What is a Graphic Design?
Graphic design is a profession, academic discipline and applied art whose activity consists in projecting visual communications intended to transmit specific messages to social groups, with specific objectives. Graphic design is an interdisciplinary branch of design and of the fine arts.
Best Graphic Design Schools In Kenya
University of Nairobi
The University of Nairobi is one of two on this list that offers a Degree course. The University of Nairobi School of Arts and Design located along State House Rd, Nairobi offers a 4-year course in Bachelor of Arts in Design.
It’s a general course in design for the first 2 years but in your last two years of study you get to pick a specialization to pursue from a list of; Graphic Design, Illustration, Product Design, and Fashion Design. Interior design used to be in this group but was recently certified as a B.An Interior Design degree course that’s studied on it’s own.
Kenyatta University
Kenyatta University, the second-largest public University in Kenya has a renowned Arts department. Their School of Performing Arts, Creative and Media Studies offers courses in
- Bachelor of Arts (communication and media studies) with graphic design and video editing being part of the classes.
- Bachelor of Arts (Fine Arts). They also have Diploma, Master and PhD in Fine Arts.
- Bachelor of Science (Fashion Design and Marketing)
The B.A (communication and media studies) is well suited for one pursuing a career in Graphic Design. However, it’s not as specialized as the B.A Design course from the University of Nairobi. You’ll be required to complete units in Mass Communication, Radio Broadcasting, Video Editing and Copywriting. The scope of study is wide which could be to your liking if you’d like to be a jack of all trades or it may put you off. Check out their website for more on their list of units and other information.
Academy of Graphic Technologies
This relatively young private institute is located on Maasai Road (off Mombasa Road) in Nairobi. With a young institution, comes the creativity and forward-thinking that the old universities lack. Their courses are more up-to-date, and industry-specific and their computer labs are well-equipped. They offer a 2-year diploma course in Graphic Design. In this course, you’ll go in-depth into 3D design, Photography, Web Design and other Graphic Design units.
With most designers in Kenya practicing freelance, AGT aims to guide the learner into self-employment by instilling the required skills and knowledge required in the freelancing space. Learners are expected to create a potential business plan and portfolio for freelance activity. Their smaller classes and better student-to-teacher ratio mean they provide a personalized learning experience which is essential in any creative class.
They pride themselves in encouraging experimentation and teaching students how to express and communicate their ideas. Find out eligibility criteria and more on their website.
Duration: 2 years
Course: DiploThe NIT offers diploma and certificate courses in Animation and Digital Media Design. They train students in Graphic Design, Multimedia content development, creation and rendering of Animations, Web development and Design.ma in Graphic Design
Buruburu Institute of Fine Arts
In every discussion about design schools in Kenya, the Buruburu Institute of Fine Arts is bound to be mentioned. This relatively small private institute boasts a large community of talented Alumni, Staff and students who only have great things to say about the school. They take on a hands-on approach to creative learning and a rich but focused curriculum that inspires and nurtures raw talent into professional designers and artists.
They also have an awesome informative website, which you’d think would be expected of a design school but the other schools in this list fall way short, with lagging and bland websites. One issue I have is that they seem to be afraid to mention what level of courses they offer on their site. I couldn’t tell if they are certificate or diploma but I found out anyway from other sources, though it’s best you enquire with them for accurate details. It’s nothing to be ashamed of guys.
Nairobi Institute of Technology
They bring in practicing animators and designers to guide students and impart industry knowledge and skills. They also have a great technical team and well-equipped labs for content creation and software training. The diploma course spans 2 ½ years while their certificate course runs for 6 months.
Ezoic
The school is famous for its placement program which involves attaching students to firms and companies in their fields after their first academic year. They practice under supervision until the next semester. This helps students gain experience and workplace skills so by the time they graduate they hit the road running.
The institute is located in Westlands near PrideInn Hotel, Nairobi.
Duration: 2 ½ years for diploma and 6 months for certificate.
Course: Animation and Digital Media Design.
How much does it cost to study graphic design in Kenya?
Graphic Design Course fees in Kenya – September 2023 update
| Course | Location | Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Professional Graphic Design Skill Lead Academy | N/A | KES 3,554 KES 58,084 |
| Animation Design Lead Academy | N/A | KES 3,554 KES 56,632 |
| WordPress Basics Lead Academy | N/A | KES 3,554 KES 56,632 |
| Animated Lettering in Procreate StudyHub | N/A | KES 1,937 KES 37,755 |
Is graphic design a good course in Kenya?
Being a graphic designer in Kenya, you can earn about Kshs 20,000 to Kshs 50,000 and even more monthly. In fact, depending on your level and working experience, you can even earn Kshs. 90,00 or even more. Also, it should be noted that this one of the jobs where you can have freedom since you work with hours or projects.
How long is the graphic design course in Kenya?
Course study duration: 3 months. Entry requirements: KCSE mean grade of D+ (plus).
Which subject is best for graphic design?
The following are the most sought-after graphic design subjects:
- Photoshop.
- Corel Draw.
- Typography.
- Vector Graphics.
- HTML/Javascript.
- Illustration and Shaping.
- Computer Fundamentals.
- Image Layout and Effects.
Is graphic design a hard course?
Learning graphic design is not hard, but it does require creative thinking, an aptitude towards art and design, and time and dedication. Graphic design requires learning the necessary tools, as well as understanding and applying the principles and theories of design.