AutoCAD is a computer-aided design program that aids professionals in drafting and blueprinting design projects. An important factor in deciding to learn a new skill is researching complementary and related skills. Doing so will help you make more informed decisions about what you want to learn, and it will help you decide whether or not learning a specific skill is the right decision for you. You will also learn what skills you want to learn to complement your training later. Read on to learn more about related AutoCAD training options, such as graphic design, motion graphic design, animation, and product design.

What is AutoCAD?

AutoCAD is the most widely-used computer-aided design (CAD) software worldwide. It is used to create architectural, construction, and engineering blueprints, schematics, and models. Released by Autodesk in 1982, AutoCAD makes 2D and 3D designing more efficient. As a result, millions of professionals across several industries rely daily on this powerful, collaborative software.

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

What Can You Do with AutoCAD Skills?

AutoCAD enables users to create, edit and collaborate across desktop, web, and mobile devices. With AutoCAD, you can produce precise 2D and 3D drawings and models, electrical diagrams, construction drawings, interior designs, and more. 

AutoCAD is a versatile software featuring many industry-specific tools and features. It makes the design process easier through its many automation and customization tools. AutoCAD is a popular and vital tool for professionals in many industries, including interior design, project management, machining, manufacturing, architectural design, and engineering. The software allows team members to share and collaborate seamlessly on projects across their devices from anywhere.

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Skills Related to AutoCAD

Skills related to AutoCAD include graphic and product design. These areas relate to similar purposes behind the use of AutoCAD. Thus, skills are directly transferable and could lead to a new career. Graphic Designers and Product Designers work in various industries, but primarily in film, television, advertising, and computer science.

Graphic Design

Graphic design combines graphics, text, and color to create attractive and compelling visuals. Graphic Designers commonly work in marketing or advertising and develop products such as fliers, brochures, posters, and other promotional material. They may also create digital assets for websites and mobile applications.

Industry-standard graphic design tools include Adobe products, such as Photoshop or Illustrator. Like AutoCAD, these products are computer-assisted design programs and perform similar functions. Some Graphic Designers even prefer to use AutoCAD as its precision can result in more accurate 3D and 2D design assets. Such exact designs can be essential in industries such as manufacturing or aeroscience. 

While Architects and Engineers wouldn’t usually be grouped with Graphic Designers, they still need at least some knowledge of graphic design. The designs they build or create need to be functional and visually appealing to the public, who will see their designs every day. Thus, professionals who use AutoCAD could benefit from at least an introductory course in graphic design to improve their design and creative processes. 

Individuals interested in graphic design can attend Noble Desktop’s Graphic Design Certificate. You’ll learn important design concepts and industry-standard applications; Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator. By the end of the course, you’ll know how to edit and combine photos, design page layouts, and create vector graphics. 

Motion Graphic Design

Motion graphic design employs the same principles of graphic design, except for adding movement. Motion graphic design is commonly used in motion pictures or television. It is also found in digital media, such as video games, websites, and mobile applications. Motion graphic design is used both for advertising purposes and to enhance storytelling. 

It might be surprising to learn that Engineers may use motion graphics in their designs. Animations in AutoCAD are used to build simulations that test how a product or design will function. This is especially important for designs that involve moving pieces. While the purpose of these motion graphics isn’t for advertising or storytelling, an engineer who enjoys programming these animations might discover an interest in motion graphic design.

Noble Desktop’s Motion Graphics Design Certificate teaches motion graphics design concepts in addition to industry tools such as Adobe After Effects, Premiere Pro, and Cinema 4D Lite. Students learn how to create animations and add them to film in addition to basic video editing techniques such as editing clips and inserting audio.

Animation

While motion graphic design deals with graphics that have motion, animation is an art field concerned with anything that moves. This includes graphics and tactile art forms such as claymation or animatronics. Animation is also more focused on storytelling and creating characters. Animators commonly work in similar industries as Motion Graphic Designers, including film and television, video games, and advertising. They may also work in theater, trade shows, and recreation. 

Engineers, Architects, and Designers who take an interest in motion graphic design for its storytelling abilities might, in turn, become interested in animation. In fact, AutoCAD is a tool that has been used to design theme parks and resorts.

Noble Desktop’s After Effects Bootcamp teaches animation with a focus specifically on video and film. Students learn to add animations to film, build special effects, or create stand-alone videos. This course is also available as part of the Motion Graphics Design Certificate. 

Product Design & UX/UI Design

Product design follows the entire lifecycle of a product, from conception to launch, customer feedback, and iteration. Product Designers work in numerous industries, including automotive, software, electronics, manufacturing, healthcare, and retail. Skilled Product Designers can progress to Product Managers responsible for leading an entire team of designs and managing product scope.

Engineers and Architects follow a similar product design process, taking feedback and tweaking their designs from conception to launch. Those working in construction or energy could leave AutoCAD behind and take their product design skills to other areas and software. One such area could be User experience and User interface (UX & UI) design. UX & UI design is concerned with designing a product that offers the optimal experience for the user, which is altogether intuitive, productive, and pleasing. UX & UI Designers follow product design principles by conceptualizing and reiterating their designs throughout a product’s life cycle. 

Students can learn UX & UI design with Noble Desktop’s UX & UI Design Certificate, which teaches UX & UI design concepts and tools. In this course, students learn how to create products such as websites and other digital applications. Students also gain hands-on experience creating prototypes and conducting user research. 

Learn AutoCAD Skills with Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop offers a variety of AutoCAD classes for learners at all levels. Whether you attend online or in-person, you’ll get hands-on training from leading industry experts. In addition, Noble’s courses are taught in small groups and include an optional free retake for students within a year.

Noble’s AutoCAD Level 1 provides an overview of the basics. AutoCAD Level 2 builds upon the fundamentals and teaches you to create more technical and advanced projects. Noble’s AutoCAD Bootcamp combines all topics from Levels 1 and 2 for a comprehensive overview of everything you’ll need to master the software.

Self-guided AutoCAD programs

Students who are looking to make a career out of using AutoCAD might also be interested in their options for career focused, self guided classes. These courses allow students to learn at their own pace (with guidance and assistance from a professional mentor) and they provide students with career-focused training and job placement support. While many students find it desirable to learn from a live instructor, these self-paced classes are the perfect fit for self-motivated students looking to make a career out of their AutoCAD training.

AutoCAD Certificate Program

The Visual Design and Construction Institute (VDCI) offers an immersive AutoCAD certificate program that aims to help students become career ready within only a few weeks of training. This program provides students with hands-on, job-focused training in the use of AutoCAD and the course is designed with new students in mind, meaning that you’ll move from your first construction draft to a capstone project to add to your professional portfolio over the course of the certificate program. This program also offers students the opportunity to take up to 80 hours of electives to help them specialize in subjects including Revit, Sketchup and Civil 3D Pro. With this option for specialization and the focus on career development training, this certificate program is an ideal entry point for aspiring designers, architects and engineers looking to learn how to use AutoCAD in a professional capacity.

AutoCAD Fundamentals

Students looking for an accelerated introduction to AutoCAD and computer-aided design generally may be interested in taking this introductory course offered by VDCI. Students will learn the basics of using AutoCAD and practical skills that they can bring back to their current jobs or use as the baseline for future CAD training (including some of the other advanced classes offered through VDCI). In this class, students will get live, hands-on instruction in the use of AutoCAD, including exercises in which they create drafting symbols, kitchens and bath fixtures, a floor plan, and deliverable file sheets. While you’ll need more training if you want to make a career out of your AutoCAD skills, this course is an excellent introduction to the kinds of projects that AutoCAD professionals will need to utilize.

AutoCAD Professional

If you have already taken the AutoCAD fundamentals program or you have experience with AutoCAD from another source, you may be interested in moving towards professional level training in this advanced AutoCAD program. In this program, students will learn how to create 2D designs for construction documents that meet all of the necessary and legal standards that they are expected to follow. This course offers practical skills training and is designed to ensure that experienced AutoCAD users are able to get the accelerated training that they need in order to start using the application in more complex professional capacities. This course is built to help students learn at their own pace and class scheduling is incredibly flexible for professionals looking to develop new skills while still working.