PROFESSIONAL
DIPLOMA IN ADVERTISING AND DESIGN
Modules Synopsis
MODULES
CORPORATE IDENTITY AND DESIGN
This module will provide students the science behind every corporation’s ‘persona’. Besides creating the corporate personality, the module also explores the components of a corporate identity programme that will promote consistency in both discipline and application. Students will learn about the coming of corporate communications, the story, visual and package, science of symbols, logos and colours, logotype and semiotics, supporting devices and applications, corporate design mandatories and the corporate identity system and why is it so important.
CREATIVE AND CRITICAL THINKING
A practical blend of critical and creative thinking that helps learners frame problems clearly, question assumptions, generate original ideas, and refine them into workable solutions. Through structured frameworks and hands-on techniques, students learn to switch between analysis and ideation to tackle real-world briefs with clarity and originality.
DIGITAL STUDIOS I: ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR
This module introduces students to the essential vector drawing tools to unlock their creative potential with Adobe Illustrator while learning useful shortcuts to enhance their design workflow. Students will learn from fundamental to the advanced techniques of adobe illustrator to create and construct logo design, 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional graphics, special visual effects, typographical graphics, realistic illustrations, perspective drawing and 3D packaging mock up presentation.
The aim of this module is to equip students with the industry professional skills and techniques to edit and create vector visual graphics and special visual effects in the world of visual culture and highly visual saturated society today.
EDITORIAL DESIGN
This module introduces students the digital publishing tools and techniques for publications design and gain insights into the professional practice of publication designers. Students will learn the anatomy of publication, design principles of page layout, grid systems, visual elements, and the organization of editorial content through Adobe InDesign software. The emphasis include conceptual development, design process, choosing appropriate paper stocks, print production and finishing.
The aim of this module is to provide students with the essential publication software, page layout skills, design considerations and practical publishing skills to create the personality and tone for publication to engage defined target audiences.
O2O BRAND COMMUNICATION STRATEGY
Understand brand fundamentals and apply them to communication that resonates across online and offline touchpoints. Students clarify brand identity, craft stories and messages, and plan cross-platform communication, culminating in a presentation that connects brand meaning to real-world visibility and impact. This aligns with the original description that positions the module as a deep dive into branding, identity, storytelling, messaging and visibility.
SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY
Today’s social networks change faster than the weather. This module skips the “What is Instagram?” basics and goes straight into how to build a smart, channel-agnostic plan that hits business goals, wins budget approval, and keeps pace with new formats. You’ll learn to read audience data, pick the right mix of paid/owned/earned tactics, set up dashboards that matter, and handle bumps in the road. You’ll wrap with a polished strategy deck and a live pitch, just like you would for a real-world client.
USER INTERFACE DESIGN I
The User Interface Design I module introduces students to the theory and practical interface design for web and mobile applications through the use of Figma. This course will provide learner the knowledge and skills to create a real-world website interface and mobile app, resulting in one beautiful, streamlined user experience. At the end of the module, students should be able to learn exactly what does a UI designer do, understand the design process, online layouts, interface components and selecting the right colours and typography for creating of interface designs across different sectors.
VISUAL COMMUNICATION
This module allows students to explore and embark on their creative journey to discover and cultivate what it takes to become a successful visual communication designer. Students will learn the importance of how to integrate basic design elements, principles of design, visual composition and relationships to develop and resolve visual problems. Specifically, this course focuses on the design process, function, exploration of various media, graphical experimentation, theoretical and practical skills of visual communication design.
The aim of this module is to provide students an insightful experience on the role of visual communication design, purpose, function, process and contemporary practices of visual communication.
COPYWRITING
The Copywriting module is a dynamic and highly collaborative class that gives students plenty of discussion and practice opportunities. Not only will they master the different techniques of copywriting, students will learn creative concepts that sell. For those interested in pursuing a career in advertising, it will introduce them to life working in an agency. For others, this is a chance to pick up the skills of creating attention, stirring interest, prompting desire and inducing action with their persuasive writing.
DIGITAL MARKETING
The Digital Marketing module offers a complete coverage of what it takes to become a successful digital marketer. What is digital marketing in today’s marketplace? Understanding Owned, Earned and Paid media. Techniques for search engine optimization (SEO) and how to measure the success of search engine marketing (SEM). Using a framework of profiling digital audiences in strategising your digital plan.
DIGITAL STUDIOS II: ADOBE PHOTOSHOP
This module introduces students to the professional practice and experts’ choice of digital image editing, manipulation and photo retouching tools for graphic design and multimedia with Adobe Photoshop. Students will learn from fundamental to the advanced skills and techniques of Adobe Photoshop to create special visual effects, artistic interpretation of images and enhance digital photography. The emphasis includes design process, exploration of advanced Photoshop techniques by integrating raster and vector graphics with Adobe Illustrator to maximizing the creative potential of the tools to create appealing visuals to effectively engage the audiences.
The aim of this module is to provide students, graphic designer, web designer, multimedia designer, photographer as well as special effects artist with the professional skills to digital image edit, retouch, process digital image confidently and professionally in your respective profession.
GENERATIVE AI CONTENT CREATION
This module trains students to master leading generative-AI tools and to weave the outputs into cohesive, platform-ready content. Through rapid prompt-engineering drills, multi-modal asset generation, batch versioning and brand-guardrail techniques, learners build the technical fluency and creative judgement expected in modern agencies. Due to the rapid advancements/changes in the AI landscape, AI models taught will be constantly updated in line with the latest updates.
PACKAGING AND PRINT TECHNOLOGY
This module offers students an in-depth study of the principles of packaging design and the design process from concepts to three-dimensional forms. Not only will students explore key concepts of the packaging design development process, aesthetics and visual composition organisation, they will also learn about structural construction, technicalities, print production, packaging material and its properties, mechanisms and the overall presentation of the packaging design. The emphasis includes the sustainability and environmental issues associated with packaging design.
The aim of this module is to provide students with the necessary skills to analyse and comprehend how packaging design elements (size, shapes, colour, material, graphics, typography, visual images, graphical treatments), choices of material and appropriate printing options can be integrated together as an effective marketing tool, creating impact and influence on consumers’ perception and buying decisions.
TYPOGRAPHY AND COMMUNICATION DESIGN
This module provides students with the theoretical and practical experiences of typography as a visual language and its application in visual communication design. Students will learn the history of type, anatomy, terminology, type classifications, principles of typography, typographic layout, type aesthetic and type choices consideration. The emphasis includes in depth understanding on the role, purpose and function of typography.
The aim of his module is to provide students with the understanding of how typographic elements such as letter structure, legibility, readability, tone of voices, type personality, characteristics, mood, selection of type choices, integration of other design elements and visual compositional relationships can create a visual impact in visual communication design today.
VIDEO EDITING ESSENTIALS
This is a hands-on module that takes students from a blank timeline to a finished 15–30s product commercial. We’ll keep it practical: a bit of scripting and storyboarding, a small in-class shoot for tabletop product shots, and lots of editing reps in Adobe Premiere Pro using provided assets. By the end of the module, students will be able to understand the basics of video editing through premier pro and deliver a tight spot (plus a shorter cut), with sound, colour, graphics, captions, and correct exports for social.
M.A.D. INTEGRATED CAMPAIGN PROJECT
The M.A.D. Integrated Campaign Project is the final major project for all Professional Diploma in Advertising and Design students. Students will have to integrate everything they have learnt from the past modules with a self-initiated project, combining elements of marketing, advertising and design. This full-fledged project allows students to implement their design methods, communication design, marketing, and advertising strategies into a solid campaign that can be used as a industry worthy portfolio piece.
COMPLIMENTARY MODULES
FUNDAMENTALS OF PHOTOGRAPHY
This module delves first into the history of photography and the documentation of its advancements. The technical skills needed to operate a DSLR camera in manual mode will then be taught through theoretical and practical means, giving students the trust and confidence to operate a professional camera. Through this module, students will also learn to develop and master the ‘eye’ for photography through assignment practice.
The aim of this module is to equip students with the fundamental skills and techniques needed in order to operate a professional DSLR.
NATURAL AND STUDIO LIGHTING
What is light; what is light in photography? Students who go through this module will fully understand the effects of light and how it can create or destroy. The various types of light sources (both natural and artificial/studio lights) and how to correctly use them to your advantage will be taught through theoretical and practical examples.
The module also aims to get students to be familiar with the different types of studio lighting & equipment and how to operate them professionally and efficiently.