Academy of Digital Arts Professional

The Academy_

We teach creatives.

Founded in 2006 by a team of very passionate people, the Friends of Design Academy of Digital Arts officially opened its doors in 2007. Since that first day, we’ve been committed to exceptional education standards, and enjoy national and international industry accreditation, as well as recognition as a centre of Higher Education registered with the Department of Higher Education.

Throughout the years, the Academy of Digital Arts has attracted staff and students from around the globe. This international network keeps our finger on the pulse of global trends and we constantly update our techniques and technology to keep our students at the forefront of the ever-evolving digital arts.

Stay relevant
with cutting-edge
creative skills.

Pick ’n Pay Clothing Creative Team

Working with the Academy of Digital Arts has been a pleasure from start to finish. In a corporate industry where change is constant, we really value their flexibility, excellent customer service and great custom packages. Will continue partnering with them for all future training.

Pick ’n Pay Clothing Creative Team

Carla Kloen: Temporary

Was impressed by the material and lecturing style. The trainer was engaging and knowledgeable, and took us step by step through the process. Well structured and polished.

Carla Kloen

Course Attendee

James van Rensburg: Temporary

Shot Academy of Digital Arts for an awesome course. I thought I knew everything when my company signed me up, but you opened my eyes to some great tricks of the trade and work processes.

James van Rensburg

Course Attendee

Rebecca Miller: Temporary

I greatly enjoyed studying with the Academy of Digital Arts. Great lecturers and atmosphere, I would definitely come back!

Rebecca Miller

Course Attendee

Brent Peters – PT

I am now more confident about the design software and projects I work on! Great bunch of people and perfect solution to train up your team of creatives across all design disciplines. Rock on ADA.

Brent Peters

Part time student and Graphic Designer - TopLine Comms 2019

James Vodden

A great environment for learning and creating. The staff and lecturers are well informed and the environment is ideal for growing designers in all disciplines.

James Vodden

BBD

Daniel de la Rey Media24

It is such a privilege to be a part of this course. The knowledge gained from top professionals from around SA and the world has already started helping us innovate and I’m excited to learn even more over the coming months. The Academy of Digital Arts has run a world-class course and I am extremely grateful to Media24 (Pty) Ltd for this opportunity to further develop my skills and hopefully add more value to the business.

Daniel de la Rey Media24

Media Intelligence Manager at Media24

Our passionate lecturers also play a vital role in keeping our academy current and connected. They’re all practising professionals in their fields, bringing invaluable real-world knowledge, contacts and insights to the table.

On top of all this, our campus is pretty special, nestled in the beating heart of Cape Town’s city centre. It’s the ideal spot to absorb the local lifestyle and cosmopolitan culture and get the inspiration flowing. This creative energy drives our classes, which remain firmly rooted in international best practices, and are designed to prepare our students for a future-proof creative career anywhere in the world.

Be Skilled. Be Exceptional. Be Creative. Be Independent. Be Agile. Be Relevant. Belong.

Part of a wider tribe _

The Academy of Digital Arts Professional is an integral part of the wider Friends of Design tribe, which includes:

A Higher Education academy offering a variety of tertiary courses
A short-course academy and online training programme
A fully-fledged design studio and agency called Loud Rabbits.

What does this mean for ADA students?

Being involved in all aspects of both the industry, and the education realm, enables Academy of Digital Arts Professional to create a uniquely well-rounded educational experience for our delegates.

Bridging the gap

In fact, a huge part of our teaching philosophy at the Academy of Digital Arts is to bridge the gap between education and the industry.

To help us do this, we partner with numerous creative organisations, exhibitions, companies and educational departments to help develop our students’ skills, expose them to future contacts and opportunities, and help drive conversation and ongoing growth within our creative community.

We also leverage our own industry experience to design courses that meet the current needs of the workplace and prepare our students to embrace future trends and technologies coming down the pipeline. As a result, our graduates are renowned for their industry-readiness and employability, and are highly sought-after within the digital arts fields.