Which Sketch Training Format Is Right for Me?

Sketch is a user experience design tool built to let Web Designers create vibrant, interactive prototype layouts for webpages and digital applications Using Sketch’s advanced features, users can create complex, interactive webpage layouts for testing and development. When comparing types of Sketch training, there are many factors to consider. Everyone learns differently, and choosing the right kind of training is critical to your experience.

Keep reading to find out more about the different formats of Sketch training, how they compare to each other, and how to determine which is best for you.

What is Sketch?

Sketch is a design tool for creating user interface (UI) layouts for webpages and mobile applications. Sketch is a vector-graphics design program, meaning that the assets created can be modified and resized for optimal performance on screens of any size. Sketch’s significant features include its easy customization tools, digital collaboration tools, and, most importantly, Sketch symbols. Sketch symbols let users create reusable design elements that can be modified individually, allowing users to build layout assets like buttons and drop-down menus, which all look the same but function differently as the design demands. Advanced Sketch users can use the built-in tools to make even more complex, interactive symbols to optimize their workflow and the functionality of their design.

Sketch originated on the macOS app store and is only available on machines that run off macOS. Therefore, the program can be slightly limiting but is built with the specific functionalities of this operating system in mind. Sketch has features common to almost all macOS native programs, such as touch bar support, Retina and non-Retina displays, and native font rendering. These features allow macOS device users to learn Sketch more efficiently and quickly pick up advanced skills. Web designers can also create layouts designed to operate on devices like next-generation iPhones. The functionalities of Sketch designs won’t be limited to these devices, but the program gives users the tools to optimize their layouts for specific platforms.

In recent updates, Sketch has added new features to make collaboration and prototyping easier for teams of users. Sketch lets designers work together to build clickable prototypes of their webpages that designers can distribute for testing and iteration, a crucial feature of any user-interface design software. And Sketch is constantly evolving to meet the needs of its users.

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

What Can You Do with Sketch?

Sketch allows web designers to create layouts for webpages and mobile applications. Users can create vibrant, interactive webpage models for testing and development using text, images, graphic designs, and artboards. Because Sketch is a vector graphics illustration tool, these designs are easily reusable and scalable. They can be optimized to work on any-sized screen and used in multiple contexts in any design layout. Sketch also recently added advanced features for collaboration and prototyping, allowing team members to work together more efficiently to build model user interfaces.

Sketch’s most unique features are symbols and reusable digital interface assets that can be replicated across multiple pages. Sketch lets users define symbol characteristics to repurpose them as the design warrants. In addition, users can manually override the function of individual symbols, letting users give each asset a different interactive functionality without having to start from scratch. More advanced users can build complicated, multi-purpose symbols that make designing interfaces a breeze.

Sketch also has a robust community of designers and developers who are constantly building new adds-on and templates for Sketch. Users who learn Sketch can take advantage of these resources to make working with the program more straightforward and efficient. Since this community is so active, new resources are available daily.

Training Formats for Sketch

Students looking to use Sketch can find a number of training formats to improve their skills. Whether they are looking to learn in-person or online, live or asynchronously, there are options out there that are right for them.

In-Person Sketch Training

One option for students hoping to learn Sketch is enrolling in an in-person training seminar. These courses allow students to learn directly from expert instructors in a close, personal setting alongside a cohort of colleagues. In-person courses are ideally suited to students who want to learn Sketch in a distraction-free environment and interact directly with their instructors to receive assistance and feedback. Classroom courses also provide the technology needed to learn the program. The major downside to in-person instruction is that most providers have only one location, usually in a major city, which is inaccessible for some students.

Noble offers a range of in-person Sketch courses at their Manhattan campus. These courses range from bootcamps and seminars to in-depth career-focused certificate programs. Students who do not live near NYC can use Noble’s Classes Near Me tool to find the in-person Sketch training options available in their area.

Live Online Sketch Training

Live online training is an excellent option for students who live in an area without many in-person training options. These courses offer many of the same benefits as in-person classes, most notably the ability to interact directly with a live instructor who can answer questions and provide feedback. From the comfort of their own homes, students practice Sketch with guided exercises, live explanations of concepts, and practical projects. Courses are taught live, requiring students to attend on specific days and times, which may be a drawback for those who need more flexible scheduling. Students must also supply their own technology, which may be difficult for programs like Sketch with specific requirements.

Noble makes all its in-person classes available as live online course offerings, maintaining the small class sizes and direct access to instructors. These courses are available to students anywhere in the country, allowing them to learn how to use Sketch without demanding that they commute to a major city. Students interested in learning about and comparing online Sketch training resources should consult Noble’s Classes Near Me tool to find live online Sketch classes.

Free Online Courses & Tutorials

Students who want to learn Sketch but are undecided about investing in an immersive training course may wish to consider exploring the free online options available. While these courses won’t replace professional skills training for those looking to build a career using Sketch, they are great for familiarizing users with the program in preparation for an in-depth training course.

Noble offers free seminars and training courses through the free seminars page on its website and the Web Design and Development playlist on its official YouTube channel. These videos guide users through the basic principles of user interface (UI) design, user experience (UX) design philosophies, and the differences between Sketch and other major UX design platforms. These tools are ideal for students just entering the world of web design as they are built to give new users necessary background training in advance of more in-depth skills instruction. Noble also provides blog posts, interviews, and other articles through the Sketch tag on its official blog.

Sketch also offers free tutorials through their website. These micro tutorials and blog posts will help users get a handle on the Sketch interface and set them on the right path as they begin designing their first UI project. These tutorials are ideal for students who aren’t familiar with navigating design interfaces or aren’t sure what kinds of projects Sketch is optimized to build.

Free course options are also available through other service providers, such as General Assembly and Udemy.

Read about more free Sketch videos and online tutorials.

On-Demand Classes

Students who need or desire more flexible learning options may wish to consider taking an on-demand asynchronous course to learn Sketch. These courses are ideal for students with family or work obligations or whose schedule prevents them from attending a regularly scheduled class. Courses are available in various formats, letting students dictate their learning pace and giving them more control over when and where they study Sketch. However, these courses may require students to troubleshoot for themselves any issues that arise.

Comparison of Sketch Training Formats

Once a student has decided that they want to learn how to use Sketch, they will be confronted with several different training methods. Students can learn through live instruction, self-paced learning, or free tutorials, each with its benefits and drawbacks. Students must carefully consider what kind of training they hope to receive and weigh the costs and benefits of each learning method.

In-person learning options can be ideal for students who live near big cities and have the time to enroll in these courses. They tend to be the most expensive, but live instruction lets students take advantage of interfacing directly with an instructor who can answer their questions and provide them with direct feedback. However, classes are also restricted to specific places and times, ruling out the ability of some students to attend the classes that they feel would best suit their needs; for example, a daytime class is impossible for a student who works full time.

Live online classes are an excellent alternative with many of the same benefits of in-person learning and the added benefit of allowing students to take the courses from places other than the service provider’s campus. Students can still interact directly with their instructors and receive questions and feedback, but they miss valuable networking opportunities and working alongside colleagues. These courses also require students to provide their own hardware and software, though the free trial version of Sketch is likely sufficient for some students.

Both options require attendance at live, pre-scheduled classes, which may not be an option for students with other obligations, like work or family. These students may prefer on-demand Sketch training courses, which enable students to control their learning pace, letting them move faster or slower as needed. On-demand classes also let students learn at their most convenient times so that night owls can work in the evenings. The drawback is that students may find learning roadblocks challenging to overcome when lacking a live instructor who can help.

Finally, students looking to become comfortable with Sketch or to start experimenting with the program may wish to consult free online tutorials and resources. These resources are designed with beginners in mind and can help them learn how to navigate the interface, start simple projects, and understand the tools at their disposal. Like on-demand courses, they have the advantage of letting students control their learning pace. They are also free, meaning students don’t have to worry about a significant monetary commitment. However, these courses are only deep enough to help students get a basic understanding of Sketch. Students who hope to use Sketch professionally will need more advanced training.

Is it Possible to Teach Yourself Sketch?

Some users may wonder how easy it is to self-teach Sketch. Thanks to the large community and the amount of free resources available, new users may find self-teaching Sketch to be easier than it is with other programs. However, despite this, any users hoping to learn Sketch in a professional capacity are likely to find themselves unable to fully self-teach.

While students can go a long way with free video tutorials, the most in-depth and significant features of Sketch, particularly the symbols tool, are going to require a lot of guided training to master. While users can experiment with Sketch, there is a danger that without practical exercises and focused instruction, this experimenting won’t help students improve their designs. In addition, very few professional careers will only make use of Sketch. The best career training programs offer training in skills outside of Sketch, like graphic and visual design. Finally, while there are a lot of free resources available for learning Sketch, it can be difficult to parse which ones are quality resources or even which ones are up-to-date.

How to Decide the Best Way to Learn Sketch

Many different training options are available for learning Sketch. Students can learn in-person or live online or opt for self-paced learning. They can pay for professional instruction or rely on free resources and tutorials. It’s an individual choice that depends on how much a student plans to use Sketch and how much time they have to dedicate to their training.

Sketch novices who want to learn the basics of the program but aren’t ready to pay for a training program may wish to take advantage of free resources and tutorials. Sketch and Noble offer users an overview of the program and how to use the program's basic features so that they can become comfortable using Sketch. However, these resources will necessarily be limited in scope, so students hoping to master the advanced features of Sketch will need more professional training.

Users interested in professional training to learn Sketch should consider their goals. Do they want to learn Sketch as a standalone or as part of a career-focused training course? Users who only want to learn Sketch to plug a skill gap, expand their knowledge, or add another skill to their resume may wish to consider a focused course, like Noble’s Sketch Bootcamp. In such courses, students receive hands-on Sketch training designed to teach them how to use the program in real-world professional settings.

Students looking to pivot to a new career should consider career training courses, like Noble’s UX & UI Design Certificate program. These courses will teach students how to use Sketch as part of their toolkit, but they will also teach students other programs and UX design theories and provide career mentorship advice. These are the most expensive and time-consuming courses that students can choose. They are also immersive and provide the most significant benefits for building future earning potential.

Learn Sketch with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Students looking to master Sketch may wish to consider any Sketch classes and bootcamps offered through Noble Desktop. These classes, which range from short seminars offering students a basic understanding of Sketch to in-depth career skills training courses, give students the tools they need to use Sketch in their personal and professional lives. These courses are available in person at Noble’s Manhattan campus or live online from anywhere in the United States. Courses are taught by experts with whom students can interface directly, and class sizes are kept small, even online. So, students can ask questions and receive timely, personalized feedback on their work. Plus, courses include a one-year free retake option. Students can repeat the course to review a lesson that gave them trouble, attend a seminar they missed, or just get more hands-on practice with Sketch.

Students seeking in-depth training in Sketch should consider Noble’s Sketch Bootcamp. This intensive skills training course teaches students to use the basic and advanced features of Sketch, such as its layout design tools, interactive elements, and prototyping capabilities. Students get hands-on instruction in building web layouts using text, shapes, and images, all built with Sketch’s vector graphics illustration tools. They then learn how to optimize those illustrations for web and mobile viewing, including Hi-res and Retina displays. Finally, students receive hands-on training in using Sketch symbols, including how to override symbol functions to make them work differently and how to alter their functions universally after they have been implemented.

Noble also offers Sketch training as part of its immersive, career-focused UX & UI Design Certificate program. This course is designed to help aspiring Web and user experience (UX) Designers receive comprehensive career training and mentorship. Students learn to use an array of design tools, including Sketch, Figma, and Adobe XD, and receive hands-on training by working through practical exercises that reflect the work they will do professionally. Students also learn the best practices of UX design and how to best conduct user research and analysis. By the end of the course, students get the opportunity to have one-on-one career mentorship discussions with trained experts in the field of UX/UI design, and they will have built a sample design portfolio to take with them into the job market.