21 Weeks / 5 Months (L1) · HybridLast updated: April 2026

Advertising Design Course in Kerala

Ads that convert, not just look good.

Trivandrum (Kazhakootam) · Kadakkal · Online — Unlearn Academy

Advertising design is where creativity meets commercial strategy. This is Unlearn Academy's most comprehensive L1 — a 5-month, 21-week programme taught by Akash Asokan (Brand Designer, 7+ years) and Afsana (in-house Graphic Designer at Adsomia). The course starts with a mandatory 3-week Module 00 covering tools training (Photoshop, Illustrator, Canva, AI tools), advertising law, copyright, and ASCI compliance — before a single ad is designed. Students graduate with 40+ real design pieces across 8 modules — built on professional tools, legal compliance, and strategic design thinking. Freelancing knowledge is introduced in Week 3.

The advertising design course is delivered at Unlearn Academy's Trivandrum (Kazhakootam) and Kadakkal campuses in Kerala, with hybrid options available.

Enrol Now View Curriculum

Who This Is For

Who is the Advertising Design course in Kerala for?

The advertising design course is for people who want to work in the creative side of marketing — producing campaigns, ad creatives, and brand communications that are both visually strong and strategically effective. It is suited for aspiring advertising creatives, graphic designers who want to specialise in ad production, marketing professionals who want to understand creative execution, and agency professionals looking to formalise their skills. Kerala has a vibrant advertising and media sector, with agencies in Trivandrum, Kochi, and Kozhikode producing campaigns for local, national, and international brands.

Entry requirements

Plus Two (Class 12) or equivalent minimum
No prior experience required for L1 Foundation
Personal laptop (8GB RAM minimum)
Commitment to produce real work, not just attend

Curriculum

What does the Advertising Design course cover?

Module 00 — Tools, Advertising Law & Freelancing Intro (Weeks 1–3)

Photoshop: layers, masks, blending modes, retouching, compositing, export workflow
Illustrator: pen tool, shape builder, pathfinder, vector illustration, print file setup
Canva: brand kit setup, templates without looking like a template, export guide
AI tools: Adobe Firefly, MidJourney, Ideogram, Recraft — prompting and copyright rules
Advertising law: ASCI guidelines, claims compliance, platform advertising policies
Copyright and licensing: what you can and cannot use in client work
Freelancing intro: what designers earn, positioning, client communication basics

Module 01–02 — Design Fundamentals & Brand Identity (Weeks 4–8)

Colour theory, typography hierarchy, grid systems, visual communication principles
Brief interpretation: reading a client brief and translating it into a design direction
Logo design process: brief → concept sketches → vector execution → final files
Brand identity system: logo + colour palette + typography + usage guidelines
Brand application: stationery, social media templates, mock-ups across touchpoints
Project: complete brand identity system for a real or fictional brand

Module 03–04 — Social Media Ads & Print/OOH (Weeks 9–14)

Social media ad formats: Instagram 1080×1080, Stories 1080×1920, Facebook, LinkedIn
Thumb-stopping design: what makes someone stop scrolling and why
Static vs animated creatives: when each works, how to decide
A/B testing creative variations: visual hierarchy, CTA placement, colour split tests
Print ad design: flyers, brochures, magazine ads — print specifications and bleed setup
OOH (outdoor) advertising: hoarding sizes, safe zones, large-format design rules
Newspaper and magazine layout: grid systems, pull quotes, editorial design

Module 05–06 — Digital Advertising & Packaging (Weeks 15–19)

Google Display Ads: standard IAB sizes, animated HTML5 banners, responsive display
Meta Ad creative: carousel, single image, video thumbnail design for campaigns
Digital ad compliance: platform policies, image text rules, restricted categories
Packaging design: dieline setup, structural types, label design, print production
Packaging for e-commerce: Amazon/Flipkart product imagery requirements

Module 07 — Campaign Strategy & Final Portfolio (Weeks 20–21)

Campaign concept development: big idea, brand voice, visual language across formats
Multi-format campaign rollout: one idea adapted to social, print, digital, and OOH
Campaign presentation to clients: structure, narrative, rationale
40+ portfolio pieces reviewed by mentors — selection, presentation, export
Final integrated campaign: brief → concept → multi-format execution

L2 — Agency Training

What happens after L1

L1 taught every discipline of advertising design. L2 makes you genuinely skilled at them under real agency conditions. Every week has an advanced skills component and a real client brief. Feedback via Frame.io. Projects managed in Asana. By graduation: an agency-grade portfolio and professional client workflow. Prerequisite: Advertising Design L1.

₹36,000

3 Months · Offline only

Offline only · Prerequisite: L1

Phase 1 — Agency Setup & Advanced Brand Identity (Weeks 1–3)

Agency workflow: Asana project management, Frame.io client review, pre-production compliance
Advanced logo design: complex mark development, negative space, variable logo systems
Brand identity: comprehensive brand guidelines document at agency standard
Advanced typography: custom lettering concepts, type-based identity systems
AI production tools deployed at speed: Firefly, Ideogram, Recraft for concept development

Phase 2 — Advanced Campaigns & Production (Weeks 4–8)

Advanced social ad production: animated carousels, video thumbnail series, multi-format campaigns
Large-format and OOH: billboard design, transit advertising, environmental branding
Advanced print: magazine spreads, annual reports, complex multi-page document design
Digital advertising: Google Display HTML5 banners, rich media, programmatic creative specs
Packaging: dieline mastery, structural packaging, premium product design

Phase 3 — Integrated Campaign & Portfolio (Weeks 9–12)

Full integrated campaign: one strategic idea across social, print, digital, OOH, and packaging
Client presentation: deck structure, visual narrative, live presentation delivery
Real client brief: complete campaign for an actual brand reviewed by mentor panel
Portfolio curation: agency-grade presentation of all L1 + L2 work
Freelancing: proposal writing, pricing strategy, agency-standard client management

Ready to progress to L2?

L2 entry is based on L1 performance — talk to your mentor about your eligibility.

Ask About L2

Career Paths

Roles you can target after this course

Salary ranges based on Kerala market data and Unlearn Academy placement outcomes (April 2026).

Ad Creative Designer

₹3.5 – 6 LPA

Agency entry level

Campaign Designer

₹5 – 9 LPA

Art Director (Junior)

₹6 – 11 LPA

Creative Director

₹12 – 22 LPA

Senior agency leadership

Social Ad Creative Specialist

₹4 – 8 LPA

Performance creative roles

Freelance Campaign Designer

₹4 – 15 LPA

Outcomes

What will you be able to do after this course?

Design complete brand identity systems — logo, colour, typography, guidelines
Produce social media ads, print ads, OOH, digital banner ads, and packaging
Understand and apply ASCI compliance and advertising law
Graduate with 40+ portfolio-ready design pieces
Take on freelance advertising design clients immediately after L1

Fee Structure

Each level is priced separately. You enrol at L1 and progress based on performance — not time.

Foundation

21 Weeks / 5 Months (L1) · Hybrid · Entry point — open to all

₹65,000 (L1)

Agency Training

2–3 Months · Entry based on L1 performance

₹24,000 – ₹36,000

Specialisation

6–8 Weeks · Online · Max 10 students

₹20,000 – ₹45,000

Consultant

By Invite · By invitation only

By Invitation

EMI available · 50% on enrolment, 50% after Month 1

Apply Now — Start at L1

Not sure which level? Talk to a counsellor

FAQ

Frequently asked questions — Advertising Design course in Kerala

What is the fee for the advertising design course at Unlearn Academy?+

L1 Foundation is ₹65,000 (21 weeks / 5 months, hybrid). This is Unlearn's most comprehensive L1 — covering tools, advertising law, brand identity, social media ads, print, OOH, digital advertising, and packaging. EMI available — 50% on enrolment, 50% after month 1.

Why does the advertising design course cost more than other L1 courses?+

Because it is significantly longer — 21 weeks vs 12–16 weeks for other tracks. It covers 8 modules, requires mastery of multiple professional tools (Photoshop, Illustrator, Canva, AI tools), and graduates with 40+ portfolio pieces. The fee reflects the depth and duration of the programme.

What is ASCI compliance and why does it matter?+

ASCI (Advertising Standards Council of India) governs advertising content standards in India. All advertising professionals — agency-side or client-side — need to understand what claims can and cannot be made in ads, what disclosures are required, and how to stay compliant. The course covers ASCI guidelines as a core module before students design a single ad.

What is the difference between graphic design and advertising design?+

Graphic design is the broader discipline of visual communication. Advertising design is specifically about creating materials intended to persuade — ads, campaigns, and creative executions that drive a commercial objective. Advertising designers need both design skill and strategic thinking about what makes creative work commercially.

Can I get a job at a Kerala advertising agency after this course?+

Yes. L1 advertising design graduates with 40+ documented portfolio pieces are directly employable at agencies in Trivandrum, Kochi, and Kozhikode. Starting salaries are typically ₹3.5–5 LPA for junior agency roles. Freelance advertising designers with strong portfolios earn ₹4–15 LPA.