Certificate in Editing & Graphic Design

The Certificate in Editing & Graphic Design (EGD) at Nayolites Computer and Media College is a practical, 6–12 month intensive program engineered to equip students with professional post-production and visual design capabilities. Learners master raster and vector graphics, typography, multi-page desktop publishing, non-linear video editing, 2D/3D motion graphics, cinematic color grading, and audio post-production.

Course Specifications

• Course Title: Certificate in Editing & Graphic Design (EGD)

• Duration: 6–12 Months (610 Guided Learning Hours)

• Certification Pathway: TVET CDACC / NITA / Institutional Certificate

• Study Modes: Full-Time (Daily Computer & Editing Labs), Part-Time (Evening), & Weekend Intensive

• Location: Bamuda Place, Mwembe, Kisii, Kenya

Key Learning Pillars

• Graphic Design & Visual Branding: Master Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator to design logos, brand identity systems, flyers, promotional posters, digital ad packages, and high-impact thumbnails.

• Desktop Publishing & Layout: Produce multi-page publications, magazines, catalogs, and brochures using Adobe InDesign, ensuring proper bleed, margins, and print-ready PDF specifications.

• Non-Linear Video Editing (NLE): Perform multi-camera edits, assembly cuts, J/L-cuts, continuity edits, and narrative pacing using Adobe Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve.

• Motion Graphics & VFX: Animate 3D logos, lower thirds, title sequences, keyframe animations, dynamic graphic overlays, and green screen compositing in Adobe After Effects.

• Color Grading, Audio Mix & Broadcast Assets: Execute shot matching, cinematic color looks, spectral audio restoration, broadcast graphics overlays, virtual set design (vMix), and multi-format video rendering.

Open Enrollment / Basic Computer Knowledge (KCPE, KCSE, or adult learners)

NAYOLITES COMPUTER AND MEDIA COLLEGE

DEPARTMENT OF MEDIA PRODUCTION & GRAPHIC ARTS

CERTIFICATE IN EDITING & GRAPHIC DESIGN 

Campus Location: Bamuda Place, Mwembe, Kisii, Kenya

Total Duration: 6–12 Months (610 Total Guided Learning Hours)

Certification Pathway: TVET CDACC / NITA / Institutional Certificate

Study Modes: Full-Time (Daily Computer & Editing Labs), Part-Time (Evening), & Weekend Intensive

Entry Requirements: Open Enrollment / Basic Computer Knowledge (KCPE, KCSE, or adult learners)

EGD 101: Fundamentals of Graphic Design & Visual Communication

• Duration: 60 Hours

• Assessment Mode: Design Theory & Tool Mastery Test

• Unit Overview: Core principles of visual design, color theory, typography, raster vs. vector graphics, and industry-standard design tools (Adobe Photoshop & Adobe Illustrator).

• Detailed Topics:

  • Design Principles: Balance, contrast, alignment, proximity, hierarchy, repetition, and white space.

  • Color Theory & Management: Color wheel dynamics, psychology of colors, RGB (digital display) vs. CMYK (print execution) color spaces.

  • Typography Mastery: Font classifications (Serif, Sans-Serif, Display), kerning, tracking, leading, and font pairing.

  • Software Fundamentals: Interface navigation, canvas setup, layers, selection tools, masking, vector pen tool, and pathfinders.

• Key Practical Deliverable: Composite vector and raster graphic design project incorporating custom typography and vector assets.

EGD 102: Digital Graphic Asset Creation & Branding

• Duration: 60 Hours

• Assessment Mode: Brand Identity Portfolio Project

• Unit Overview: Brand identity development, logo design, marketing collateral, social media artwork, and high-impact thumbnail design.

• Detailed Topics:

  • Brand Identity Systems: Logo design methodologies, brand guidelines, color palettes, and brand voice definition.

  • Digital Artwork: Designing event posters, promotional flyers, banners, social media ad packages, and YouTube/TV thumbnails.

  • Advanced Selection & Masking: Background removal, photo manipulation, photo retouching, and digital painting basics.

  • Export Formats: Managing transparent PNGs, SVG vector files, high-resolution JPEGs, and source files.

• Key Practical Deliverable: Complete Brand Identity Package (Logo, brand style guide, promotional poster, and digital ad assets).

EGD 103: Desktop Publishing & Print Layout

• Duration: 50 Hours

• Assessment Mode: Print-Ready Publication Assessment

• Unit Overview: Multi-page document layout design, editorial publishing, print preparation, and pre-press prep using Adobe InDesign and Publisher.

• Detailed Topics:

  • Layout Systems: Grid systems, master pages, column structures, and section breaks.

  • Editorial Design: Magazine layouts, course brochures, product catalogs, annual reports, and newsletters.

  • Pre-Press & Print Technicals: Bleed margins, trim marks, safety zones, paper weight considerations, and spot colors.

  • Exporting for Print: Generating high-resolution press-quality PDFs with embedded fonts and CMYK color profiles.

• Key Practical Deliverable: Multi-page printed booklet or course catalog featuring master pages and print marks.

EGD 104: Non-Linear Video Editing (NLE)

• Duration: 80 Hours

• Assessment Mode: Practical Video Assembly Edit

• Unit Overview: Non-linear editing principles using Adobe Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve, narrative pacing, multi-cam editing, and timeline efficiency.

• Detailed Topics:

  • NLE Interface & Workflow: Project organization, scratch disks, proxy workflows, bin structures, and sequence settings.

  • Cutting Techniques: Assembly edits, fine edits, J-cuts, L-cuts, match cuts, jump cuts, and maintaining screen direction/continuity.

  • Multi-Camera Editing: Syncing multi-cam footage via audio waveform, camera switching, and angle matching.

  • Pacing & Narrative Structure: Rhythm editing to dialogue, music beats, sound triggers, and visual storytelling cues.

• Key Practical Deliverable: Fully edited 5-minute multi-camera narrative or interview video project with polished cuts.

EGD 105: Motion Graphics & Visual Effects (VFX)

• Duration: 80 Hours

• Assessment Mode: Motion Graphics Project Submission

• Unit Overview: 2D/3D motion graphics animation, keyframing, title design, logo animations, lower thirds, and green screen compositing in Adobe After Effects.

• Detailed Topics:

  • Motion Graphic Fundamentals: Keyframe animation, spatial/temporal interpolation, speed graph editor, and easing curves.

  • Title Design & Broadcast Elements: Animated lower thirds, motion title sequences, kinetic typography, and lower-third overlays.

  • 3D Motion & Logo Animation: Extruding 3D shapes, lighting, camera fly-throughs, and 3D animated logo reveals.

  • Compositing & Chroma Keying: Green screen keying (Keylight), matte cleanup, tracking (point tracking, planar tracking), and rotoscoping.

• Key Practical Deliverable: 3D animated logo reveal and a motion graphic broadcast title package.

EGD 106: Color Grading & Visual Finishing

• Duration: 50 Hours

• Assessment Mode: Color Grading Portfolio Assessment

• Unit Overview: Color correction, secondary color grading, matching camera shots, creative look creation, and color space management in DaVinci Resolve and Lumetri Color.

• Detailed Topics:

  • Color Correction Basics: Reading scopes (Waveform, Vectorscope, Histogram), adjusting exposure, white balance, contrast, and saturation.

  • Matching Shots: Color matching diverse camera sensors, lighting conditions, and multi-cam clips.

  • Secondary Color Grading: Isolation masks, qualifier tools, skin tone indicators, and selective hue/saturation adjustments.

  • Creative Color Looks: Applying cinematic LUTs, film grain, day-for-night grading, and mood enhancement.

• Key Practical Deliverable: Before-and-after color grading showreel demonstrating shot matching and cinematic look creation.

EGD 107: Audio Post-Production & Sound Design

• Duration: 50 Hours

• Assessment Mode: Audio Post-Production Mix

• Unit Overview: Dialogue cleaning, background noise removal, sound effects (SFX) layering, music mixing, and audio mastering using Adobe Audition and Premiere Pro.

• Detailed Topics:

  • Audio Restoration: Spectral frequency display, background noise reduction, de-clicking, de-humming, and plosive control.

  • Dialogue Processing: Equalization (EQ), dynamic compression, de-essers, and vocal leveling.

  • Sound Design & Foley: Layering sound effects, ambient room tones, sound transitions, and impact sounds.

  • Mixing & Mastering: Setting target broadcast loudness levels (LUFS / dBFS), audio ducking music under dialogue, and final stereo mix export.

• Key Practical Deliverable: Fully mixed and restored audio track for a short video edit featuring dialogue, Foley, and background music.

EGD 108: Broadcast Graphics & Virtual Set Assets

• Duration: 60 Hours

• Assessment Mode: Broadcast Graphics Package

• Unit Overview: On-air television graphics, ticker tape design, channel branding overlays, and virtual set backdrop graphics for television broadcast engines (vMix).

• Detailed Topics:

  • On-Air Channel Graphics: Program bug logos, news tickers, lower-third banners, and split-screen graphics.

  • Virtual Set Design: Layered graphic backdrops, virtual studio set compositions, screen inserts, and alpha channel overlays.

  • Show Branding Packaging: Designing bumper animations, countdown timers, and segment intro sequences.

• Key Practical Deliverable: Complete broadcast graphics package including a virtual studio backdrop layer and animated lower thirds.

EGD 109: Video Encoding, Compression & Digital Archiving

• Duration: 40 Hours

• Assessment Mode: Encoding Lab Exercise

• Unit Overview: Technical video compression, codecs, container formats, bitrates, web vs. broadcast delivery standards, and digital asset archiving.

• Detailed Topics:

  • Codecs & Containers: H.264, H.265 (HEVC), Apple ProRes, Avid DNxHD, MP4, MOV, and MXF.

  • Render Settings: Variable Bitrate (VBR) vs. Constant Bitrate (CBR), resolution scaling (1080p, 4K), frame rate conversions, and color depth.

  • Delivery Standards: Formatting exports specifically for web streaming, social media platforms, television broadcast, and cinema projection.

  • Asset Management: Project archiving, consolidated media backups, cataloging raw assets, and cloud storage management.

• Key Practical Deliverable: Multi-format rendering package delivering optimized versions of a single video master for web, broadcast, and social media.

EGD 110: Practical Editing & Graphic Design Project (Capstone)

• Duration: 80 Hours

• Assessment Mode: Final Capstone Reel & Portfolio Defense

• Unit Overview: Comprehensive capstone module where students create a complete editing and graphic design portfolio reel showcasing branding, video edit, motion graphics, sound mix, and color grade.

• Detailed Topics & Deliverables:

  • Project conceptualization, client brief analysis, and production timeline development.

  • Deliverable 1: Complete Corporate / Brand Graphic Identity Package (Logos, posters, flyers, social templates).

  • Deliverable 2: Fully Edited Video Production (Commercial, short documentary, or promotional advert) featuring custom motion graphics, color grade, and sound mix.

  • Deliverable 3: Professional Video & Motion Design Showreel (60–90 seconds).

  • Portfolio presentation, online reel deployment, and formal oral defense.

• Key Practical Deliverable: Professional Design & Editing Portfolio Reel and oral panel defense.

ASSESSMENT & GRADING FRAMEWORK

• Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs) & Computer Labs: 30%

• EGD 110 Final Capstone Portfolio & Showreel: 30%

• Final Examinations (Practical Lab Test & Theory): 40%

Grading Scale:

• Distinction (80% – 100%): Exceptional visual creativity, advanced software fluency, flawless technical editing, and motion design mastery.

• Credit (65% – 79%): High competence in graphic layout, non-linear video editing, color correction, and audio mixing.

• Pass (50% – 64%): Satisfactory baseline skills meeting standard industry entry level.

• Referral (Below 50%): Re-assessment required in specific practical computer lab units.

Target Audience

• Aspiring graphic designers, video editors, motion graphics artists, broadcast media operators, content creators, layout artists, and digital media freelancers seeking an industry-ready showreel and portfolio.