Summer Springboard
Adobe Graphic Design Bootcamp
ON THE CAMPUS OF CAL POLY SLO
MOVE YOUR DESIGN IDEAS TO CREATION WHILE LEARNING DESIGN/THINKING PROCESSES AND ADOBE INDUSTRY STANDARD APPLICATIONS ON THE CAL POLY CAMPUS
THIS IS A TWO-WEEK PROGRAM WHERE YOU’LL FOCUS ON ONE COURSE FOR THE ENTIRE DURATION.
Adobe Graphic Design Bootcamp @ Cal Poly SLO
- Develop foundational knowledge of graphic design and production terminology, including computer specifications, color theory, typography, and print/digital production methods.
- Use Adobe Photoshop to edit and enhance images, including repairing, compositing, and incorporating AI tools and techniques.
- Apply industry-standard design processes to create visual products for a fictional business or organization, simulating real-world graphic communication workflows.
- Design and produce a professional brochure using Adobe InDesign, integrating text, graphics, and images into a cohesive layout.
Summer Springboard
Adobe Graphic Design Bootcamp
About This Course
A design bootcamp program for teens on a university campus in San Luis Obispo
Gain hands-on experience with Adobe’s industry-standard Creative Cloud applications, including Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign. Learn to design and produce both print and digital materials using traditional methods and the Design Thinking process. Explore emerging AI-driven techniques in design software.
Discover how graphic design tools and workflows are applied across various career fields. Compile and showcase your work and key learning milestones in a professionally designed, multi-page printed portfolio created with Adobe InDesign. Additionally, develop a digital version of your portfolio in PDF, ePub, and online formats.
TOPICS YOU'LL EXPLORE
Hands-on Learning
Students will gain hands-on experience in graphic design by exploring key concepts such as computer specifications, color theory, typography, and production methods for both print and digital media. Through practical projects, they will apply industry-standard workflows to create designs for a fictional business, using Adobe Photoshop to enhance and composite images, including AI tools and Adobe InDesign to develop a professionally formatted brochure that combines text, graphics, and images.
Career Exploration
Students will have the chance to visit a local print production facility, digital design studio, advertising/marketing agency, or creative firm to gain insight into real-world design environments. They may also hear from a guest speaker from Adobe Systems, who will share how the company is integrating AI technology into its design software and its impact on the future of the industry. This will help students learn more about future professions in design and give them more knowledge on steps to take for their education.
RESOURCES
Course Infosheet
Click here to view or download the printable infosheet for this course.
Program Catalog
Click here to request our catalog to learn more about our summer programs and courses.
Campus Page
Click here to view the website page for this campus and learn more.
“It was a great opportunity for me to further explore a potential career path for me while also having a ton of fun. I believe wholeheartedly that this experience transformed me for the better.”
-Skye W. | Alumni Student
Summer Springboard
Adobe Graphic Design Bootcamp
Meet Your Instructor
Ivan Bradley has been an educator for 30 years, receiving several educator awards during that time.The past 15 years, he has taught various courses as a lecturer professor for the Graphic Communication department at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. This follows nearly 20 years in the graphic arts profession.
He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art from Humboldt State University, and a Master of Education, Computers in Education degree from Lesley University of Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was chosen as a short-term guest professor/scholar at Northern Melbourne Institute, TAFE, Melbourne, Australia, presented at the International Conference for Graphic Communication Educators, and gave workshops on the use of Adobe InDesign at the GraphExpo Conference in Orlando and Print 17, Chicago. He has published three digital books, and a 234-page textbook “The Graphics of Communication: Exploring the Graphic Arts and Design.
IVAN BRADLEY
“I had a great time at Summer Springboard and learned a lot in my academic course. It’s a fun balance of academics and excursions and college life experience.”
-Justin R. | Alumni Student
Summer Springboard
Adobe Graphic Design Bootcamp
Dates & Tuition
| 2026 Dates |
|---|
| Session 1: June 21 – July 3, 2026 |
| Session 2: July 5 – July 17, 2026 |
Click here to enroll in this course using our online enrollment form.
| Tuition |
|---|
| Residential Tuition: $5,298 |
| Commuter Tuition: $2,998 |
Apply by November 30 to lock in the lowest prices of the year. Tuition increases on December 1.
Tuition Protection Plan: Allows for cancellation for any reason up until the day of the program.
| Location |
|---|
| City: San Luis Obispo |
| State: California |
| Campus: Cal Poly SLO |
Summer Springboard programs are not run by our campus partners (with the exception of Cal Poly and NYSID which are run in partnership with SSB). Universities and their affiliated departments and partners do not control and are not responsible or liable in any manner for any part of the Summer Springboard program.