Online Diploma in Desktop Publishing

Course Overview

Desktop publishing (DTP) is a system or process for designing, editing, and producing camera-ready documents, as newsletters, brochures, or magazines, using a desktop computer, special software, and a laser printer, rather than using conventional printing methods.

This programme will be of interest to you if you are an existing desktop publisher/graphic designer, are a beginner looking to gain skills in the Adobe suite of applications (Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Acrobat), or are seeking upskill to a career into the following creative areas, desktop publishing, graphic design, advertising, marketing, online digital publishing.

The skills gained on this course will bring your skills up to industry-level standards in the area of graphics and design. It will provide you with additional skill to aid you in your marketing career, and the kind of knowledge that would be an important asset in the printing and publishing sectors.

What is a Professional Diploma?

An IBAT Professional Diploma is a focused, short duration practical course that consolidates, upskills and/or reskills learners in a professional area. They are stand-alone qualifications  that do not lead to an award on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ).

Course Content:

On completion of this programme, you will be competent in the use of digital mediums, the basic creative and technical aspects of image editing, and the manipulation and design professional looking material using industry-leading software.

On completion of the Diploma in Web Design graduates will be able to:

• Establish competence in creating artwork for digital mediums
• Establish competence in the basic creative and technical aspects of image editing and manipulation
• Design professional looking material using industry leading software

Modules:

The course consists of four modules which cover the four main applications:

1. Adobe InDesign – used to design and layout publications such as brochures, magazines and posters.
2. Adobe Illustrator – a vector graphics editor and is used for illustration design for logos, graphics and simple layouts.
3. Adobe Photoshop – a graphics editing programme that is used to edit, retouch and prepare images for publishing on the Web and in print.
4. Adobe Acrobat – a PDF editor that can view, create and manipulate Portable Document Formats (PDF).

These are the industry standard programmes used for Desktop Publishing and Graphic Design. :

During the programme there is a strong emphasis on the importance of a clear understanding of the print industry so that you not only know how to use the applications but also fully understand how to send the files to print.

The course also examines the design, colour and layout of documents/images for print.

Assessment

• You will have to successfully complete course work (100%) to be awarded the Diploma in Desktop Publishing.

Career Opportunities

Upon completion of this programme you are ideally placed to work as a Desktop Publisher in the media, advertising and communications industries. The skills gained from this course are also useful if you work in marketing and are involved in the preparation of marketing materials.

This course will support your ambitions to work in a graphic design studio, printing business or in a support role in a marketing department, and undertake jobs such as:

• Graduate Graphic Designer
• Desktop Publisher
• Freelance Designer
• Marketing and Communications roles

Academic Progression Opportunities

If you complete this course you may consider further study on the IBAT College Dublin’s Diploma in Web Design.

Why IBAT College?

Career Potential
Maximise your career potential as you remain working while obtaining a professionally relevant, career enhancing, qualification at the same time.

Excellent Lecturing Staff
Learn from friendly and highly qualified academic staff, with industry experience, in small class-sizes, and guest lecturers who are experts in their fields.

Student Experience
Being part of a culturally diverse student nationality mix at IBAT College Dublin, with learners from over 30 different countries, gives you the opportunity to learn culturally different working methods first-hand, and the fundamentals to succeed in a globally connected network once you graduate.

City Centre Location
With our campus located in Dublin city centre, in Temple Bar, you are close to all major transport hubs making it easy to attend classes in between work and home.

Programme Material
Printed course notes are supplied for the first lecture. All subsequent notes are then available to download/view/print through the student virtual learning (Moodle) platform.

Entry Requirements

This course has been developed for those with little or no prior publishing experience, but a desire to understand computational approaches to solution provision. You will learn the fundamental concepts and terminology of the software utilised, and develop skills in designing materials for publication.
The course assumes that you do not have a publishing background but a basic computing ability is required.

Minimum computer requirements for this online course

• Windows 10 or Apple Mac computer, but must have a minimum of 8 GB of memory as this will provide a much better learning experience. 
• Computer processor Core i3, i5 or higher.
• Good reliable broadband connection.

Important Information

All students must have access to an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription to do the course. You can sign up to a subscription with Adobe using your @ibat student email address and save up to 60% on the monthly fee.
For this course you only need to install Adobe Illustrator (Ai), Adobe Photoshop (Ps), Adobe InDesign (ID) & Adobe Acrobat.

All students must use their @ibat email address when communicating with the lecturer or joining online lectures on Google Classroom.

How to Apply

Don’t miss out because you’re unsure.

You can contact or apply to us directly using the the "Contact Us" or "Apply Online" options below or at the top of the page, this will reserve your place and also give us the key details to start your application, a member of our admissions team will then contact you with further details, or alternatively you can simply "Ask us a Question" using the form below.

You can also "Book a One-to-One" with one of our course specialists who will provide you with additional guidance on your application, you can set up a meeting by:

• Calling us at:  +353 1 8075 055 
• Email us at:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

We also have flexible payment plans, please contact us to discuss your options or visit the college anytime and our course specialists will be more than willing to discuss any queries you may have.

We look forward to meeting you.

Testimonials

Lecturer Profile

IBAT is now offering 100% interactive learning via virtual classrooms, all at an affordable price. We’re adapting along with the rest of the world, to the new normal. With an increasing shift towards online learning and as jobs become harder to find, now is the time to take initiative and upskill by gaining a diploma from the comfort of your own home.

Benefit from live sessions with our expert tutors who are teaching in real-time and can therefore engage with you directly. Seize this opportunity to boost your prospects and stay ahead of the competition. 

You can sign up to a subscription with Adobe using your @ibat student email address and save up to 60% on the monthly fee.