Executive Education

AI Tools for Digital Content Design

Online Masterclass | April 26-30, 2026

In a rapidly shifting media landscape, professionals and organizations must stay ahead by leveraging Artificial Intelligence to create impactful digital media content at scale. This hands-on, introductory-level masterclass provides a crash course in the latest AI tools and techniques for text, image, animation, video, music, and voice generation.

Participants will discover how cutting-edge solutions like MidJourney, Runway, ElevenLabs, and Udio and a selection of state-of-the art AI tools for creative production can streamline their creative processes—unlocking new levels of speed, quality, and cost-efficiency. Drawing on Dr. Striker’s extensive teaching experience (including NU-Q’s undergraduate Digital Media Design sequence), the course highlights best practices for prompt engineering, iterative prototyping, and ethical considerations in AI-assisted production. By week’s end, participants will have developed, refined, and presented an original AI-driven digital media project, ready for real-world application in marketing, communications, entertainment, or personal creative endeavors.

Who should enroll? 

This masterclass is ideal for:

  • Corporate and Public Sector Communication Professionals seeking AI-powered content strategies.

  • Marketing & Branding Teams looking to generate engaging multimedia assets on tight timelines.

  • Entrepreneurs & Small Business Owners eager to produce high-quality, low-cost digital media campaigns.

  • Creative Enthusiasts & Beginners exploring AI tools to spark new levels of innovation.

No prior knowledge of AI, production software, or programming is required.

Course Structure and Daily Breakdown

Format: Interactive seminars + workshop-style labs each day.

  • 9:00 –11:00 a.m. Live demos, interactive lectures, and guided practice.

  • 11:00 – 12:00 p.m. Open studio lab time for hands-on project work, with one-on-one coaching, feedback, and creative critique.

Day 1 (Foundations and Ideation) April 26, 2026

  • Overview of AI in creative production: Key trends and capabilities

  • Introduction to prompt engineering principles

  • Ethical considerations in generative AI

  • Hands-on with MidJourney for image generation

Day 2 (Animation and Video) April 27, 2026

  • Exploring Runway’s AI video editing and animation features

  • Integrating text-to-image workflows into short video segments

  • Open lab challenge: Animate a short concept sequence

Day 3 (Voice and Audio) April 28, 2026

  • AI-generated voice acting with ElevenLabs

  • Introduction to AI music composition using Udio

  • Mixing voice and music in simple video editing software

  • Open lab challenge: Synthesize an audio-rich micro-story

Day 4 (Refinement and Advanced Techniques) April 29, 2026

  • Deepening proficiency in selected AI tools

  • Strategies for maintaining brand consistency, style guides

  • Exploration of advanced or emerging AI platforms (e.g. 3D)

  • Iterative feedback sessions on individual/team projects

Day 5 (Final Production and Showcase) April 30, 2026

  • Finalizing the AI-driven media project

  • Presentation and critique of group or individual deliverables

  • Discussion of next steps, trends, and continuous learning

Software Requirements & Setup

  • MidJourney (subscription approx. $10/month)

  • Runway ML (create a free account)

  • ElevenLabs (AI-generated voice)

  • Udio (AI music generation)

  • A modern computer with webcam, mic, reliable internet, and a preferred video editing software (e.g., Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, or iMovie).

We offer pre-course support to help participants create accounts and install the necessary tools, helping make sure everyone starts Day 1 ready to experiment.

Benefits and Outcomes

Upon successful completion, participants will:

  • Confidently leverage AI for producing professional-quality digital media assets.

  • Develop repeatable workflows to generate cost-effective, on-demand creative content.

  • Stay current on emerging AI developments and best practices for ethical, responsible use.

  • Take away a portfolio-ready final project that demonstrates real-world AI application.

Course Fee

The course fee is $1,400 USD (QAR 5,096.00) per participant. The fee includes hospitality service. Participation requires payment in full via Eventbrite at the time of registration (Avail 50% discount using the code 'NUQ50'). Alternatively, payment can be made at the NU-Q bookstore. Please contact amadou@northwestern.edu to arrange for the payment at the NU-Q bookstore. 

Refunds are provided on the following basis:

  • 100% refund or postponement if cancelled/notified 28 days prior to course commencement.

  • 75% refund or postponement if cancelled/notified 14 days prior to course commencement.

  • 50% refund if cancelled 7 days prior to course commencement.

  • 25% refund if cancelled 48 hours prior to course commencement.

  • 0% refund if cancelled less than 48 prior to course commencement or no show.

Participants who cancel enrolment can choose to transfer the paid fee to a future masterclass rather than receive a refund. Should the course fees differ, participants will receive a refund on the difference or make an additional ‘top-up’ payment.

A 15% discount is offered for Qatar Foundation and university employees in Education City, as well as EC alumni. Northwestern Qatar Executive Education required participants to attend 90% of the course to get a certificate of participation/completion.

Instructor

Spencer Striker, Ph.D.
Professor in Residence | Digital Media Design
Specialist in AI-Driven Creative Design and Digital Media Production
Northwestern University in Qatar