From Kozhikode agency-style training to government-run statewide programmes, Kerala has several genuinely different paths into graphic design. Below is a fact-checked comparison of location, duration, fees, and placement claims for five institutes, sourced directly from each one's official website.
Short answer
If a physical campus in Kollam district matters, only Unlearn Academy and IMAGE Creative Education currently have one. If published, transparent per-level pricing matters, Unlearn Academy is the only institute on this list that lists exact fees on its own course page. If you want a combined creative programme covering design, video, and UI/UX in one course, Haris & Co Academy's format fits that; if you want a dedicated, deep graphic design track with real client briefs, Unlearn Academy's L1–L4 pathway is built that way. Keltron is worth a look purely on cost if a fixed government-run syllabus works for you.
| Institute | Location | Duration | Fee | Mode | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unlearn Academy | Kazhakootam (Trivandrum) + Kadakkal (Kollam District) | L1: 16 weeks (4 months), then L2–L4 (multi-level pathway) | ₹36,000 + GST (L1) · ₹24,000–₹36,000 (L2) · ₹20,000–₹45,000 (L3) | Offline at both campuses; online for L1 | Dedicated graphic design track (Photoshop, Illustrator, brand identity). Real client briefs from L2. Fees published per level. |
| Haris & Co Academy (HACA) | Kozhikode campus (offline); online batches marketed statewide | 6 months (5 months practical + 1 month internship) | Not publicly listed | Offline (Kozhikode) or online from anywhere in Kerala | Combined programme spanning graphic design, branding, motion graphics, video editing, and UI/UX under one course rather than a dedicated graphic-design-only track. |
| SMEClabs | Kaloor, Kochi | 6–7 months (Masters-level programme) | Not published on SMEClabs' own course page; third-party course-listing sites report a ₹45,000–₹60,000 bracket | Offline, Kochi campus | Part of a large multi-domain training group (40,000 sq ft facility); NSDC/Skill India affiliated; states 100% placement assistance. |
| Keltron Knowledge Service Groups | Government-run centres in every Kerala district, including Kollam and Trivandrum | 3 months ("Advanced Graphics Design") | Not publicly listed — a government skill-enhancement programme, typically lower-cost than private institutes | Offline, government training centres | State government skill-enhancement programme, widely accessible by district. Certification is government-issued rather than agency-style training. |
| IMAGE Creative Education | Vadayattukotta, Kollam — same district as Unlearn's Kadakkal campus | Certificate programme (exact duration not publicly listed on the Kollam course page) | Not publicly listed | Offline, Kollam campus | Long-running, multi-city creative-education chain (in operation over 30 years); states 100% placement assurance and NSDC partnership. |
Figures for institutes other than Unlearn Academy are sourced from each institute's own website (harisandcoacademy.com, smeclabs.com, keltron.in, image.edu.in) as of August 2026 and may have changed since. Fees, batch sizes, and placement claims are as publicly stated by each institute — always confirm directly before enrolling.
Which graphic design institutes in Kerala have a campus in Kollam district?
Of the institutes compared here, Unlearn Academy (Kadakkal) and IMAGE Creative Education (Vadayattukotta, Kollam town) both have a physical campus in Kollam district. Haris & Co Academy's offline campus is in Kozhikode, with online batches marketed statewide. SMEClabs is based in Kochi, and Keltron runs government centres across every district including Kollam.
Which institutes publish their graphic design course fees openly?
Unlearn Academy is the only institute on this list that publishes exact fee figures for each level directly on its course page. SMEClabs' fee is reported by third-party course-listing sites but not shown on its own page at the time of writing; Haris & Co Academy, Keltron, and IMAGE Creative Education do not display a fixed fee publicly — pricing is typically confirmed by contacting the institute directly.
Is a combined design programme (like HACA's) better than a dedicated graphic design course?
It depends on your goal. A combined programme spanning graphic design, motion graphics, video editing, and UI/UX in one course can be efficient if you want broad creative exposure. A dedicated graphic design track — Unlearn Academy's L1 Foundation, for example — goes deeper specifically into Photoshop, Illustrator, logo design, and brand identity before optionally branching into other tracks separately.
Is a government-run course like Keltron's a good alternative to a private institute?
Keltron's Advanced Graphics Design programme is a genuinely low-cost, statewide option worth considering on price alone. The trade-off is typically a more fixed, theory-inclusive syllabus and no agency-style live client work, which private institutes with real client briefs (from Level 2 onward at Unlearn Academy, for example) are generally built around.
This page is an independent comparison published by Unlearn Academy and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by any of the other institutes named here. All institute names are trademarks of their respective owners, used solely to identify and compare their publicly stated course offerings.
Sources
Compare the detailed syllabus, career outcomes, and level-by-level fees for yourself.