What is the Best Course to Learn Illustrator?

Illustrator is a popular program offered in many different course types. There is a lot to consider when searching for the most effective one. If you’re looking for the best course in Illustrator, there are a few recommendations outside of cost, duration, and format. Your skill level, educational goals, and learning style also play a big role in which course is best for learning this software. By carefully considering these factors, you can find a course that fits your proficiency level, budget, and schedule while meeting your personal and professional needs. Read more about our list of recommendations below.

Course Cost

To assess which course is best for learning Illustrator, you first have to outline a budget. Courses can be free with the help of platforms like YouTube or Adobe’s website. Courses can also be paid, and some of those fees are relatively expensive depending on your budget. Free courses are perfect for beginners or those looking to brush up on their skills, but they may not be appropriate for seasoned professionals or those who are at an advanced level. In these cases, paying for a course is the best option, as it not only provides a structured learning environment and access to exclusive resources, but it covers material that is both vetted and appropriate for the skill level. Paying for a course should be considered an investment in an education, so outlining what you’re willing to spend is an important step in deciding which course is best. It’s worth noting that course cost does not always align with course quality, and when choosing, you should also take into account reviews and course descriptions so that you can get the most bang for your buck.

Course Duration

Knowing how long you can dedicate to your class is a big part of which class will work best for you. The duration of an Illustrator course varies widely, ranging from short tutorials to programs that might span several months. The level, course content, and course format are a large part of a class's overall duration. For beginners, it is easier to find short courses, workshops, and other educational opportunities with minimal time commitment. As you work your way up to the advanced and professional level courses, you may need to dedicate more time and energy to learning unique content and advanced techniques. When choosing a course, we would advise that you think ahead to how much time you can realistically dedicate to your course, so that you can choose one that works for you. Shorter courses are a good option for learning new or one-off skills or refreshing what you already know. Longer courses are best for intermediate and advanced content. 

Course Formats

Illustrator courses come in various formats. In the digital age, online courses have become more popular and can offer you the flexibility needed to attend class even on a tight schedule. Live online courses are a great way to get face-to-face interaction while also learning in an environment that’s comfortable and best suited for you. While live online courses require you to show up at a specific time, if you need additional flexibility asynchronous courses are an option. These classes are student-paced and taught via modules, video lectures, and downloadable resources. If you’re a more traditional student and prefer to learn at school or another institution, then in-person classes will be best for you. You’ll get consistent instructor feedback in real-time, get to network with your peers, and potentially gain access to tangible resources like computer labs or physical books. Whether you’d like to be in person or online depends heavily on the class type, your learning styles, and your educational goals.

Skill Level

Understanding your level of proficiency is crucial to choosing the best program. If you take a class at too low of a skill level without intending to review what you already know, then you run the risk of wasting time and resources on a class that won’t cover any new content. Likewise, if you go for a class that’s too high in skill, you may be overwhelmed to the point of not learning things efficiently. Beginner courses will typically cover the foundational skills that include the interface and frequently used tools or techniques. For Illustrator, this is things like the pen tool and the tool menu in general, creating vector images, learning how to import and export graphics, and learning to grow comfortable with the software. Intermediate courses build on those skills, and help you transition to advanced and professional courses, which will cover things like specialized vector art, typography, designs for different industries, and advanced effects, among other things. Knowing your proficiency level, and lining that up against the curriculum or course description is an ideal way to find a class that is not too basic or too challenging.

Educational Goals

Perhaps one of the more important considerations is your educational goals. If you’re looking for the best course, different courses are ideal for learning for hobby purposes, professional development, or certification and accreditation. If you want to learn Illustrator for your future career in a design or digital-based industry, then you’ll want to look for bootcamps, certification programs, or professional training courses. These course types are more likely to help you build a portfolio as well as review Illustrator through an in-depth and comprehensive lens. If you’re just looking to pick up the fundamental skills, a workshop, one-day course, or short course will suffice. Though they don’t go as detailed as some other course types, they can help you reach a goal of learning the software and building confidence in using it with the help of hands-on activities and interactive projects. Outlining your goals and reviewing the course curriculum or description is a great way to align your aspirations with the course’s offering. 

Learn Illustrator with Noble Desktop

Whatever your ideal course, Noble Desktop can connect you to it quickly with the help of the Classes Near Me tool. With this tool, finding an ideal course is as simple as putting in your subject and where you’re located. Noble Desktop will take care of the rest. On top of this service, they also offer their own Illustrator courses that range in all costs, levels, durations, and formats. If you’re a beginner to Illustrator and looking to learn the fundamentals of the application, consider their Illustrator in a Day course, which is an intensive learning opportunity that covers everything you need to know to get started on your Illustrator journey. Their curriculum reviews different types of graphics, like logos and icons, and introduces you to shapes, brushes, and tools like the pen and paint tool. There is a small project at the end of the course that allows you to make vector art or signs. Overall, this is the perfect course for those who are on a time crunch but want to pick up a valuable skill. 

Noble Desktop also offers more advanced classes, like their Adobe Illustrator Bootcamp. This class teaches you how to draw and edit vector graphics, and reviews content and techniques that range from a basic to an advanced level. You can pick up skills in effects, layers, masks, and more. Become a seasoned professional at creating logos, icons, and other packaging, all while building your professional portfolio through hands-on projects like posters, and ad creation. This bootcamp is also offered as part of the Illustrator Certification Program, which guides you through not only the highly structured curriculum, but also provides you with a strong foundation for taking the Adobe Certified Professional exam. With this course, you get a retake of the group class within a year, access to a custom workbook with step-by-step instructions, hours of private tutoring, pre-exam reviews, and proctoring for your exam, among other things.