Visual Design is a project-based curriculum that develops key digital communication skills such as design, project management, research and communication, and photography, graphic design and illustration, and page layout technical skills using Adobe tools.


Visual Design can be used in graphic design education or in more general career and technical education. Each project builds on lessons learned previously and contains an instructor guide (with learning objectives, step-by-step teaching instructions, assessment rubric, and details on alignment to the Adobe Certified Associate exams) and a series of activities to teach students. Activities include student technical guides, worksheets, best practice guides and demo assets. Utilize the entire curriculum, individual projects, or individual activities to adapt this content to your course.


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The Visual Design introduction includes an overview of the curriculum, with a skills matrix, classroom enrichment, and skills overview rubric.


  • Visual Design Introduction

In this project, students learn the basics of photography and composition. Using Adobe Photoshop, students modify and optimize images to create a collage.


In this project, students analyze color theory and design principles used in logos and then plan, create, and build a logo by using Adobe Illustrator.


In this project, students use Adobe InDesign to create their own business cards and, in the process, learn about typography and page layout design.


In this project, students are introduced to the process of working with a client through the review and redesign of an advertisement.


In this mid-term and final project, students create a portfolio of their work and explore career opportunities in the photography and graphic design fields.


In this project, students create a brochure for a client by using advanced image manipulation and page layout design techniques.


In this project, students work in teams to create the theme, purpose, and content of a newsletter and then learn how to design the newsletter for maximum impact.


In this project, students form teams to develop and create a yearbook. They learn how to create templates and use repeating elements to maintain design consistency.


Visual Design is one of the Adobe Digital Careers curriculums. To learn more about these curriculums and other teaching resources, please visit the Adobe Digital Careers page.




Access past versions of the Visual Design curriculum.