Directing the Machine: Midjourney Generative AI Course

NEW AT UPPO! Directing the Machine: Midjourney Generative AI Course

This course provides an in-depth study and practice of visual creation through generative artificial intelligence, focusing on the use of Midjourney, one of the most advanced AI models for producing high-quality visual content. Developed and taught by Veronika Pell (Mindeye), an award-winning AI artist and art director, the course combines technical mastery, conceptual development, and creative experimentation.

The curriculum is designed for a broad range of creative professionals — artists, designers, photographers, architects, marketers, musicians, and others — who aim to use AI to achieve specific artistic and professional results. Students learn not only to generate images but also to control and direct the creative process to reach intentional visual outcomes.

At the heart of the course lies Veronika’s signature “growing imagery” methodology, which emphasizes observation, iteration, and intuitive refinement as a way to develop each visual work step by step. The teaching approach balances technical literacy and artistic sensitivity, helping participants discover their own visual language and confidence in using generative tools.

The program consists of 12 structured modules that combine lectures, guided demonstrations, practical assignments, and personalized feedback. Students also become part of a closed online community, a creative hub where they can exchange ideas, receive peer feedback, and draw inspiration. This collaborative environment supports both skill development and artistic growth within the emerging field of AI art, uniting participants by their shared ambition to develop AI art as a new genre in contemporary art.

Learning outcomes

Students who complete this course:

1) will know: the specifics of Midjourney as a generative model for visuals, its features and opportunities it provides, the specifics of text prompting as well as the basics of AI-art and AI creative content, all the instruments and tools within Midjourney platform.

2) will be able to: prompt with text, create complex images with the model, animate the images within Midjourney platform, understand how its algorithm works, how to teach the algorithm in order to obtain own style, and most importantly, reach specific results in creative production.

By the end of the course, students will:

Gain a clear understanding of how generative AI models function and how to work with them creatively.
Confidently use Midjourney and related AI-based tools designed to expand its visual possibilities.
Develop the ability to apply these principles across different generative systems and adapt to new technologies.
Build an individual workflow combining technical precision, artistic intuition, and iterative image development.
Create a final project demonstrating conceptual clarity, stylistic coherence, and professional execution.
Strengthen creative independence and the capacity to use AI tools for both artistic and professional purposes.

Preliminary requirements

English-speaking level B1 or higher.

Important! Prerequisite: Midjourney subscription for the duration of the course (approximately 3 months).

Course outline

№ of clаss	Topic	Mode of Tuition	Number of contact hours	Independent study hours
1	Introduction to Midjourney and AI art We'll explore how AI aids creativity, what AI art is, and why Midjourney has become a favorite tool among artists, designers, and visual researchers. We'll also look ahead: the Midjourney team is building a truly ambitious future. Midjourney interface We'll explore how the platform works, what to click where, and how to avoid getting lost and intimidated. We'll also discuss how to properly train your global model so that Midjourney can quickly learn to recognize what you consider beautiful.	Online lecture + assignment	2	2,6
2	Text prompting Learning to transform thoughts into images just with words. How to talk to a neural network so it understands you accurately.	Online lecture + assignment	2	2,6
3	The art of creating ideas An idea isn't a flash of inspiration but a process. Learn how to find ideas even when your mind feels empty, and make creating them as natural as breathing.	Online lecture	2	0
4	In the style of How to use other artists' styles to find your own visual filters and assemble images that feel fresh and respectful of their sources.	Online lecture + assignment	2	2,6
5	Image editing (+ Nano Banana, ChatGPT Image) We'll explore two built-in editors: how to correct errors, refine details, expand your digital canvas, and use editing as a standalone artistic tool.	Online lecture + assignment	2	1,3
6	Parameters What do --stylize, --chaos, and other parameters mean, and how do they affect the result? Let's explore how to fine-tune the generation process to suit your needs.	Online lecture + assignment	2	2,6
7	References Everything about working with references. How to establish style, use visual cues, create cohesive characters, and juggle sources to surprise while maintaining quality and doing it ethically.	Online lecture + assignment	2	2,6
8	Text in images How to create text that blends harmoniously with an image. Advantages and limitations.	Online lecture + assignment	2	2,6
9	Lesser-known features We'll explore some less obvious settings and combinations that can greatly expand your capabilities. Midjourney can do more than you might think.	Online lecture + assignment	2	1,3
10	Training models What are personal models and mood boards, and how do they make life easier if you want to work in a recognizable style? We’ll also look at our favorite Krea AI platform: why you should use it, and how it enhances your work in Midjourney.	Online lecture + assignment	2	2,6
11	Video in Midjourney Midjourney can move now, and that opens a new dimension. In this module, we’ll learn how to create videos right in Midjourney, from simple animations to expressive scenes.	Online lecture + final project	2	8
12	The art of creating ideas An idea isn't a flash of inspiration but a process. Learn how to find them even when your mind feels empty, and make creating ideas as natural as breathing.	Final online lecture	2	0
Total number of hours:			22	28,8

Assessment and progress

Assessment will be based on:

Attendance during classes.
Completion of all practical assignments.
Development and submission of the final project demonstrating conceptual and technical proficiency.

Lecturer's Bio

Veronika Pell (Mindeye)

Portfolio

Artist Instagram

Award-winning AI artist, art director, and educator working at the intersection of film, visual art, and generative technology. Known under the pseudonym Mindeye, she creates video art, music videos, show visuals, and short films that merge cinematic storytelling with AI aesthetics.

Her works have been showcased internationally — including at AI Film Fest Amsterdam, Vancouver International Film Festival, and Sotheby's Institute of Art — and have received distinctions such as 2nd place at the Chroma Awards, 2nd place at the Korean International AI Film Festival, Runway's Gen-48 shortlist, and the AI Academy Film Awards shortlist.

Veronika is an official creative partner of OpenAI, Runway, and Krea AI, and was included in Leonardo.Ai's 50 Top Women AI Artists for 2025 (featured in Forbes Australia) and Top 50 Women in AI Filmmaking for 2026. She is also the co-founder of A Very Creative School, where she teaches creative professionals to use AI tools like Midjourney for expressive and professional visual storytelling. Her practice bridges the worlds of contemporary art and digital production, combining conceptual depth with strong visual direction.

Selected Exhibitions & Screenings

2025 I Miei Ricordi: AI Dreams, Hallucinations and Memories, MOAA, Florence, Italy
2025 LED Wall Showcase, AI WEEK, FieraMilano Rho, Milan, Italy
2025 Selected Fashion AI and Digital Artists, Prompt Magazine x Pforzheim University – School of Design, ROWI Quarter, Pforzheim, Germany
2024 Signal, Unknown Person, Berlin, Germany
2023 zero_zero, Kafedra, Herceg Novi, Montenegro
2023 CCC: Today is Saturday Again, Zverevcenter, Moscow, Russia
2023 Visible Emptiness, Kafedra, Herceg Novi, Montenegro
2021 Hunting for a white unicorn, 25kadr Gallery, Moscow, Russia
2020 Homo Communicans, MMOMA, Moscow, Russia
2020 How old is the rock, Artboloto, Moscow, Russia
2020 Thread, Za Shkoloy, Moscow, Russia
2019 Pyramid of Contemporary Art, Fabrika CCI, Moscow, Russia

Awards & Festivals

2nd Place, Chroma Awards, Music Video – Experimental & Open Format, for MY BABY – Smiley Virus (2025)
2nd Place, Korean International AI Film Festival (2024)
Shortlisted, Runway Gen-48 Competition (2024)
Shortlisted, AI Academy Film Awards (2024)
Finalist, Metadisruption AI Art & Design Festival (2024)

Creative Partnerships

Official partner of OpenAI, Runway, Krea AI, Leonardo AI, Hailuo AI, Dreamina, CapCut

Teaching experience

Veronika is lecturer in a A Very Creative School (https://averycreativeschool.com/), an online school that teaches creative professionals to work with AI image and video tools. Its programs integrate AI directly into artistic thinking and production workflows.

Enrollment and fees

The course duration is 22 academic hours. The group is limited to 25 participants.

Language of instruction: English.

28 of November 2026 - 20 of February 2027, 22 academic hours, two hours every Saturday at 11 am, Sofia time (EET, UTC+2), online, live.

Course fee: 300 EUR

Enrollment deadline: 18 November 2026

Enrollment:

Download the application form HERE.
Fill it out and send it to: uppo@nbu.bg
Additional information will be provided regarding the start of training and payment details.

For more information and enrollment:

Center for Professional and Continuing Studies

Sofia, NBU, 21 “Montevideo” St., Building 2, Office 108

Phone: +359 2 8110 110 (option 6), +359 2 8110 108

E-mail: uppo@nbu.bg