Graphic Design Career Track

From zero to a professional
graphic designer.

Six months. Real projects. Real income. A hands-on, project-based program that takes complete beginners from their first click to landing paid clients on Fiverr, Upwork & PeoplePerHour - with AI skills baked into every stage so you design faster, pitch smarter, and future-proof your career.

Jump to The Program ↗ Curriculum ↗ Outcomes ↗ AI Track ↗
6Months
15Portfolio Projects
25+Tools Covered
// The Program

Built for the way designers actually work in 2026.

The Learnio Graphic Design Career Track is a complete six-month journey designed for absolute beginners. Each month stacks on the last - computer basics, Illustrator, Photoshop, freelancing, professional skills - and AI runs through all of it, because the designers winning work today are the ones who know how to collaborate with AI, not avoid it.

Project-Based Learning

14+ real deliverables - business cards, logos, brochures, photo manipulations - ready to ship to real clients.

AI-First Curriculum

Gemini, ChatGPT, Copilot, Canva AI, Ideogram, Leonardo - learn to prompt, generate, and edit at the speed of 2026.

Freelance-Ready

Live profiles on Fiverr, Upwork, and PeoplePerHour. Winning proposals. Your first paying client before graduation.

// The Curriculum

Your six-month learning journey

Each month builds on the last. Here's exactly what you'll learn, when you'll learn it, and the deliverables you'll ship along the way.

// At a Glance
01
Foundations
02
Illustrator
03
Advanced Vector
04
Photoshop Pro
05
Freelancing
06
Professional
01
Month One

Digital foundations for complete beginners

Phase · Foundation Skills

Before pixels come confidence. Month 1 removes every barrier between a first-time computer user and the digital workspace - hardware, file management, the internet, email, productivity tools, and safe online habits. Learners also get their first taste of AI tools and digital security, closing the month with a practical troubleshooting project.

Week-by-Week Curriculum
Week 1Computer Basics
  • Introduction to computers & hardware components
  • Starting, shutting down & troubleshooting power
  • Desktop interface, Start menu, pre-installed programs
  • Mouse & keyboard mastery, shortcuts, typing practice
  • Operating systems & customizing basic settings
Week 2Files & Software
  • File and folder management, file extensions
  • External storage & USB drive handling
  • Intro to Word / Google Docs & Excel / Sheets
  • Media players & playback settings
  • Internet fundamentals, browsers & safe browsing
Week 3Internet & Email
  • Creating and using an email account professionally
  • Attachments, replying, forwarding, spam & phishing
  • Social media basics: FB, IG, X, LinkedIn, TikTok
  • Privacy, etiquette & professional use of platforms
  • Typing speed tools & intro to Grammarly
Week 4Practical Skills
  • Presentation tools: PowerPoint / Google Slides
  • Photo editing with Canva & PDF annotation
  • Intro to AI: ChatGPT, Grammarly, voice assistants
  • Digital security, passwords, 2FA & safe browsing
  • Troubleshooting, review & final hands-on project
02
Month Two

Adobe Illustrator & your first real projects

Phase · Vector Design

Month 2 opens the door to vector design. Learners get the fundamentals of graphic design theory, navigate Adobe Illustrator with confidence, and work through the core toolset - shapes, pens, typography, shape builder, and artboards. The month ends with real client-style deliverables: a flat character, a business card, and a flyer.

Week-by-Week Curriculum
Week 1Design Fundamentals
  • Introduction to graphic design
  • Graphics & media types, color modes, resolution
  • Why Illustrator? Industry use cases
  • Illustrator interface, workspace & panels
  • New document setup, zooming, navigation, undo/redo
Week 2Tools & Objects
  • Shape tools, color application, direct selection
  • Copy/paste, lock/unlock, arrange, lasso, magic wand
  • Scale, shear, rotate, reflect & free transform
  • Clipping mask, eyedropper, gradients, mesh & blend
  • Offset path, split into grid, compound path
Week 3Type & Export
  • Ruler, guides, alignment
  • Stroke panel, expand, layer & transparency panels
  • Pen tools mastery
  • Type tools, outline & shape builder
  • Artboard tools, save & export options
Week 4Projects 1–3
  • Project 1: Flat Character Design
  • Project 2: Business Card (setup, layout, icons)
  • Modern trends, inspiration & export for print
  • Project 3: Flyer Design
  • Assignment: design and submit all three
03
Month Three

Advanced Illustrator & entering Photoshop

Phase · Advanced Vector + Raster Intro

The month begins with higher-stakes deliverables - banners, trifold brochures, rollups, vector tracing, and logo design - then transitions learners into Adobe Photoshop. By month's end, learners are comfortable with selections, layers, and even their first full Photoshop character design.

Week-by-Week Curriculum
Week 1Print Projects
  • Project 4: Banner Design
  • Project 5: Trifold Brochure Design
  • Project 6: Rollup Banner Design
  • Print-ready export and bleed setup
  • Assignments for all three projects
Week 2Tracing & Logos
  • Introduction to vector tracing
  • Manual vector tracing techniques
  • Auto vector tracing workflows
  • Project 7: Vector tracing (3 images)
  • Project 8: Logo Design
Week 3Photoshop Basics
  • Photoshop interface & document setup
  • Workspace, panels, screen modes, navigation
  • Marquee tools, color apply, feather, expand, contract
  • Layer concept, re-selection, merge & group
  • Lasso, magic wand, quick & object selection
Week 4Color & Layers
  • Hue/saturation - coloring a B&W image
  • Levels, curves, RGB vs CMYK
  • Pen, brush & pattern tools in Photoshop
  • Blend modes, opacity vs fill, layer masks in depth
  • Smart objects & adjustment layers
04
Month Four

Photoshop mastery & photo manipulation

Phase · Photoshop Mastery

A month entirely dedicated to professional-grade Photoshop projects. Learners tackle the work that freelance clients ask for every day - photo retouching, background removal, background blur, object removal, photo manipulation, color correction, and creative effects. Each project becomes a portfolio piece.

Week-by-Week Curriculum
Week 1Retouch & Backgrounds
  • Project 1: Retouching - sharpen, brighten, clean spots
  • Smoothing skin, lipstick, eye & hair color changes
  • Project 2: Background removal with pen tools
  • Removing background from hair
  • Changing backgrounds with color correction
Week 2Blur & Object Removal
  • Project 3: Pro-level background blur techniques
  • Depth-of-field simulation in depth
  • Project 4: Object removal with clone stamp
  • Content-aware fill and healing tools
  • Real-world cleanup assignments
Week 3Manipulation & Color
  • Project 5: 3D pop-out image manipulation
  • Compositing techniques & shadow work
  • Project 6: Photo editing workflow
  • Color adjustment and correction in depth
  • Before/after portfolio prep
Week 4Effects & Close-out
  • Project 7: Water reflection effects
  • Creating custom filters in Photoshop
  • Portfolio review and polish
  • Assignment: water reflection filter
  • Course conclusion & skill assessment
05
Month Five

Job readiness & freelance marketplaces

Phase · Freelancing Launchpad

Month 5 turns design skills into income. Learners build personal brands, write winning CVs and cover letters, and go hands-on with the three biggest global marketplaces - Fiverr, Upwork, and PeoplePerHour. The month wraps with entrepreneurship: setting up a portfolio, marketing channels, and the legal basics of a freelance business.

Week-by-Week Curriculum
Week 1Freelancing Intro
  • What is digital freelancing? Popular skills
  • Successful freelancer interviews & insights
  • Communication & personal branding fundamentals
  • Written, verbal & virtual meeting etiquette
  • In-demand skills & market research
Week 2Soft Skills & Jobs
  • Presentation skills & negotiation
  • Project, time & financial management
  • Problem-solving & proactivity
  • Finding the right jobs, CV & cover letter
  • Apply, follow up, learn from failure
Week 3Fiverr & Upwork
  • Fiverr: profile, ranking, gig research, titles, tags
  • Fiverr: gig descriptions, images, marketing, buyer req.
  • Upwork: interface, profile bio, settings, connects
  • Upwork: specialized profile, portfolio, proposals
  • Upwork: Project Catalog, JSS, ranking, payment
Week 4PPH & Business
  • PeoplePerHour interface & ranking system
  • Setting up account, finding jobs, offers
  • Setting up portfolio & digital marketing channels
  • Starting a company, legal & tax compliance
  • Growing, sustaining & staying motivated
06
Month Six

Professional & remote work skills

Phase · Professional Readiness

The final month elevates learners from skilled freelancers to true professionals. They deepen communication, collaboration, and emotional intelligence - then master the tools and habits of modern remote work: productivity software, video conferencing, project management, and cybersecurity.

Week-by-Week Curriculum
Week 1Communication & Thinking
  • Effective verbal & written communication
  • Active listening & public speaking
  • Giving & receiving constructive feedback
  • Teamwork, trust, conflict resolution
  • Problem-solving & decision-making frameworks
Week 2Professionalism & EQ
  • Time management, prioritization, deadlines
  • Workplace etiquette & work ethic
  • SMART goals, self-motivation & accountability
  • Self-awareness, empathy & social skills
  • Stress management & resilience
Week 3Remote Work Ready
  • Benefits and challenges of remote work
  • Setting up a productive workspace & schedule
  • Windows basics, file mgmt & troubleshooting
  • Google Suite (Docs, Sheets, Slides)
  • Professional email & intro to cloud storage
Week 4Tools & Security
  • Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams
  • Project management tools & Slack
  • Miro & digital whiteboards
  • Phishing, passwords, encryption, VPNs, 2FA
  • File organization & time-tracking apps
// Graduate Outcomes

What graduates can actually do.

Six months in, our learners don't just know design software - they ship work. Every capability below is backed by hands-on projects, a reviewed portfolio piece, and deliverables a sponsor or employer can open and inspect.

01

Master Adobe Illustrator

Navigate the full Illustrator toolkit with confidence - shapes, pen tool, typography, shape builder, gradients, clipping masks, and artboards - and set up print-ready files with proper color modes and bleed.

Illustrator Pen Tool Typography Artboards CMYK / RGB
02

Design logos & brand identity

Take a client brief and deliver a finished logo - from initial concept sketches and vector tracing through final export in every format a brand actually needs for print and screen.

Logo Design Vector Tracing Brand Marks Export
03

Produce print-ready marketing collateral

Lay out business cards, flyers, trifold brochures, rollup banners, and outdoor banners with proper bleed, margins, and print-ready export - the bread-and-butter work freelance clients need weekly.

Business Cards Flyers Brochures Rollups Banners
04

Retouch & restore photos

Sharpen, brighten, and clean skin, smooth portraits, and change hair, eye, and lipstick colors on demand - the retouching workflows that sell on Fiverr every single day.

Photoshop Retouching Healing Tools Color Correction
05

Remove & replace backgrounds

Cut out subjects cleanly using pen tool selections, handle tricky edges like hair, and composite onto new backgrounds with matched color and lighting - the #1 requested task on freelance marketplaces.

Pen Selections Hair Masking Compositing Layer Masks
06

Create photo manipulation art

Build 3D pop-out effects, water reflections, and cinematic background blur. Remove unwanted objects with clone stamp and content-aware fill, and design custom filters - portfolio-grade creative work.

3D Pop-out Object Removal Custom Filters Depth of Field
07

Build a portfolio that wins work

Graduate with a polished portfolio of real deliverables - flat characters, business cards, flyers, brochures, logos, retouches, and manipulations - plus the before/after pairs that prove skill at a glance.

Portfolio Case Studies Before / After Personal Brand
08

Win clients on freelance marketplaces

Build standout profiles on the three biggest global marketplaces, write proposals that get shortlisted, and manage the entire client relationship from first message to repeat retainer.

Fiverr Upwork PeoplePerHour Proposals
09

Work professionally & remotely

Work with clients and teams the way real studios do - present your work, gather feedback and run clean revision rounds, hand off print- and web-ready files in the right formats, and manage deadlines across multiple projects.

Client Comms File Handoff Revisions Deadlines Slack
✦ Bonus Track · Included in Every Month

AI superpowers for every designer.

Designers who team up with AI ship work in hours that used to take days. Every learner in the program gets this dedicated AI module - from prompt engineering to generative design - so you graduate knowing how to wield the same tools top creative studios are hiring for in 2026.

7
Dedicated AI Chapters
Chapter · 01
Intro to AI
Foundational concepts, AI in daily life, and the ethics every creator needs to understand - bias, privacy, and responsible use.
Narrow AI Ethics History
Chapter · 02
Core Concepts
How AI actually works - algorithms, datasets, training. Key vocabulary so you can read any AI article and keep up with the field.
ML Neural Nets NLP
Chapter · 03
AI Tools Landscape
A guided tour of the best free and paid AI tools for text, image, design, and NLP. Setup accounts, navigate interfaces, go hands-on.
ChatGPT DALL-E Canva AI Hugging Face
Chapter · 04
Mastering ChatGPT
Go deep on the AI assistant you'll use every day - text, code, summaries, ideation, customer support, and customization via the API.
GPT Fine-Tuning API
Chapter · 05
Prompt Engineering
The single highest-ROI skill in 2026. Craft, refine, and iterate prompts that get exactly the output you want, every time.
Role Prompts Multi-step Iteration
Chapter · 06 · FEATURED DEEP-DIVE
AI for Graphic Designers
The heart of the AI track - hands-on lessons on using AI across the entire design workflow, from generation and vector art to retouching and print-ready output with the tools top studios run on.
Gemini ChatGPT Copilot Canva AI Ideogram Leonardo AI
Generate designs & images with Gemini
Generate vector art with AI
Vector generation with Ideogram & Leonardo
AI logo design from a client brief
Combine multiple images with AI
Object extraction from any image
Add, remove & swap objects
AI background removal & replacement
Damaged photo repair with AI
AI-powered image retouching
Create professional AI headshots
Generate 3D action figures
Client-brief to AI design workflow
Prompts from reference images
Upscale images to print quality
Chapter · 07
Future of AI & Careers
Emerging trends, generative AI, and how to position a design portfolio for the AI-native job market. Plus the responsible-use principles that make creative AI careers sustainable.
Trends Careers Portfolio Responsible AI