Where to Study Graphic Design in Israel
I’m finishing up the Graphic Design and Multimedia program at John Bryce in Jerusalem and thought I’d review the course and recommend other resources for people interested in graphic and web design in Israel.
Discounts
If you made Aliyah within the last 3 years, you may be entitled to some major discounts off these schools. But you’ll need to check with Misrad Haklitah or Misrad Hastudentim first.
Graphic and Web Design Schools / Programs
Below are some of the better known schools for graphic design in Israel. Almost all the courses are in Hebrew, but don’t let that stop you since the software is in English. At first, I thought the Hebrew would be extremely challenging, but by the second day, I caught on to the Hebrish lingo of “checkbox-im”, “undo-im”, and “tab-im”. And by the end of the course, I had a whole notebook full of these little phrases.
Also, many of these schools offer other creative classes such as video editing, jewelry design, animation, etc.
Considering that these are design schools, let’s see how creative and effective their websites are. After receiving grades throughout the year, it feels good to give back a little constructive criticism.
Please leave a comment if you have a review of a school or if I left any out, which is very very possible.
John Bryce Doesn’t sound Jewish, but hey…
Location: Jerusalem, Tel Aviv & Haifa
Phone: *6460; In Jerusalem, 02-678-1881 and you have to push 011 after you dial.
Length of Course: 10 months (in theory). Due to snow days (in Israel, crazy – right?), teacher sick days, random no-days, it turned into a year. Classes are twice a week at night for 3.5 hours each. Don’t worry, you get breaks, and a free coffee machine. You receive a certificate of completion at the end although I’m not sure how valuable the certificate is, since portfolios carry the real weight in the design world. So if you work hard on the projects during the course you’ll come away with a nice portfolio.
Programs Taught: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, HTML, CSS, Dreamweaver, ImageReady, Flash/Actionscript
Overall Review: B+ I can now use each of the design programs pretty easily and quickly, but there is still much more to learn and practice but Photoshop and Flash are no longer scary programs where I don’t even know where to start. However, the program lacked in teaching design principles and fundamentals. In an amazing bookabout design for non-designers, Robin Williams (not the comedian) teaches basic design principles simply and brilliantly, but unfortunately John Bryce never mentioned any of her ideas. Also, I felt like the Dreamweaver section spent too much time on building websites with tables, and not enough time on DIV’s and CSS.
Website Review: D Annoying sound when you enter which I couldn’t figure out how to turn off, crazy flying flash sections in sidebar, inside pages look much different than home page, scrolling welcome message unnecessary.
Bezalel: Academy of Art and Design
Location: Jerusalem
Phone: 02-5893323 Email: viscom@bezalel.ac.il
Length: 4 years – Bachelor’s Degree
You’ll Learn: Visual Communications: Graphic/typographic design, Interactive design, Broadcast design (including animation), Illustration, and Advertising
Website Review: A I love the clean looking design and colorful photo. Nice touches of Flash. Easy to use menu with good English section.
Hadassah School of Practical Engineering
Location: Jerusalem
Phone: 02-6291932 Email: oragolan@hadassah.ac.il
Length: 2 years – Associate’s degree
Track: Print Production
You’ll Learn: Typography, Graphic Design, Website Design, Drawing & Sketching, Engraving and Etching, more
Track: Interactive Communications (Internet and Multimedia)
You’ll learn: Design for user interface, HTML, Introduction to Java, Introduction to Photography Three Dimensional Images and Animation, Website Production, Interactive Animation, more
Website Review: B+ Very informative with a good English section and usability, but could use a little creativity
Location: Jerusalem
Phone: 02 654 4555
Length of Course: 700 hours, women only ages 19-25
You’ll Learn: Graphic design in English and Hebrew
Website Review: D Very 1990’s and missing finishing touches- could use some creativity, fonts and alignment.
Shenkar College of Engineering and Design
Location: Tel Aviv
Phone: (0)3 6110094 Email: graphicdesign@shenkar.ac.il
Length of Course: 4 years, Bachelor’s Degree
Departments: Visual Communication, illustration, Interactive Media
Website Review: A- Very neat and clean with a nice color palette, a little too much Flash
eps (Read comments below first before calling up)
Location: Tel Aviv
Phone: *5700 or 0573333331
Length of Course: ~300 Hours
Track: Graphic Design
You’ll Learn: Illustrator, Photoshop, Freehand, Indesign
Track: Web Design
You’ll Learn: Illustrator, Photoshop, HTML, GUI, Dreamweaver, Flash
Website Review: A Easy to navigate with good descriptions of the classes, and I love the hand-drawn look of all the icons.
Location: Tel Aviv, Haifa
Phone: 03-5291888
Individual Programs taught: Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, HTML, Flash, Dreamweaver
You can learn individual graphic design programs – good if you are limited in time or already know some of the programs.
Website Review: A- Nice, clean, easy to read and use site. But yet again, why the crazy distracting annoying flash banner in the middle?
Location: Herzilya
Phone: 1700700892
Length of Course: 230 Hours
You’ll Learn: Photoshop, Indesign, Illustrator, FreeHand, Flash
Website Review: D+ Weird Phone Operator picture too close to logo, weak logo – in low resolution, bad use of underlines on a website (should only be used for links, not emphasis), way too many colors, no focus, I’m not sure about the technicolor teapot either featured , scrolling ticker – a definite no-no. The only good thing was lots and lots of pictures so you really get a sense of who goes there and what they do.
Location: Haifa
Phone: 04-851-1769 Email: info@tiltan.co.il
Track: Graphic Design
You’ll Learn: Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Freehand
Track: Web Design
You’ll Learn: Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Freehand, HTML, dHTML, Flash, Dreamweaver,
Course Length: 600 Hours
Website Review: B+ Very cute and colorful. The navigation menu is hard to use on the inside pages – you have to mouse over each tab to read the option. Also, the font used is too small. And lastly, the logo made me think of this article about unfortunate and unintentional phallic looking logos.
Location: Tel Aviv, Haifa
Phone: 1800-360-366 Email: limodim@6bstudio.co.il
Length of Course: Twice a week, 3.5 hours, 3 semesters
You’ll Learn: Illustrator, Flash, Photoshop, Dreamweaver, InDesign
Website Review: B+ I really love the logo, but the Flash on the site is a little much, misuse of underlines, but I liked the building/studio feel and the grey tones.
Location: Tel Aviv
Phone: 03-5612029, 1-800-203-103 Email: info@concept-academy.co.il
Length of Course: 10 months, twice a week for 3.5 hours each
You’ll Learn: Illustrator, Flash, Photoshop, Dreamweaver, InDesign, HTML/CSS
Website Review: B- Graphic Design spelled with an ‘f’ on the graphic design page. Not sure if it’s intentional misspelled?? No color palette – uses every color possible.
Location: Haifa
Phone: 04-856-2555 Email: limhead@wizocollege.co.il
Length of Course: 1 and 2 year programs
You’ll Learn: Fundamentals and principles of design, Freehand, Indesign, Photoshop, Illustrator
Website Review: B For some reason, the positioning on the graphic design page was scrolled to the right. I like the grid and dotted lines and clean look.
Location: Jerusalem
Phone: 02-6733767 ext. 101 Email: info@emuna.ac.il
Length of Course: Bachelor’s Degree, women only
You’ll Learn: Visual Communications
Website Review: A Nicely laid out, with cute slideshows in each section and a nice logo and color scheme
[Update thanks to Mike]
Location: Holon
Phone: 03-5026777 Email: limudim@hit.ac.il
Length of Course: Bachelor’s Degree
You’ll Learn: Visual Design and Communications
Website Design: A- The English link doesn’t work, but the site colorful and I love the logo, and the flash is interactive which is pretty cool
Resources for graphic designers in Israel
Job Sites in Israel
Assistance
- Graphic Design Israel Yahoo Group
- Nefesh B’Nefesh Article about Graphic Design and Employment in Israel
General
The Big Felafel 
Great post! Thanks for putting together these invaluable resources. I’ll be sure to link to them from DD!
| Posted 14 years, 8 months agoZiva – Thanks!!
| Posted 14 years, 8 months agorebecca, I so wish I’d had this post about 4 years ago when I was applying to schools!
one thing applicants should be aware of is that emunah is accredited as a teachers college so you’ll come out with a BEd and a certificate in visual communications. the school also offers certificates in studio arts and drama. students may also take extra courses to receive a BEd in Judaic studies. emunah really has some phenomenal teachers in the visual communications program and if you’re willing to put up with all the requirements in the education end of things I highly recommend the program.
The 2008 graduates exhibit is currently on display through Tuesday, July 29th at the school: 104 Derech Beit Lechem (the corner under tzomet habankim) hours: sun-thurs, 9am-8pm.
anybody looking for advice on michlelet emunah from an english speaking olah, feel free to contact me.
| Posted 14 years, 8 months agoNeat list except you forgot the largest design school in Israel – the HIT http://www.hit.ac.il
The HIT’s design school has Interior , Industrial (where I teach) & graphic design BA programs.
check em’ out and if you have any questions you can contact me through the blog I use to run the courses I give there: http://hit-foundations-of-design.blogspot.com/
All the best
| Posted 14 years, 8 months agoMike
Mike: Thanks for letting everyone know about HIT – I hadn’t heard of it and it definitely should be added to this list.
| Posted 14 years, 8 months agoRebecca, good review and reference. I Stumbled it:
http://jobmob.stumbleupon.com/review/23861360/
A suggestion – this has pillar/flagship post potential for your blog. I would add a call for subscription at the end of the article by inciting people to stick around for updates to the list. Meanwhile, continue updating it with suggestions like Mike’s. Then, consider doing other Where To Study…in Israel posts. Once you have 10, dress them up in an e-book and use it to drive more subscribers/exposure or create a mailing list.
All that because I was a Blog Mastermind 🙂
| Posted 14 years, 8 months agoJacob – Thanks for the advice, I think that’s a really good idea and will try to keep it in mind for future posts 🙂
| Posted 14 years, 7 months agoHello Mike,
The English Link of hit.ac.il doesn’t work… 😦
Would love to read the info…
Aidai
| Posted 14 years, 7 months agoHi! Rebecca
Really good post. It is a perfect guide for new aspirants who want to excel in the field of web graphic design.
Payel
| Posted 14 years, 7 months agothanks for ‘spreading tha luv’ – you rock!
correct address is – skout.co.za (not .com)
| Posted 14 years, 5 months agoI graduated from a web design school but would like to be more proficient in web design. I am moving to Jerusalem in December and would like to take some courses there. I dont need to get my B.A or bachelors, but I want to learn advanced web & coding.
| Posted 14 years, 5 months agoI want to start something right away, but I cant find anything that is good. It is also hard to find something thats good schedule for a married girl.
any advice?
| Posted 14 years, 5 months agowow!what a perfect site!just what I needed!I am a free-lance artist and illusrator and am looking into futhering my studies!didnt know where to start!you are a life saver!thanks!
| Posted 14 years, 4 months ago@Claudia Fehr-Levin: Thank you for your enthusiasm and I’m so glad I could help 🙂
| Posted 14 years, 4 months agothanks, rebecca for such a lot of information. i was just at the johnbryce school yesterday and have repeatedly been given conflicting information by someone who works there. last i was told was that the design/mm course would be difficult for me because it is all taught in hebrew. i think i will be at gimmel by the time the next one starts. what do you think? also, since it seems like you will have finished by now, do you mind mentioning how your employment prospects have been?
| Posted 14 years, 3 months agothank you so much!
Hey, I’m looking for a really short and compact web design course in Jerusalem. I’m only staying until Pesach and I was hoping you could maybe recommend a good course to me. I do not mind if it is in Hebrew..
Thanx and Chanuka Sameach!
| Posted 14 years, 3 months agodo any of these schools mentioned teach in english?
great article, btw
| Posted 14 years, 1 month agoI have started studying at Mentor in Haifa (& loving it!)and although its all in Hebrew there are 2 of us English first language !the Photoshop Lecturer is fantastic and helps all he can & the program is in English which is sooo much easier for us than the rest of the class(I think)then again I have lived here quite some time!(‘though my written Hebrew is “al haPaniem!”
| Posted 14 years, 1 month agoHello Rebbeca !
| Posted 13 years, 11 months agothis page really very helpful !
want say thank you soo much here !
i`m a beginner want to learn webdesign in Israel . and only speak english , a little bite Hebrew , would i get more suggestion from you .
Hi Milcah – check out Lander’s english program: http://www.lander.ac.il/Content.asp?Page=Web_Design
| Posted 13 years, 11 months agoThank you so much Rebecca 🙂
| Posted 13 years, 9 months agobig hugssss to you 🙂
Rebecca, thank you SO much! wow!!
Heads up; Studio 6B no longer includes InDesign in their Graphic Design program, although it can easily be taken as a supplementary course, as they chose to cut the time and cost. It’s 9 months long and just under 20,000 shekel (and that’s the cut cost, go figure).
Are you working in Graphic Design now? Do you feel like what you learned at John Bryce was enough to start a career with?
| Posted 13 years, 6 months agoSam, Good to know – I’ll have to update the 6B info. The price of these courses is ridiculous, to say the least. I’m currently working in web/graphic design. I wouldn’t say that what I learned at John Bryce was enough to start a career. It was a very technical school about how to use the different tools in each program. But I think it was very lacking in teaching the foundations of design, and their web site design instruction was outdated. I’ve heard good things about the Hadassah program, if you’re located in Jerusalem. Good luck with the design stuff and be sure to share any other information you learn in the meantime 🙂
| Posted 13 years, 6 months agowill do, thanks for the reply!
| Posted 13 years, 6 months agohey rebecca I am thinking of getting into graphic design but need to know in Israel would I have easier time getting jobs with a bachelors degree over a certificate? and also does it matter where i get my degree?(here or the states)just that im thinking of studying in the states(because of my bad hebrew) to get my degree/certificate and then come to ISrael where I ultimately want to work and live. Thanks
| Posted 13 years, 5 months agohi rabecca i am interested in studying graphic design but i need to know is it easier to find work here in israel with a bachellors degree over a certificate?trying to decide to do 1 year program or going for the 4 year. also do emplyers here care if i studyed in israel or not because im thinking of maybe just studying in america(because of my horrible hebrew) and then moving back here when i have my degree/certificate. please help me get unconfused :). thanks
| Posted 13 years, 5 months agoHi Alon, I think that it is probably easier to find work with a bachelor’s degree, but in the design world the most important thing is your portfolio. I don’t think employers here care if you studied in Israel or abroad as long as you have the right skill set and eye for design that they’re looking for. Hope that helps 🙂
| Posted 13 years, 5 months agothanks so much for the reply! really helped me on making my decision. if u dont mind i just have one more question please. about how much money do graphic designers make here in israel? thanks again
| Posted 13 years, 5 months agoAlon, It’s hard to say – I’m sure there are graphic designers across the whole spectrum from introductory rates to high end, depending on experience, level of clients, and other factors. Try asking the quesiton on the graphic design in israel yahoo group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/graphic_design_israel/. Good luck!
| Posted 13 years, 5 months agothkns soo much for the reply!really helped me with my decision. i just have 1 more question by curiousity, about how much money do graphic designers make here in israel??thanks
| Posted 13 years, 5 months agohey! great site! i’m thinking about taking postgraduate studies in israel, visual communication (also printing, multimedia). I have some bases and I want to learn something more.. do You know where I can have good studies in english? 1-2-year program would be ideal.
| Posted 13 years, 4 months agoOla! Thanks for stopping by. Try calling up a few of the places mentioned in the post and see if they are of any help or maybe can lead you in the right direction. Good luck and let us know how it goes.
| Posted 13 years, 4 months agoThanks so much for doing all the leg work! So helpful!!
| Posted 13 years, 3 months agoYou’re welcome Candice, glad it could help!
| Posted 13 years, 3 months agoHi Rebecca.
| Posted 13 years, 3 months agoI’l just askagain a question about short webdesign courses starting around this time, in Jerusalem, but tel aviv would be ok also.You know any?
thanks.
Hi Eliyah, I’m not sure, try calling Mentor.co.il – I think they have short, personalized courses. If not, try some other places on the list. Good luck.
| Posted 13 years, 3 months agothanks a lot, shabbat shalom!
| Posted 13 years, 3 months agoHi Rebecca wonderful blog u have here, Im thinking myself of moving to Israel next month to study graphic design but my hebrew is reallly bad. Now If im not mistaken by reading these posts is it true that the Lander Institute is the only place that teaches graphic design in English? and how is it-is it a good school; program? thanks.
| Posted 13 years, 2 months agoHi Natalie, Glad you like the blog 🙂 I think you’re right in that Lander is the only English speaking program. I don’t really know much about the program. Maybe you can call them and ask to have some phone numbers of previous students and ask them what they thought.
| Posted 13 years, 2 months agoI am looking for designers for a client in TLV. If anyone knows of anybody that is looking, please contact me. I will be very happy to tell you about the company, etc. It is urgent!!
| Posted 13 years, 2 months agomaiteplimmer@gmail.com
Great post..
| Posted 12 years, 10 months agoTo @Aliza: so you can make an internship program in one of Web design company..
I am looking to do a short graphic design course in Tel Aviv, any suggestion to which course would be best and where? I have a degree in Fine Arts and want to continue learning ways of being creative.
| Posted 12 years, 9 months agoVery not recommended to study graphic design and web mastering in John Bryce. Web master course is very expensive (16000 NIS), program is outdated (good for 1998 but not for 2010), too many extra unnecessary lectures like how to sigh up to Facebook and blogs, how to sell on ebay and so on. Often knowledge and tips brought by tutors can even harm rather than assist to learn web mastering and web developing subjects. If somebody is going anyway to pay this crazy sum but still is hesitating and want to hear more detailed explanations, contact me.
| Posted 12 years, 6 months agoThere is a new online school for Jewish students called http://www.DesignAlive.com who offer LIVE interactive web conferencing design classes in graphic, web and interior design. The longest course is a year and students study design theory and end up with top notch portfolios (can be viewed upon request)
| Posted 12 years, 5 months agoHi rebecca ! at the beginning of the post you say that some schools teach video editing ! im very interested in that ! do you know which school ????
| Posted 12 years agothanks 🙂
Thanks for all the information.
Ok -so what about lecturing?
I lecture Fine Arts and Conceptual Thinking at a Design School in South Africa.I have an BaFa.
I would love to move to Israel -pref Tel Aviv – and look for a job there.But I do not want to teach photoshop and all that (i do know it ).My speciality is the Fine Arts sector for designers..any advise?
| Posted 11 years, 8 months agoI’m not sure about teaching Fine Arts in Tel Aviv. Have you contact Nefesh BNefesh? (nbn.org.il) They’re very helpful and can hopefully lead you in the right direction. There’s also the Digital Eve Israel listserv on Yahoo with lots of helpful people, many of whom are in the Tel Aviv area.
| Posted 11 years, 8 months agoDoes anyone know any of the starting dates for these schools? I have emailed 3-4 of them, and I have not received a response yet. I will call them when I get a chance, but I’d like a general idea of when the courses start.
| Posted 11 years, 7 months agoHi Rebecca! I would like to take an evening course on Graphic design and computer maintenance in English in Tel Aviv, doyou have an idea you can share tome? Thanks
| Posted 11 years, 7 months agoThis is because I am working in the day in Tel Aviv and I can not miss the job.
| Posted 11 years, 7 months agoDO NOT go to EPS!!! I enrolled there and it turned out a complete scam. After studying there for a month, they sent me a sms that they supposely went for “summer break and renovation.” Little did we, the students, know that the recently new owner of the school ran off with all the money. The classes were a joke, and the “teachers” were more like students themselves.. it was a whole big mess and I DO NOT recommend this place to anyone.
| Posted 11 years, 6 months agoHi Rebecca,
Thanks for this great post! I’m looking for a chool now and actually I’m hesitating between John Brice and Studio 6b. John Brice is more technical from what I understood. You learn the programs good. At 6B, 50% of the courses are about design and creativity and 50% are about the programs. I prefer the second option but then I’m afraid to have a lack of knowledge for the programs. What do you think is the most important?
Also is it easy to find a work after 1 year formation?
thanks a lot again for all this pricious info!!
Delphine
| Posted 10 years, 10 months agoHi Delphine, I think the second option is also the way to go – creativity is just as important if not more important than learning the programs. The bottom line is its all about your portfolio – if after the course you can set up a website to display your portfolio, and it’s impressive, then you’re good to go.
| Posted 10 years, 10 months agoHi Rebecca,
I’m wondering if you know of a graphic design course for the summer, in Jerusalem, for a 14 -year -old?!
| Posted 10 years, 10 months agoMy daughter really loves graphic design and would love to take a course over the summer- does such a thing exist? Thanks!
Hi Tamara, I’m sorry – but I don’t know of any graphic design courses over the summer. Have you tried contacting Nefesh Bnefesh? Maybe they know of something.
| Posted 10 years, 10 months agoHi Rebecca-
| Posted 10 years, 9 months agoIs John Bryce the only program that can teach in English?
Hi Rebecca,
I already have a graphic design degree (just finnish my bachelor in rio de janeiro, brazil), but i’m thinking about doing a mba, or something like that.
And i really wanna go to israel for a while.
Do you know some courses like this?
Thanks.
| Posted 9 years, 9 months agoHi Stella, There are a bunch of MBA programs in Israel – Technion, Hebrew University, Bar Ilan, Beer Sheba, Haifa. Good luck with your studies!
| Posted 9 years, 9 months agoHow is the job market in Israel for graphic designers these days? Do potential employers/clients want a graphic designer who is proficient in web design too?
| Posted 9 years, 1 month agoHello,
| Posted 9 years agoNot sure if this has been said already but is there anywhere in Tel Aviv or central area that teaches design classes in English? Only seen Jerusalem so far. I already have my B.A in Graphic Design but want to further my studies in a short course. Thanks 🙂