Best Illustrator Classes Washington, D.C.: Find Courses & Onsite Training

Learn More About Washington, D.C. Illustrator Courses

Adobe Illustrator is a vector graphics design and editing application. Vector graphics are images composed of lines, points, and shapes. Unlike pixel-based graphics, they can be resized without becoming blurry or blocky. Illustrator is used for creating many different types of designs, including logos, drawings, illustrations, and graphics. It is popular in industries like marketing, where graphics often need to be resized for various product dimensions. A graphic created with this application can easily be adjusted to fit a variety of products, ranging from tiny items like business cards to massive structures like billboards.

Illustrator was first released in 1986 and was made available to the public in 1987. It is part of the Adobe Creative Cloud, a group of creative applications popular with designers. Adobe Creative Cloud also includes applications like InDesign, Photoshop, and Premiere Pro. Many Adobe applications, including Illustrator, have become industry-standard tools. Since its release, Illustrator has continued to evolve. The most recent version is 28.0.

What Can You Do with Illustrator Training?

Illustrator lets users create their own custom graphics and resize them without losing quality. It is an ideal tool for creating graphics that need to be mass-produced and resized for multiple types of uses. For instance, a Designer can use it to create a design for a marketing campaign and then easily manipulate the design so it can be used across media—such as print advertisements, websites, and social media—and still look the same.

This application is often used for branding, where designers create a unique image that helps people connect with a specific brand and easily recognize it wherever it appears. A branding image created in Illustrator can be reproduced on product packaging and in marketing materials. It can be resized to fit wherever it is needed. For example, a specific online graphic can be reproduced for easy placement on multiple social media sites.

You don’t have to be a professional Designer to use Illustrator. It’s also a useful tool for personal creative projects. For instance, if you’re trying to build an online identity, you can use this application to create your own logo or branding to use on websites or social media. Illustrator provides a wide range of tools that enable a high level of creative freedom for turning your design ideas into reality.

What Will I Learn in an Illustrator Class?

Drawing Tools

An Illustrator class will cover the many drawing tools contained in this application that you can use to create custom artwork. You’ll learn to use standard drawing tools, including the Pen tool. The Pen tool allows you to draw designs freehand, create both straight and curved lines, and use handles and anchor points to modify the shapes you create.

Layers

Layers are a core principle of Illustrator. They are a way to edit and organize your artwork. When you take a class, you’ll learn how to create new layers, separate layers, hide layers, and lock layers.

Color

Color is likely to be an important part of any design you create in Illustrator, and a class will help you learn to use a wide variety of color-related tools. For example, Illustrator includes a tool that lets you create your own custom colors. There is also a tool for creating color schemes.

Shapes

Illustrator includes many different tools for creating and editing shapes. For example, there are shape tools such as Ellipse, Rectangle, and Star. The application also allows you to stack shapes or merge them.

Art Boards

An Illustrator art board is like a blank piece of paper that you can use for creating designs. You’ll learn how to work with art boards when you take a class. Designers can use art boards to work on multiple designs, or multiple versions of the same design, at the same time.

How Hard is It to Learn Illustrator?

Most people find Illustrator relatively user-friendly and not overly challenging to learn. There are a lot of new tools and concepts involved though, so it takes practice to understand and master them all. If you’re familiar with any other Adobe applications, you’re likely to find learning Illustrator less difficult since there are similarities between the applications.

What Are the Most Challenging Parts of Learning Illustrator?

One of the most challenging parts of learning Illustrator is taking your skills to a professional level. Many people find it relatively easy to start using the application; however, it is more difficult to use it to produce professional-quality work. Most experienced designers say that overcoming this challenge is simply a matter of time and consistent practice.

How Long Does It Take to Learn Illustrator?

The length of time it takes to learn Illustrator varies by individual. For most people, it’s possible to learn the basics in a few days or weeks. For instance, many bootcamps take about a week and provide you with a solid grasp of the application. Mastering Illustrator takes longer—typically several months to years. If you’re already fluent in other Adobe applications or have prior design experience, you’re likely to learn the application more quickly. Enrolling in a paid class is another way to speed up the learning process because you’ll follow a comprehensive curriculum and receive regular feedback. You can also accelerate your learning by devoting more time to practice.

Should I Learn Illustrator in Person or Online?

Many Illustrator classes are available in both in-person and live online formats. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages. One advantage of learning in person is that you’ll get face-to-face interaction with your instructor and classmates. You’ll also study in a dedicated classroom with minimal distractions. A disadvantage is that you have to physically travel to class, which can be expensive or inconvenient and limits you to nearby classes.

Live online learning, by contrast, doesn’t require a commute. Instead, you attend class by logging in on your computer from anywhere with internet access. Like an in-person class, you’ll interact in real time with the instructor. In some classes, the instructor can even view or control your screen with your permission. A drawback of this format is that you’ll need to provide your own equipment and software.

Can I Learn Illustrator Free Online?

There are many different free Illustrator resources online that you can use to help you learn more about this application. For instance, Noble Desktop provides several free seminars—including some focused on Illustrator—to help students gain a better understanding of a variety of coding and design topics. Intro to Adobe Illustrator is one, and is designed to help you understand some of the fundamentals of this application. There is also a seminar called Adobe Illustrator for Fashion, which covers some of the ways that Illustrator is used in the fashion industry. Another place to find free Illustrator resources is the Adobe website. This website contains many free tutorials that you can use to learn new skills like creating a web icon with Illustrator or bending and twisting artwork. If you’re serious about learning Illustrator, however, free resources may not be enough. You’ll likely decide to enroll in a live class where you can follow a comprehensive curriculum and get regular instructor feedback.

What Should I Learn Alongside Illustrator?

If you’re learning Illustrator and you are looking for complementary skills to add to your resume, learning some design principles is a great choice. The world of design is governed by several fundamental principles, and a good Designer knows how to utilize them to create purposeful and effective designs. For example, different design elements like color and repetition can be manipulated to achieve specific effects.

A knowledge of Adobe Photoshop can also be helpful if you are working in design. Like Illustrator, Photoshop is an industry-standard application. While Illustrator is used for editing vector graphics, Photoshop is for editing raster images, which are made of pixels. Learning this application gives you more options when it comes to working with images. Since Photoshop and Illustrator are both made by Adobe, they integrate easily and can be used together to create designs.

Industries That Use Illustrator

Illustrator is a design application and is used across many design-related industries. It is a common tool in the marketing industry since it allows designs to be resized without a loss of quality. It is also used in graphic design, digital design, web design, and fashion design. According to the Washington DC Economic Partnership, the marketing and design sectors have a strong presence in the Washington, D.C. area. It reports that Washington, D.C. is ranked fourth among U.S. metro areas for marketing, design, and publishing employment.

Illustrator Job Titles and Salaries

Graphic Designer

A Graphic Designer communicates messages in a visual format using elements such as text, color, and images. Graphic Designers often use Illustrator, which is commonly used to create and edit designs. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (the BLS), the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area has the fourth-highest employment level in the country for Graphic Designers, with more than 5,400 people employed. The agency reports that the annual mean wage for this job in Washington, D.C. is about $84,000. The BLS also finds that a significant percentage of Graphic Designers are self-employed; nearly 20 percent. For those who are not, the most common employers are in advertising, public relations, specialized design services, printing, and publishing.

The BLS predicts 2 percent job growth in graphic design over the next ten years, which is slightly below average, with about 21,000 job openings each year during that period. It says that increasing reliance on digital technology is helping to increase graphic design jobs, explaining, “As companies continue to increase their digital presence, graphic designers may be needed to help create visually appealing and effective layouts of websites and social media sites.” At the same time, it cautions, “Automated design tools such as artificial intelligence (AI) may reduce the need for companies to contract with freelance graphic designers.”

Digital Designer

A Digital Designer is a Designer who focuses on creating designs for digital media such as apps and websites. Digital Designers consider the overall user experience and how various digital elements work together. They also need to optimize designs for multiple screen sizes. According to Indeed, on average a Digital Designer working in Washington, D.C. earns close to $150,000 annually.

The BLS reports rapid growth in digital design. It predicts that between 2023 and 2033, jobs for Web Developers and Digital Designers will increase by 8 percent, which is faster than the national average. It explains, “Employment of web developers and digital designers is projected to grow as ecommerce continues to expand.” It also notes, “The continued use of mobile devices to search the web is expected to generate demand for web developers and digital designers to create websites and interfaces that work on mobile devices with many different screen sizes.”

Web Designer

A Web Designer uses their design skills to create websites and may use Illustrator among other tools. This job involves building the structure and layout of a site and creating its look and feel using graphics, images, colors, and fonts. Some Web Designers create an entire site themselves, while others work as part of a team. According to the BLS, Washington D.C. is a top employer of Web and Digital Interface Designers, with about 3,500 people employed in that profession. The annual mean wage is about $96,000.

Fashion Designer

Fashion Designers design clothing, footwear, and accessories. As part of the design process, they create prototypes and mockups. By using Illustrator, designers can create these more efficiently and have more flexibility to manipulate their designs.

As reported by the BLS, over the next ten years Fashion Designers will see job growth of about 5 percent, slightly above average. Commenting on growth factors, it says, “The increased demand for a constant flow of new fashion designs has been accelerated by social media influencers and by retailers advertising and selling directly to consumers online.” Additionally, “Growing consumer preference for sustainable options in the fashion industry also has created a desire for designs that use eco- and vegan-friendly materials.” According to Indeed, a Fashion Designer in Washington, D.C. earns about $85,000 per year.

Illustrator Classes Near Me

If you’re based in Washington, D.C. and you want to take an in-person Illustrator class, you can learn through Ledet Training. This school runs a variety of design classes, including Illustrator classes. There is a short introductory class where you can learn the basics, and also a more advanced course. Another option is the Illustrator Bootcamp, a longer course that covers both beginner and intermediate techniques. There is also a class called Illustrator User Interface Design, focused on using Illustrator for product design. Ledet courses are offered both in-person and in a live online format.

ONLC Training Centers also runs Illustrator training in Washington, D.C. It offers a Level 1 Course, which covers the interface, customizing and saving workspaces, setting up documents, zooming in and out, and setting up multiple artboards. Students who take this class also learn to use selection and drawing tools, work with the layers panel, and use styles. The Level 2 Course covers more complex skills and moves at a faster pace. In this class, students also learn shortcuts and real-world tips and tricks to help them work more efficiently.

Noble Desktop—a New York City-based coding and design school—runs live online Illustrator classes. This school is licensed by the New York State Education Department. Course offerings include weekday, evening, and weekend options, and all classes come with a free retake within one year, which offers an excellent opportunity to refresh your skills.

Noble’s Adobe Illustrator Bootcamp is a popular option. 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, which are multi-week courses focused on several different types of design. The Graphic Design Certificate covers Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign, as well as graphic design concepts. In addition, you’ll work on projects that you can include in your portfolio. Another option is the Digital Design Certificate. In this class, you’ll learn key design concepts and theories and will receive instruction in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. In addition, you’ll learn about user interface (UI) design, including using Figma. This class also includes work on a portfolio. Both courses come with one-on-one training sessions.

Noble Desktop also runs an Illustrator Certification Program. This course will take you to an advanced level of skill and is designed to help you pass the Adobe Certified Professional exam for Illustrator. It starts with a multi-day bootcamp. After that, you’ll get two private tutoring sessions where you can get help with any concepts that you find challenging, and make sure you feel ready for the exam. Finally, you’ll take the Adobe Illustrator Certification exam. The course includes the exam fee, proctoring, and a free retake if needed.

Illustrator Corporate Training

For some companies, it makes sense to train a group of employees in Illustrator. Noble Desktop offers onsite and virtual graphic design classes, including instruction in Illustrator. Classes can be customized to meet your needs, and Noble’s expert instructors provide a variety of flexible scheduling options, including evenings and weekends. All participants also receive support materials to utilize after the class, such as handouts and access to premium training videos.

If you want to give your employees more control over their training, you can also purchase vouchers for Noble Desktop’s regularly scheduled group classes and let your employees enroll individually. There is a discount with bulk voucher purchases. For more information about corporate training options, contact Noble Desktop.

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Key Insights

Learn More About Washington, D.C. Illustrator Courses

What Can You Do with Illustrator Training?

What Will I Learn in an Illustrator Class?

Drawing Tools

Layers

Color

Shapes

Art Boards

How Hard is It to Learn Illustrator?

What Are the Most Challenging Parts of Learning Illustrator?

How Long Does It Take to Learn Illustrator?

Should I Learn Illustrator in Person or Online?

Can I Learn Illustrator Free Online?

What Should I Learn Alongside Illustrator?

Industries That Use Illustrator

Illustrator Job Titles and Salaries

Graphic Designer

Digital Designer

Web Designer

Fashion Designer

Illustrator Classes Near Me

Illustrator Corporate Training

Washington, D.C. Illustrator Corporate & Onsite Training Noble Desktop

Illustrator Training Locations in or Near Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. Careers & Salaries Related to Illustrator

Related Classes

Washington, D.C. Illustrator
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