Design Free course · Certificate included
AI Image Generation and Design
Prompt, edit and scale AI imagery for real campaigns — consistently, legally and with human design judgment
- Intermediate
- 5 h 21 min
- 18 lessons in 6 modules
- 2 h 30 min of video lectures
- Updated Sep 2026
About this course
AI image models can turn a sentence into a photograph, illustration or product scene in seconds — but professional results need far more than a lucky prompt. This course teaches the repeatable workflow creative teams use in 2026: how image models work and how to choose between standalone generators, assistant-built models and design-suite features; how to write structured prompts and use style, subject and multi-image references; and how to iterate with prompt logs.
You will practice inpainting, generative expand, upscaling and compositing in Photoshop and Figma, build brand style kits and prompt libraries, and run a production pipeline with QA sheets and delivery packages. Just as importantly, you will apply the US Copyright Office's guidance on AI authorship, manage likeness and trademark risk, use Content Credentials (C2PA) and platform AI labels, meet WCAG 2.2 accessibility, and work transparently with clients. Every lesson includes a narrated lecture with worked examples and hands-on templates.
Tools you’ll use
- Adobe Firefly
- Photoshop Generative Fill
- Midjourney
- Ideogram
- Recraft
- OpenAI GPT Image models
- Google Gemini image models
- Canva
- Figma
- Content Credentials (C2PA)
Skills
- AI image generation
- Prompt engineering
- Generative editing
- Campaign design
- AI ethics and compliance
- Creative direction
What you’ll be able to do
- Explain how image models work and choose a tool and model for a brief using a scorecard
- Write seven-part prompts and reusable templates, and iterate with a prompt log
- Use references, inpainting, generative expand, upscaling and compositing to finish assets
- Build brand style kits, character bibles and prompt libraries that keep campaigns consistent
- Assess copyright, likeness and trademark risk using current US Copyright Office guidance
- Apply Content Credentials, platform AI labels and disclosure rules correctly
- Run an AI image pipeline with QA, accessibility checks, client transparency and testing
Curriculum
Syllabus
- Modules
- 6
- Lessons
- 18
- Reading time
- 2 h
- Assessment questions
- 25
Build an accurate mental model of image generators, their strengths and limits, and how to choose the right tool for a brief.
- Inside image generators: a practical mental modelVideo lecture, 9′Video · 7 min
- Choosing the right image tool for the jobVideo lecture, 9′8 min
- Strengths, limits and when not to use AI imageryVideo lecture, 8′7 min
Write structured prompts, direct style with references responsibly, and iterate efficiently with a prompt log.
- Prompt anatomy: a structure that worksVideo lecture, 8′7 min
- Styles, references and responsible style directionVideo lecture, 8′7 min
- Iteration, variations and prompt logsVideo lecture, 8′7 min
Use inpainting, outpainting and generative fill, upscale properly, and composite AI output with photography and typography.
- Inpainting, outpainting and generative fillVideo lecture, 8′8 min
- Upscaling, artifacts and quality controlVideo lecture, 8′7 min
- Compositing AI output with photography and typographyVideo lecture, 8′7 min
Keep characters, products and style consistent across many assets using references, style systems and a production pipeline.
- Consistent characters, mascots and productsVideo lecture, 8′8 min
- Style systems and campaign prompt librariesVideo lecture, 8′7 min
- A production pipeline from brief to deliveryVideo lecture, 8′7 min
Understand ownership and copyright questions, avoid likeness and trademark problems, and apply labeling and disclosure rules.
- Copyright and ownership of AI imagesVideo lecture, 9′8 min
- Likeness, trademarks and harmful contentVideo lecture, 9′7 min
- Labeling, disclosure and provenanceVideo lecture, 9′Video · 8 min
Integrate AI into a human-led creative process, work transparently with clients, and manage bias, quality and effectiveness.
- Where AI fits in the creative processVideo lecture, 9′7 min
- Working with clients: transparency, contracts and pricingVideo lecture, 8′7 min
- Bias, inclusion, quality and effectivenessVideo lecture, 8′7 min
- Final assessment
Your certificate
Finish with a credential anyone can check
Earn the AI Image Generation and Design Practitioner badge: The holder can plan and produce campaign-ready AI imagery: writing structured prompts, using references, editing and upscaling outputs, keeping characters and style consistent, combining AI with human design, and managing copyright, likeness, disclosure and bias risks with transparent client practices.
Completed all lessons and scored ≥ 80% on the final assessment.
- A public verification page
- A PDF certificate to download
- An Open Badge you can share
- One click to your LinkedIn profile
Final assessment
- 25questions drawn from a larger pool
- 40 mintime limit
- 80%pass mark
- 3attempts per 24 hours
Start learning today. It’s free.
Every lesson is free to read. A free account saves your progress, unlocks the final assessment and issues your certificate.