Graphic Design
at SAE Institute Wien
What do you learn at the SAE Institute?
Graphics, photos, and other media have become an indispensable part of our everyday lives. Whether we realize it or not, we’re exposed to countless visual media every day. We see them everywhere—whether in TV commercials, on the street, or in the newspaper. Or to put it another way: Try to imagine a world without photography, film, or graphic design. Impossible, isn’t it?
Who is the Graphic Design program suitable for?
The Graphic Design program is designed for creative and visually minded individuals who have a keen sense of design, aesthetics, and communication. If you’re passionate about typography, layout, branding, visual language, campaigns, and digital media, this program will provide you with the right foundation. This degree program prepares you to professionally implement visual concepts, help shape brand identities, and establish yourself in fields such as graphic design, brand design, editorial design, digital design, advertising, social media, and content creation.
AI as a tool, not a replacement; creativity and craftsmanship remain the focus
AI is transforming creative workflows, and at the SAE Institute Vienna, we approach this change with a clear stance:
AI is a tool that can meaningfully complement the creative craft in certain stages, but it does not replace it. It is crucial to understand its limitations, critically evaluate AI outputs, and recognize common pitfalls. At our institute, students learn to use AI responsibly and with ethical consideration—as a sparring partner for brainstorming, conceptual work, and time management—while artistic decisions always remain in human hands.
Career Prospects in the Media Industry After Completing an Apprenticeship
High-quality content and designs are in greater demand than ever before on social media and other platforms. That’s why many agencies and companies are looking for creative minds who can design everything from print media to social media ads. We’ll help you develop these skills.
Graphic designers are in high demand in the industry and typically work at advertising and media agencies or in graphic design and creative studios. You can also find jobs in the marketing departments of companies or at PR agencies with their own graphic design departments. Publishers, television studios, and production companies are also frequently looking for candidates with exactly this skill set.
Excerpts from the curriculum
Our curriculum combines theory with practice: First, you’ll learn the fundamentals of visual design, then you’ll apply them to real-world projects, with a focus on design processes, brand communication, digital media, and professional workflows. This way, you’ll build your portfolio step by step.
Design Fundamentals
Design Fundamentals, Composition, Color, Form, Visual Hierarchy, Perception, Layout Principles
Typography & Layout
Typography, typesetting, grid systems, editorial design, print layouts, readability, visual structure
Branding & Corporate Design
Logo design, brand identity, style guides, visual language, brand voice, visual systems
Digital Design
Social media assets, web layouts, UI fundamentals, digital campaigns, responsive design
Creative Workflows
Briefing, research, mood boards, concept development, feedback processes, presentation techniques
Possible Final Projects
Education
at SAE Institute Wien
Every March, you can start your vocational training with us. You’ll have the same opportunities to learn with us across all of our departments:
Education – Diploma
The SAE Diploma lays the foundation for your career entry into the creative industries in 18 months. Its high proportion of hands-on training enables you to develop in-depth expertise, while numerous practical applications help you hone your technical and practical skills early on. Consequently, the SAE Diploma offers technical vocational training with strong industry relevance, flexible scheduling, and a high degree of autonomy.
For anyone focused on building a comprehensive and impactful portfolio, the newly introduced Advanced Diploma is an excellent addition. This stage of the program not only involves working on an interdisciplinary or cross-semester project as part of a team but also explores the various aspects surrounding such projects. This helps you develop a broader perspective on workflows and interrelationships while simultaneously deepening your technical skills. As a result, you enhance the value of your diploma.
Program – Bachelor's Degree
The curriculum consists of two parts: the renowned and industry-recognized diploma, and a bachelor’s component in which students acquire additional skills and study topics such as processes in the creative industries, project management, copyright law, and specialized techniques. The program culminates in an internationally recognized BA/BSc (Hons), validated by the University of Hertfordshire in London. The standard duration of the BA/BSc (Hons) program, including the Diploma, is 36 months.*
*The Bachelor’s program consists of several components that together lead to the Bachelor’s degree.
SAE Diploma and SAE Advanced Diploma: Offered locally at the Vienna campus in a blended learning format.
Bachelor’s Degree (final third): Classes and exams are conducted (online) at the Berlin campus of SAE Institute GmbH, Germany, under the supervision and responsibility of the partner university (University of Hertfordshire). Facilities and equipment at the Vienna campus may be used for project work.
Your Next Steps in Graphic Design:
Start with a free consultation, including a campus tour. See our production-level facilities for yourself and ask our academic advisors any questions you may have.
You can find pricing and a detailed course outline in our online brochure.
FAQ
In order to apply to SAE, please send us the follow- ing documents by email:
• Application form
• Proof of secondary level of education
• English-language proficiency certificate (IELTS, TOEFL or equivalent)
• A copy of the front and back of your passport
• A copy of your visa if you already hold one
• An audiogram test (only for audio engineering)
Yes, you need a visa, unless you are an EEA passport holder. Please contact the Austrian embassy in your country for further information.
In the next couple of days, we will send you emails describing the application process at SAE Institute. Please follow the steps to complete your application. Once you have completed and submitted your application, you can book a tour (on campus or via Zoom) with our career advisors.
SAE Institute Germany collaborates with the University of Hertfordshire in London. The University of Hertfordshire is a state university in the UK and validates or revalidates the SAE Institute’s degree programs at regular intervals. Since the University of Hertfordshire is located in England, British university admission requirements also apply.
