Hexa Academy × First Design
Graphic design courses in Riga
Master design by creating real advertising projects
Individual graphic and advertising design courses for beginners, business owners and professionals who want to work confidently in design software and create visual materials for real use.
- An individually tailored programme
- Suitable with no prior knowledge
- Hands-on work on your projects
- In person in Riga or online
- Recommended programme — 20 lessons
- 50 € + VAT
- one-to-one lesson, 60 min
- 30 € + VAT
- per person in a group of up to 4
No prepayment
- 1:1 or a group of up to 4Shaped around your experience
- In Riga or onlineIn person or remotely
- Start with one lessonWe set your level and goal
- CertificateAfter the agreed programme
Professional design with a clear purpose
Learn to create design that not only looks good but communicates
Good advertising design attracts attention, explains the offer and builds a trustworthy brand image.
During the course you will master the entire workflow — from idea and sketch to a finished file ready for publishing, print or client presentation.
The goal is not just learning which buttons to press. The goal is being able to independently produce high-quality, professionally reasoned design.
I don’t just teach tools. I build businesses and software with them — and then teach you how to do it.
Vitālijs KolotikovsInstructor and co-founder of First Design StudioWho it is for
Design skills for your career, business and creative projects
Beginners
Start with no prior knowledge and master design software, working principles and your first projects step by step.
Career changers
Gain practical skills and a portfolio to prepare for work in the design industry or your first freelance projects.
Marketing professionals
Create social media visuals, advertising materials, presentations and campaign designs without relying on an external designer.
Business owners
Learn to prepare your company's advertising materials professionally and make better-informed decisions about brand communication.
Experienced designers
Deepen your software knowledge, improve the quality of your work and adopt more efficient design and AI methods.
Programme
The course's main directions
The course topics are grounded in practical advertising design, brand identity, layout, image editing and portfolio work.
Design foundations
- Composition and visual hierarchy
- Colour theory and colour psychology
- Typography and font selection
- Shapes, proportions and visual balance
- Contemporary design trends
Design software
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe InDesign
- CorelDRAW
- Figma and other digital design tools
Image editing
- Photo correction and retouching
- Background removal and object isolation
- Colour and light correction
- Image compositing
- Preparing materials for web and print
Advertising design
- Social media visuals
- Digital ads and banners
- Posters, flyers and brochures
- Catalogues, magazines and presentations
- Business cards and company materials
- Packaging design
Brand visual identity
- Logo design principles
- Colour and font systems
- Visual identity elements
- Consistency across brand materials
- Style guide basics
AI in the design process
- Generating design ideas and concepts
- Creating images and visual elements
- AI for copy and advertising ideas
- Professionally editing AI materials
- Faster development of alternatives and layouts
Professional workflow
- Analysing the brief
- Client communication
- Presenting and justifying design
- Pricing a project
- Organising files and materials
- Preparing final files for different channels
20 individual lessons
From design foundations to a professional portfolio
The full programme is a cycle of 20 practical lessons. The exact number can be shorter or longer depending on your knowledge, chosen software and the result you want to reach.
Plan your course
Total1,000 €+ VATWith 21% VAT: 1,210 €
Pay for each lesson in person or afterwards. No prepayment is needed, and you can change the plan at any time.
Book with this planTraining for a company teamLessons 1–4
Design foundations
Composition, colour, typography, visual hierarchy and analysis of professional design.
- Getting started: your goal and first task
- Composition and visual hierarchy
- Colour theory and colour psychology
- Typography and choosing fonts
Lessons 5–10
Design software
Tools, functions and efficient working methods in your chosen software.
- The software workspace and core tools
- Vector graphics: shapes, outlines and logo elements
- Image editing and retouching
- Cut-outs, backgrounds and compositions
- Layout: pages, grids and text
- Preparing files for print and the web
Lessons 11–16
Advertising projects
Social media materials, posters, brochures, banners, packaging or brand elements.
- A social media visual set
- Digital ads and banners
- A poster or flyer
- A brochure or multi-page publication
- Packaging design
- AI for ideas and drafts
Lessons 17–20
Portfolio project
Developing a complete project from idea to presentation and final files.
- Portfolio project: brief and concept
- Brand elements and a consistent look
- Presenting and explaining your design
- Final files, portfolio and next steps
Prices match those published by Hexa Academy (checked on 6 October 2026). Lesson topics are a recommendation: we adapt them to your goal in the first lesson.
What you can create during the course
Create work you can use in your portfolio or business
Depending on your goal, during the course you can develop:
- A logo and the foundations of a brand identity
- A social media design kit
- The visual concept of an advertising campaign
- A poster, flyer or brochure
- A catalogue or multi-page publication
- Product packaging design
- A business card and company materials
- Digital advertising banners
- Presentation design
- A professional portfolio project
What you create during the lessons stays with you and can be used in a real project.
Work examples
Projects you will be able to create
Advertising, brand, packaging and web design examples from the course programme.
- Start with one lessonBook a design course
The first lesson
The programme is built around your goal
In the first lesson we establish:
- Your current level of knowledge
- The design projects you want to create
- Which software you need to master
- Whether the goal is a career, a portfolio or growing your business
- How many lessons your chosen result requires
We then create an individual programme and work towards a concrete practical result in every lesson.
Start with one lessonComparison
Learn exactly what you need
A typical recorded course
- The same programme for everyone
- Generic practice tasks
- No immediate feedback
- You solve difficult questions on your own
- Weak connection to your professional goal
Individual design lessons
- A learning pace tailored to you
- Work on your own projects
- Tutor support at every stage
- Mistake analysis and immediate improvements
- A result you can use in your portfolio or business
Software and tools
We choose the software to match your goal
Adobe Photoshop
Image editing, retouching, advertising visuals and digital compositions.
Adobe Illustrator
Logos, illustrations, icons and scalable vector graphics.
Adobe InDesign
Brochures, catalogues, magazines and other multi-page materials.
CorelDRAW
Advertising design, layout, vector graphics and preparing files for production.
Figma
Digital design, website layouts and collaboration with developers.
AI design tools
Faster development of ideas, images, concepts and design variations.
The result
Skills for independent, professional work
After your chosen programme you will be able to:
- Independently produce advertising design materials
- Work confidently in your chosen design software
- Create visually clear, purposeful design
- Edit photos and build compositions
- Prepare files for print and digital channels
- Develop brand visual identity elements
- Use AI as part of a professional design process
- Present and justify your design decisions
- Build a portfolio for work or attracting clients
Where we teach
Where the lessons take place
Theory happens in a conference room with a large screen, practical work at desks with several monitors. We confirm online options for each programme.
- Monday–Friday 17:00–21:00 · Sunday 16:00–17:00
- Lessons in Latvian, Russian, English or Ukrainian
The conference room with a large screen for theory 
Desks with two and three monitors for practical work 
The meeting room at Deglava Biroji 
The Deglava Biroji building at Augusta Deglava iela 66, Riga
Your instructor
Practical experience in design, marketing and business
Vitālijs Kolotikovs is an entrepreneur, a design, marketing and AI tutor, the author of two books and the founder of several international companies and technology projects. The lessons draw on experience building brand identities, advertising materials, websites, digital campaigns and companies' visual communication systems.
- 20+
- years in business
- 9+
- years teaching
- 2
- published books
- Design, marketing and digital products in one practice
- Lessons built around your project, not an abstract example
- Explanations, comments and a review of your practical work
Author of two books
The AI Marketing Revolution
7 Steps to Build a Multimillion Business with Smart Marketing and AI
Reviews
What learners say
I liked the individual lessons: I could set my own pace and had undivided attention.
Antra MilasevičaStarFM · Adobe Photoshop courseTranslated from LatvianMany thanks to Vitalij for the knowledge shared!
Ilze ĶergalveSales.lv / Loterijas.lv · CorelDRAW course from the beginningTranslated from LatvianThank you to Vitalij for his patience and interest!
IngūnaCapital Clinic Riga · individual layout trainingTranslated from LatvianI attended the CorelDRAW graphic-design course and really liked it. It was interesting, useful and helped me continue improving my design skills.
Karīna MatilēvičaCorelDRAW graphic-design courseTranslated from LatvianA really great course: I learned many useful Adobe Photoshop skills that will support my professional development!
Kaspars KodoliņšAdobe Photoshop courseTranslated from Latvian
All courses
Choose your direction
Design, websites, AI and marketing connect in real work. One instructor teaches every course, and they can be combined into one programme.
- Graphic designRecommended programme: 20 lessonsfrom €30 + VAT / 60 minYou are here
Web designRecommended programme: 20 lessonsfrom €30 + VAT / 60 minView
Artificial intelligenceRecommended programme: 20 lessonsfrom €30 + VAT / 60 minView
AI marketing · 3 daysA three-day intensivePriced by formatView- For teamsA programme for your teamAgreed in advanceView
ConsultingOne 60-minute session€50 + VAT / 60 minView
Hexa Academy × First Design
Frequently asked questions
How many lessons do I need?
The recommended full programme is 20 lessons. The exact number is tailored to your knowledge, chosen software and the scope of your project.
Do I need prior knowledge?
No. You can start the course with no previous experience in graphic design.
Can I learn only Photoshop or CorelDRAW?
Yes. The programme can focus on a single application, one specific topic or the development of a particular project.
Is the course suitable for professionals?
Yes. For experienced participants the programme is adapted for advanced software skills, workflow improvements or portfolio development.
Will I build a portfolio during the course?
Yes. The programme can be structured so that you develop one or several professional portfolio projects during the lessons.
Are lessons held in person?
Yes. Lessons are available in person in Riga or online.
Will I receive a certificate?
After completing the agreed programme and practical work, you can receive a certificate stating the software covered and the number of lesson hours.
Can I start with a single lesson?
Yes. You can start with one individual lesson and then decide whether to continue.
Tell us what you want to learn or create
Describe your goal, current experience and the design projects you want to realise. We will recommend the most suitable programme, software and number of lessons.
- €50 + VAT · 60 minutes · in Riga or online · No prepayment
- Monday–Friday 17:00–21:00 · Sunday 16:00–17:00