Strengthen your Illustrator proficiency with classes that explore vector art, branding, and icon design. Students gain hands-on experience crafting scalable graphics for multiple platforms.
Learn how to draw and edit vector graphics using Adobe Illustrator. This course covers the basics and advanced features, including the Pen tool, effects, layers, masks, and more. Perfect for creating logos, icons, and packaging.
Begin your journey as a professional graphic designer by learning the essential skills and tools used by industry experts. Gain hands-on experience in Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator, and create a stunning portfolio to showcase your talent to potential employers or clients.
Build professional-level Illustrator skills and earn your Adobe Certified Professional credential through hands-on classes, private tutoring, and real-world projects. This certification program covers everything from vector drawing to logo design, giving you the tools to succeed on the exam.
Illustrator is an application used for creating and editing vector graphics. Unlike pixel-based graphics, which often lose quality when resized, vector-based graphics are made out of shapes, points, and lines and allow resizing with minimal loss of quality. Illustrator has thus become popular in industries like marketing, where designers need to resize graphics so that they can place them on multiple products. This application is part of the Adobe Creative Cloud and is available by subscription.
Illustrator can be used to create custom graphics and then resize them without a loss of quality. It is a valuable tool in marketing or any industry in which designers need to reproduce images while tailoring them to different types of products and media. For example, a Designer could use Illustrator to create an image for an advertising campaign, and that image could be manipulated for different types of media—such as print, social media, and websites—while still looking the same. This application is a popular branding tool. Branding involves creating a unique design that is associated with a specific brand and can be easily recognized wherever it appears.
Every Illustrator class is unique; however, it’s also likely that no matter what class you take, you’ll probably learn a similar set of foundational skills. These include mastering the application’s drawing tools and learning to use layers, colors, and shapes. You’ll also learn about design.
Illustrator includes a variety of different drawing tools, and when you take a class, you’ll learn how to use them. Instructors will cover the standard drawing tools and also the Pen tool, which you can then modify with anchor points and handles.
When you work with Illustrator, you’ll also need to learn how to use layers, which are a way to edit and organize your work. Specific skills covered will include creating new layers, separating layers, hiding layers, and locking layers.
There are many different tools within Illustrator that you can use to create and edit shapes. These include the Star, Ellipse, and Rectangle tools. Illustrator also lets you merge shapes or stack them.
An Illustrator class will also help you learn to work with color. The application has several different color-related tools. For example, there is a tool that lets you create your own custom colors. There is also a tool for generating color schemes.
Since Illustrator is a design tool, you’re likely to learn more about design when you take a class. You’ll learn to manipulate elements like color and proportion to achieve certain effects, which will help you create more purposeful designs.
Many people say that Illustrator is somewhat challenging to learn as a beginner because of the many different tools and features to cover. However, at the same time, this application is known to be relatively intuitive and user-friendly, which can ease the learning process. Students who already know how to use another Adobe application are likely to master the interface more quickly. A live class can also make it easier to learn since there will be an expert instructor to guide you through the process, provide feedback, and answer questions.
The amount of time it takes to learn Illustrator is different for every person; however, many people say that you can learn the basics within a matter of days or weeks, and can become fairly confident using this application within several months. To master Illustrator, you’ll probably need to devote a year or more. If you already have some experience working in graphic design or you know how to use another Adobe application, you’re likely to learn more quickly. In addition, the more time you spend practicing your skills, the more quickly you’re likely to learn.
Some Illustrator classes run both in-person and live online. Each format has unique advantages and disadvantages. One advantage of learning in person is that you can interact with your instructor and fellow students face-to-face. This may make for a more engaging experience, and some people also find that it’s the best way to learn new skills. In addition, you’ll be in a space that is dedicated to learning and is likely to have minimal distractions. A disadvantage is that you have to travel to class, which can be expensive or inconvenient. With in-person learning, you’re also limited to classes nearby.
In contrast, online learning doesn’t require a commute. Instead, you attend by logging in on your computer from any location that has internet service. If you take a live online class, you’ll interact in real time with the instructor, just like with an in-person class. In some classes, the instructor can even see and control your screen if you give permission. A disadvantage to this format is that you’ll need to supply your own equipment and software. Another online learning option is an on-demand class. This format is not live; however, it offers a lot of flexibility since you work through lessons at your own pace. On-demand classes are usually cheaper than live ones, too.
If you’re looking for a job in Virginia where Illustrator is an asset, you’re likely to find many options. Illustrator is frequently used for design within the tech industry. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) reports that Virginia has a busy tech sector. It says, “Thousands of tech firms and tech industry leaders have been attracted to Virginia by its combination of diverse, world-class talent, exceptional quality of life, attractive business climate, and competitive costs.” According to VEDP, Virginia has the country’s highest concentration of tech talent, with 330,000 people working in tech occupations.
Advertising is another major industry where Illustrator will come in handy. At agencies like The Martin Agency in Richmond or in local governments like the Fairfax County Department of Communications and Public Affairs, Illustrator is often used to create infographics, brochures, and physical signage, but it’s also used for digital creations like web graphics. Developing a brand identity is incredibly necessary, no matter the industry.
Illustrator is an incredibly useful skill for Real Estate Agents and those working for real estate agencies. For instance, top-rated real estate agencies like Virginia-based Long & Foster Real Estate hire Illustrator professionals. It’s used for site plans, infographics for websites that detail property information, and signage.
Graphic Designers communicate messages through a visual format, utilizing elements such as text, color, and images. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (the BLS), a federal agency that collects and analyzes labor market statistics, projects approximately 21,000 job openings each year for this field over the next ten years. The agency also finds that 18 percent of Graphic Designers are self-employed. According to Indeed, in Virginia, a Graphic Designer has an average yearly salary of $57,000.
Fashion Designers design clothing, footwear, and accessories. Some use Illustrator for creating and manipulating prototypes and mockups of their designs. The BLS predicts 5 percent job growth for this profession between 2023 and 2033, which is slightly above average. According to Indeed, a Fashion Designer in Virginia has an annual salary of about $39,000.
Digital Designers create media that will be viewed on digital interfaces. Between 2023 and 2033, the BLS predicts 8 percent job growth for Web Developers and Digital Designers. This growth is driven by increased e-commerce and mobile device usage. A Digital Designer in Virginia earns $113,000 per year on average, according to Indeed.
Web Designers design websites. They are responsible for structure and layout and may use Illustrator to help with their designs. According to Indeed, in Virginia, the average yearly salary for a Web Designer is $76,000.
Noble Desktop is a New York City design and coding school that runs a variety of Illustrator classes, both in-person at its Manhattan classroom and in a live online format that you can take from anywhere. Noble’s Adobe Illustrator Bootcamp is a popular option for students who want to learn this application. This is a multi-day course that covers both basic and advanced features of Illustrator. You’ll learn how to use the application’s standard drawing tools as well as the Pen tool. You’ll also learn about type, effects, layers, compound paths, masks, blends, patterns, and colors. Throughout the class, you’ll create numerous graphics. The class also includes a bonus one-on-one training session where you can review challenging skills or get assistance with your own projects.
If you’re looking for a more comprehensive course, Noble Desktop also offers a variety of certificate programs. The Graphic Design Certificate covers Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign, as well as graphic design concepts. You’ll also work on projects that can be included in your portfolio. Another option is the Digital Design Certificate, where you’ll learn key design concepts and theories and receive instruction in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, along with user interface (UI) design using Figma. This class also includes portfolio development and one-on-one mentoring sessions.
Noble Desktop also runs an Illustrator Certification Program. This course takes you to an advanced level of skill and prepares you to pass the Adobe Certified Professional exam for Illustrator. It begins with a multi-day bootcamp and includes two private tutoring sessions to address any difficult concepts. The course concludes with the Illustrator certification exam, and includes the exam fee, proctoring, and a free retake if needed.
If you’d like to train a group of employees in Illustrator, Noble Desktop offers custom training options. Its experienced instructors can lead onsite and virtual Illustrator classes. You can select from an existing course or request fully customized content. Participants will receive post-training support materials such as handouts and access to videos, to help reinforce what they learned. All instructors have extensive real-world experience and a talent for teaching.
Another way to train a group of employees is to purchase vouchers for Noble Desktop’s regularly scheduled Illustrator classes. This allows each team member to choose the session that fits their schedule. Discounts are available for bulk voucher purchases. For more information about corporate training, email Noble Desktop.