The Academy of Digital Arts (part of the Friends of Design group) was founded in 2006 and officially opened in 2007, making it one of Cape Town's longer-established private creative education providers. It is based in Cape Town's city centre, offering both on-campus and virtual (Zoom) study options. The academy specialises in creative and digital disciplines: Graphic Design, Web Design (UX/UI), Game & Interactive Media Development, and Concept Art, delivered through full-time diplomas/certificates, short courses, fast-track programmes, and corporate training. Its website states it is 'a centre of Higher Education registered with the Department of Higher Education' and holds national and international industry accreditation, though a specific CHE registration number is not published on the site. It also operates a design studio/agency, Loud Rabbits, giving students exposure to real industry projects.
Qualifications & Programmes
- Bachelor of Arts in Concept Art (3 years)
- Higher Certificate in Graphic Design (1 year)
- Higher Certificate in Web Design (UX/UI) (1 year)
- Higher Certificate in Game & Interactive Media Development (1 year)
- Higher Certificate in Concept Art (1 year)
- Fast Track Advertising (3 months)
- Fast Track Film (3 months)
- Short course: Adobe Photoshop (3 weeks)
- Short course: Adobe Illustrator (4 weeks)
- Short course: Adobe InDesign (4 weeks)
- Short course: Portfolio Building (4 weeks)
- Short course: DTP Package
- Short course: Portfolio Package
- Short course: Introduction to UX (3 weeks)
- Short course: User Research (2 weeks)
- Short course: Usability Testing (1 week)
- Short course: Introduction to Figma (3 weeks)
- Short course: Design Systems (2 weeks)
- Short course: Design Operations (1 week)
- Short course: UI Bundle
- Short course: Adobe After Effects (6 weeks)
- Short course: Adobe Premiere Pro (4 weeks)
- Short course: HTML/CSS & Responsive Web Design (6 weeks)
- Short course: Introduction to JavaScript (4 weeks)
- Short course: WordPress Fundamentals (3 weeks)
- Short course: 3D Modelling & Animation (6 weeks)
- Short course: Concept Art
- Corporate training programmes (customised)