Top Cities for Illustrator Classes & Training

Illustrator training facilities are almost exclusively located in major metropolitan areas. Students looking for a career change may want to look at cities that offer the best training options for aspiring Graphic Designers or User Experience Designers. Since this is also where many of the highest-paying jobs are located, it makes sense that students looking for a career change might want to look at these cities.

What is Illustrator?

Adobe Illustrator is a vector design tool used in industries, including graphic and web design. Illustrator allows users to build graphics and illustrations from vectors (lines, shapes, and points). Graphics created in Illustrator receive minimal decay in quality when resized. This feature lets you use Illustrator designs on anything from billboards to business cards. 

Illustrator is a key part of the Adobe Creative Cloud. It works with Adobe programs such as Photoshop, After Effects, and Premiere Pro. Adobe created these programs to allow for optimized crossover.

Read more about what Illustrator is and why you should learn it. 

What Can You Do with Illustrator Skills?

Illustrator, a vector graphics design tool, lets users create illustrations. Creatives use Illustrator to build recognizable logos and iconography to define a brand identity. While most commonly used in the graphic design industry, several Fashion designers utilize the program. In professional settings, users create illustrations to quickly and effectively convey meaning and recognition among customers. A majority of product packaging uses vector graphics.

For non-professionals or aspiring entrepreneurs, Illustrator can help build an online identity. These individuals use Illustrator to create logos, signage, and decals for the growing business, making it a valuable skill to know. 

New York City, NY

A wide variety of industries are available to job seekers in New York City, which has over 1 million companies. New York City's top industries include finance, trade, health care, real estate, media, publishing, manufacturing, and information technology. Illustrator professionals work in many industries, such as marketing and advertising, web design, and user interface design. There is also a corporate office for Adobe in the city.

Even though the city offers high salaries, it is also important to consider the city's high cost of living when considering job growth in NYC. The city boasts high job competition, but job growth continues to be steady with the national average. As a potential job candidate, you'll find the area has a wealth of cultural diversity, exciting nightlife, a strong food and entertainment scene, and several creative and design communities. This is an excellent opportunity for networking on both a professional and personal level. For some, the non-stop atmosphere of the city may be overwhelming. 

One of New York's top colleges is the New York Institute of Technology. In addition to these schools, other local training institutions offer comprehensive Illustrator courses in NYC to students who wish to study and work there. Noble Desktop's training facility is also located in the city to attend Illustrator courses.

Los Angeles, CA

While Los Angeles has similar job growth and unemployment rates to NYC, it has a lower cost of living and salaries than NYC. A notable difference between the two cities is the pleasant weather year-round in Los Angeles and the robust public transportation in New York City. There is a lot of traffic in Los Angeles. Anyone who expects to commute throughout the city should expect high traffic levels. 

Aside from entertainment, aerospace, bioscience, transportation, and fashion, Los Angeles is a thriving hub for technology and start-ups. As with NYC, job competition in Los Angeles is high, but the big city offers many networking opportunities. LAdobe, LAIDUG, and Adobe MAX are some of the Adobe groups and events in the city. Adobe has a corporate office located in Los Angeles.

There are over 60 colleges in Los Angeles, so anyone looking to study Illustrator and work there will have many options. Los Angeles is home to many top-ranked schools, including UCLA. Through these schools and other local training institutions, students can find Illustrator courses in Los Angeles.

Chicago, IL

Living, working, and studying in Chicago can be a rewarding experience. Since Chicago is the third most populous city in the country, job opportunities within Chicago are plentiful and competitive. Manufacturing, finance, technology, healthcare, and retail comprise the city's top five industries. Chicago's cost of living is lower than other major cities, especially Los Angeles. 

In addition to its green space, Chicago has a vibrant food scene and is culturally diverse, like most major cities. Most Chicagoans live or work within a 10-minute walk of a park or trail. Over 100 colleges provide Illustrator courses in Chicago, and the Chicago Creative Coalition hosts several Illustrator meetups and events. Adobe has an office here as well.

Dallas, TX

In the past year, its population and job growth have accelerated more rapidly than the national average, making it a top choice for recent graduates and job seekers. It is less expensive to live in Dallas than in many other major cities, such as Chicago. The most important industries in Dallas are information technology, financial services, healthcare, and defense. 

Students can find Illustrator courses in Dallas through these schools and other local training institutions. Among the 40 colleges in the city are the University of Texas and Southern Methodist University, among others. Dallas is ranked third among U.S. cities based on Fortune 500 companies and hosting Illustrator meetups and events. Additionally, the city offers a vibrant food, arts, and sports scene, excellent public transportation, exciting nightlife, and a diverse population.

Houston, TX

Job growth in Houston is slightly above the national average. Houston's cost of living is slightly below the national average and lower than in Dallas. On the other hand, summer in Houston is hotter, and traffic congestion is an issue. Houston has several major industries, including oil, healthcare, biomedical research, and aerospace. The Port of Houston is a central employment hub for the state and city. 

In addition to Rice University, the University of Houston, and the University of St. Thomas, there are more than 40 colleges and universities in the city. Many Illustrator courses are available at these schools and other training facilities in Houston. Those who study here are more likely to start their career and build a network. You'll also find Illustrator meetups and events. Houston has ample food, art, and sports scenes like Dallas. 

Detroit, MI

While job growth in Detroit has kept up with the national average, it has a significantly lower cost of living than NYC, LA, and Chicago, making it considerably more desirable than those top cities for emerging graduates. Detroit does offer more variety in seasons, with summer never getting too hot and winter never getting too cold. However, being the 12th most populated city in the country, there will be high traffic levels. Detroit has several major industries: defense, logistics, healthcare, I.T., and automotive. Detroit is also home to the three big automotive companies.

Within the city, Detroit is home to 15 different colleges, including the University of Detroit Mercy and the College for Creative Studies. At these schools, students can find a variety of Illustrator courses and other training facilities in the Detroit Area. Detroit is home to a diverse community with large art, entertainment, food, and sports scenes. Several tech start-ups have moved to Detroit, making it one of the cities to jump into the tech industry.

Washington, D.C.

In the last year, Washington, D.C., has seen a slower job growth rate than the rest of the nation. Job growth in this area matches economic growth because the area hosts the federal government. Washington, D.C. boasts about high average salaries, but a higher cost of living comes with that. However, the cost of living is still lower than in NYC or L.A. While most people associate the area with the federal government, other key industries reside within the city, including tech, construction, hospitality, and tourism.

There are 23 colleges within Washington D.C., with George Washington University, Georgetown University, and Howard University among the top. Students can find various Illustrator courses at these schools and other training facilities located throughout the city. In addition to the bustling city, the city is home to 74 different museums. Even with the high level of traffic, it is one of the most accessible cities to walk around. Those just graduating or entering the workforce can easily find a position and network. Washington, D.C., is also home to one of the Adobe offices, making it the perfect place for creative individuals wanting to work with Adobe. 

Boston, MA

Due to high job growth, Boston has recently become the second most expensive city in the U.S. after only New York City. Prospective movers should calculate their budget before moving to Boston because Boston's salaries match its residents' high salaries. The city's top industries include higher education, healthcare, and financial services. 

Over 40 colleges and universities in Boston offer Illustrator courses to prospective students, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge University, and Harvard University. Adobe also has a corporate office in this area. During Illustrator events and meetups, tech and nonprofit industry professionals can network.

Portland, OR

Portland has experienced job growth similar to the national average; however, with its mild weather and higher salaries, it has become a desirable place to move to. With those higher salaries comes a higher cost of living, although Portland remains cheaper than NYC, LA, and Chicago. Portland has several important industries, including bioscience, climate tech, computer and electronics, design and media, food and beverage, and software. Companies like Nike, Adidas, H.P., and Adobe all have offices within Portland. 

Over half of the state's colleges are located within Portland, making it the perfect place to study and learn new skills. Among those schools are Pacific University and George Fox University. It is possible to find Illustrator courses at these schools and other training facilities throughout the city. Portland is also home to a large art community, making it perfect for Illustrator professionals to network and grow within their careers. There are also large outdoor and food and beverage scenes. 

Philadelphia, PA

Though the city's economy fell hard during the pandemic, it has rebounded in recent years and is just above the national average regarding job availability. Although Philadelphia has a higher cost of living than other major cities and boasts affordable housing, it is still far more affordable than other major cities. Philadelphia has several top industries: education, manufacturing, oil refining, food processing, health care and biotechnology, telecommunications, tourism, and financial services.

Philadelphia is home to over 50 colleges and universities, including the University of Pennsylvania and Villanova University. These schools and other local training facilities offer Illustrator courses in Philadelphia to prospective students. Furthermore, the city has green spaces, public transportation, and a rich national history.

Learn Illustrator Skills Online

Learning Illustrator isn't only for those living in big cities. Anyone can learn Illustrator, even those who live in rural areas, with live online training. You still receive all the great benefits of in-person training with the added luxury of completing the course from anywhere. To learn more about live online Illustrator courses, Noble Desktop's Classes Near Me Tool has several options for you to explore. 

Learn Illustrator Skills with Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop offers various Illustrator classes and bootcamps for students hoping to receive Illustrator training through a live online course.

• Illustrator in a Day: An introductory course covering the program's basic functionalities. 
• Adobe Illustrator Bootcamp: A more advanced class that teaches students to create complex and vibrant vector illustrations. Students finish the course with a professional portfolio. 
• Graphic Design Certificate: Students will master Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and Indesign. They will work towards building various sample designs to include in their portfolio. 
• Digital Design Certificate: Students will learn the essential Adobe applications and UI and web design for digital publications.