year
Class recordings for 30 days
1-on-1 mentoring included
Software access included
Interest-free payment plans
Certification handled by our SCO

All sessions meet in person at 185 Madison Avenue, and dates and times are Eastern. Pick a date to prefill your enrollment, or ask us to help you choose. Nothing is submitted to VA and nothing is binding until you decide.

Start	Ends	Days	Times
Sep 27, 2026	Dec 27, 2026	Sun	10:00-17:00	Choose this date
Oct 19, 2026	Nov 20, 2026	Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri	10:00-17:00	Choose this date
Nov 30, 2026	Jan 8, 2027	Mon to Fri	10:00-17:00	Choose this date
Jan 4, 2027	Feb 12, 2027	Mon to Fri	10:00-17:00	Choose this date
Jan 5, 2027	Apr 1, 2027	Tue, Thu	18:00-21:00	Choose this date
Jan 10, 2027	Apr 18, 2027	Sun	10:00-17:00	Choose this date
Feb 16, 2027	Mar 26, 2027	Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri	10:00-17:00	Choose this date
Mar 29, 2027	May 14, 2027	Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri	10:00-17:00	Choose this date

Graphic Design Certificate reviews

Reviews from Noble Desktop students in this subject area, as published on nobledesktop.com/testimonials. These are individual experiences and are not a promise of any particular result.

Absolutely loved my experience in this class! I learned so much about Adobe and how to use their products to build a custom portfolio that I can send to future employers.

Daniela Wolfert 2023

Eugenio is incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and talented. He shared lots of industry insight and made the class interesting beyond simply learning the skills in the programs.

Stanley Williams 2023

This class really boosted my knowledge of graphic design and the Adobe Suite. The pacing was excellent and the assignments were challenging.

Karly Lunda 2023

Tuition and your VA benefits

Tuition

$2,995 for 84 hours of instruction. What VA pays depends on your chapter, entitlement percentage, and remaining entitlement.

Housing allowance

For Chapter 33, VA sets a monthly housing allowance using the school's ZIP code, your entitlement percentage and your rate of pursuit. A rate of pursuit above 50% is required for any allowance at all. We do not see what VA pays you, so check your own rate with VA.

If there is a balance

Veterans at 90% entitlement or less, and most Chapter 35 and Chapter 30 students, will have something left to pay. One of our School Certifying Officials will go through that number with you before you enroll. Interest-free payment plans with no fees are available on this program.

How class runs

Every VA-approved program here meets in person at 185 Madison Avenue in Manhattan, with an instructor in the room rather than a recorded lecture. Classes are small, you work on your own machine, and you can ask a question and get an answer in the moment.

In person in NYC. 185 Madison Avenue, near Madison Square Park, on the 4/6, N/R/W, F/M and PATH.
Recordings if you miss one. Available for 30 days after each session, so a missed class is recoverable.
Retake free within a year. Sit any class in the program again at no cost, for any reason.
An SCO handles the VA side. One of our School Certifying Officials submits your enrollment certification so you are not chasing it.

Printed workbooks included. This program comes with detailed workbooks, in print or ebook, at no additional cost.

Expert instructors

The instructors who teach this program at Noble Desktop. You learn from working practitioners, in the room.

Dan Rodney
School Director, Instructor, & Senior Course Developer

What you will learn

Adobe Photoshop to retouch photos and create graphics Adobe InDesign to create page layouts with text and images Adobe Illustrator to create vector graphics such as logos, icons, and more
Understand graphic design concepts & processes
Learn about the elements of design
Develop and expand your graphic design portfolio
Learn how to speak about your work and how to incorporate and evaluate critiques Upload your work to Adobe Portfolio (included with your Creative Cloud membership) to create your portfolio website

Skills covered

The tools and technologies this program teaches.

Adobe Photoshop
Adobe InDesign
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Creative Cloud
Graphic Design Principles
UI Design Principles
Typography
Color Theory
Layout
Graphic Design Portfolio
Adobe Portfolio
Mohamed Ossama

Where graduates go

Roles this program prepares you for. Training and portfolio support, not a job guarantee or a placement promise, and we publish no salary figures here.

Graphic Designer
Digital Designer
Visual Designer
Designer
Contact Us

Your certificate

Finish the program and you receive a verified certificate from Noble Desktop, which is licensed by the New York State Education Department. It states the program and the hours completed. It is a school credential, not a state licence or an industry certification, and we do not claim it is one.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use my GI Bill® for this program?

Yes. This program is approved for the training of veterans and eligible dependents under Noble Desktop, VA facility code 25112332. You do not have to take our word for it: look us up in the VA GI Bill Comparison Tool. Approval means the program met the standards of the State Approving Agency and VA. It is not an endorsement of Noble Desktop by either one.

Will my benefits cover the whole cost?

It depends on your benefit chapter, your entitlement percentage, and how much entitlement you have left. Chapter 33 at 100% typically covers tuition and fees for an approved program. Chapter 35 and Chapter 30 pay a fixed monthly amount and often will not cover a full program by themselves. One of our School Certifying Officials will go through the expected balance with you before you enroll.

Is this program online or in person?

In person, at 185 Madison Avenue in Manhattan. Whether a program is in person or online is one of the things VA weighs when it sets a housing allowance, so ask VA what that means for you. If you need a fully online option, our partner school VDCI holds its own VA approval; see veterans.vdci.edu.

How do I enroll using my benefits?

Start your enrollment on this site, choose a start date, and upload your Certificate of Eligibility if you have it. One of our School Certifying Officials will be in touch to confirm the details and collect anything else we need, then we register you and submit your certification to VA.

What if I have used part of my benefit already?

That is common and it is fine. Tell us roughly how much entitlement you have left and we will tell you what it covers here and what would remain. For an exact figure, VA is the authority: call the GI Bill hotline at 888-442-4551.

If you are weighing two of them, call and we will talk it through against your entitlement and your timeline. Every approved program is on the main hub, filterable by track.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Approval of Noble Desktop's programs for VA education benefits does not constitute endorsement by VA or any government agency. VA determines eligibility and payment amounts.

Graphic Design Certificate