PHILIPSBURG:--- Is one of your 2012 resolutions to work flexible hours, make more money or to change careers?
If so, then the University of St. Martin is proud to offer a new program designed just for you: Graphic Design Xpress.
This new accelerated program is a two-level course, designed by KGraphix and is facilitated by USM. Level one is scheduled to start at the end of March and will meet six hours a week for a period of three months. Level two will begin subsequently for the same period of time. The program is designed to give participants with basic computer skills and creative talent the necessary tools and skills to launch a lucrative freelance design business or to be employed as a qualified Graphic Designer.
“The course is designed in such a way that participants of all ages with basic computer skills and creative ability can increase their value in the job market and/or save their company lots of expenses by designing their marketing materials internally,” says Kevin Baly, owner of KGraphix and designer/instructor for this program.
He adds that students who have not had the opportunity to go abroad for this type of education can now benefit from the program right here in St. Maarten. This is also a great opportunity for those who are interested in generating a supplemental income while working from home, or those contemplating a career change.
In the first level of the course, participants will learn the basics of Graphic Design, color and fonts, Adobe Photoshop for Beginners, Adobe Illustrator for beginners, Logo Design 1 and Web Design Xpress (Very basic web design using templates).
The second level of the course will include the following classes: Logo Design II, Advertising and collateral Design, Adobe Photoshop-Advanced, Adobe Illustrator- Advanced, Adobe InDesign Basics, portfolio preparation, Print production workshop and Build your Freelance Business.
Baly further adds that upon completion of Graphic Design Xpress, each student will have real-time experience from working on at least one real project during the Level II course. He stressed that each student will have to complete the course with a perfect attendance record to earn a Certificate of Completion.
Baly is a St. Martiner who graduated from Parsons School of Design (Paris) in 1997 and went on to work as a Senior Art Director for Oglivy & Mather in the US, designing national advertising campaigns for clients such as Coca Cola, Holiday Inn, Intercontinental Hotels and Resorts and Priority Club Rewards. He later launched his own freelance design company in New York and has recently moved his operations to St. Martin.
Sign up for this great opportunity to change/enhance your career today by contacting the University of St. Martin’s Student Service Center at telephone 542-5171 extension 1000. In an effort to make this program affordable to all interested participants, the University of St. Martin is offering a payment plan option for those who qualify. This course will only run based on sufficient enrollment.