Basic Compositional Techniques for Visual Media Training

Learning Outcomes

• Apply the principles of composition, including rule of thirds, balance, and focal points, to create effective visual media.
• Analyse visual media to identify compositional techniques and their impact on viewer perception.
• Evaluate the use of colour, contrast, and lighting to enhance visual storytelling.
• Design basic layouts for print and digital media using compositional grids and alignment.
• Demonstrate the ability to adjust composition through cropping, framing, and perspective.
• Implement feedback to refine and improve compositional choices in visual projects.

Target Audience

This course is designed for beginners in visual media, including marketing assistants, content creators, social media managers, and anyone seeking to improve their visual communication skills. It is ideal for individuals who need to produce or evaluate visual content in a professional context.

Prerequisites

None — open enrollment

Course Outline

Practicals

Overview

Practical sessions reinforce theoretical concepts through hands-on exercises using cameras, editing software, and composition tools. Learners apply techniques in real-world scenarios, receive immediate feedback, and build a portfolio of work demonstrating mastery of compositional principles.

Practical Activities

• Practical 1: Basic Framing and Rule of Thirds — Using a camera or smartphone, learners capture images applying the rule of thirds, proper headroom, and lead room. They then crop and reframe images in editing software. (4h)
• Practical 2: Lines, Shapes, and Colour — Learners conduct a photo walk to capture leading lines, patterns, and colour harmonies. They then create a series of images demonstrating specific colour schemes and line types. (6h)
• Practical 3: Balance, Depth, and Emphasis — Learners shoot scenes that demonstrate symmetrical, asymmetrical, and radial balance. They also create depth using foreground/background layering and establish clear focal points. (6h)
• Practical 4: Motion Composition and Final Project — Learners shoot a short video sequence applying screen direction, the 180-degree rule, and dynamic composition. They then complete a final project of 5 images or a video storyboard, followed by peer critique. (8h)

Summatives

Each delegate is assessed continuously throughout the course via daily exercises, scored practical assignments, and a final summative test at the end.

Practical Assignments — 30%

Practical assignments are observed and scored against a rubric during the practical sessions. Each delegate's practical mark is averaged into a single 100% score and contributes 30% to the final total.

Daily Exercises — 20%

Every training day ends with a multiple-choice exercise scored out of 100%. The scores from each daily exercise are averaged across the duration of the course to produce a Daily Average mark, which contributes 20% to the final total.

Final Test — 50%

On the last day a final summative test is written. It is a multiple-choice paper with multiple-answer questions: each question may have more than one correct option, and a single wrong selection on a question marks the entire question wrong — no partial credit. The final test is scored out of 100% and contributes 50% to the overall mark.

Final Total

Component	Out of	Weight
Practical Assignments (rubric-scored)	100%	30%
Daily Average (multiple choice)	100%	20%
Final Test (multi-answer multiple choice)	100%	50%
Final Total	—	100%

All marks are recorded on the AATICD LMS and visible to each learner under their account.

Certificate

How it works

• Certificates are auto-generated on the AATICD LMS as soon as the marks pass the 50% threshold.
• Each certificate is a branded PDF with the delegate's name, the course title, the unit standard ID, NQF level, credits, and the date of issue.
• You can download or print your certificate from your LMS dashboard at any time after issue — there's no reissue fee and no expiry date.
• If you scored under 50% you can sit the final test again at the next scheduled session at no extra cost.

Where to find it

Sign in to the LMS, open your dashboard, and your certificates appear under My Certificates. Each entry has a View / Download button and a print option.

Training Discounts

Group discounts apply automatically — the more delegates you enrol, the greater the saving. Discounts are calculated at 3% per 5 delegates, scaling up to 40% off for 100+ delegates.

Delegates	Discount
5	3% off
10	6% off
15	9% off
20	12% off
25	15% off
30	18% off
50	30% off
75	35% off
100	40% off

3% discount per 5 delegates, up to 40% off for 100+ delegates. Contact us for a custom group quote.