Discover the Best Illustrator Classes in Boston
Adobe Illustrator is a popular software application used by artists and graphic designers to create vector graphics. Adobe realized the first version of Illustrator in 1987, and the application has gone through many iterations since then, establishing itself as a staple in graphic design. It offers sophisticated digital drawing tools for creating vector-based illustrations, icons, topography, logos, and other custom artwork.
Anyone interested in digital marketing or graphic design needs Illustrator in their toolkit. Learning to use Illustrator opens doors both personally and professionally. It allows you to explore your creativity via personal art and entertainment, and enrich your skill set to include business branding and design.
Best Illustrator Classes & Schools in Boston
You’ll find plenty of options to learn Illustrator in the Boston area. Ledet Training offers a wide variety of in-person classes to choose from, while CourseHorse and Noble Desktop offer the convenience of online courses.
Ledet Training offers multiple Illustrator courses from beginner to advanced levels. Ledet billericainstructors utilize a blend of hands-on instruction and personal knowledge to equip you with the tools and techniques necessary to create a successful product design. They have locations all over the country, with a training branch conveniently located in Billerica that serves the Boston area.
If you’re just getting started with Illustrator, Illustrator 101-Adobe Illustrator is the perfect class to begin with. Through a combination of labs, demonstrations, and instructor-led presentations, you will deepen your familiarity with Illustrator concepts and gain skills in developing and optimizing your work for visual appeal and engagement. This 2-day class covers the basic functions and tools to design and illustrate vector graphics. You’ll learn about Artboards and Workspaces and get hands-on practice with the Tool Palette and all its functions. By the end of this course you can expect to be able to create logos, professional type effets, complex airbrush effects, and other impressive designs!
Illustrator 201-Adobe Illustrator-Advanced is for those who have taken a beginner-level Illustrator course and are ready to dive a little deeper. In this 2-day course, you’ll master the appearance panel and create advanced clipping masks for amazing effects. Your instructor will help you customize your work environment and increase your Adobe Illustrator literacy with some tips and tricks. Projects include advanced selection techniques, perspective grids, using the gradient mesh tool, advanced brush techniques, and graphs and patterns. You’ll also learn how to create a variety of output files for print, web, and video. This course also includes an in-depth look at the newest toolset available in Illustrator.
Illustrator 202 - Illustrator User Interface Design. This 1-day instructor-led workshop places emphasis on the creation of visually appealing and functionally adept user interface designs that engage viewers and encourage interaction with your content. This class will be most helpful to those who have experience up to and including Illustrator 101 and have an idea of what your goals are with Illustrator before enrolling in this course. You can expect to learn to work effectively with Dynamic Buttons, get a handle on Text Styles, engage with Global Colors, cover Modular Design, how to resize without distorting, and how to navigate your library of graphic styles among other things. However, it’s important to note that this course is a workshop, so the topics covered will depend on the skill levels of you and your fellow students, as well as everyone’s overall objectives.
If you’re at a beginner or intermediate level with Illustrator and want to fast track your skill development, check out Illustrator 501-Adobe Illustrator Bootcamp. This 5 day course starts with an overview of Illustrator and progresses into more advanced lessons to improve your skill level. You’ll learn how to create mocks and dashboards for prototyping, logos, brochures, and concepts including color and typography. Also covered are the unique features of Illustrator, including how to create professional type effects, complex airbrush effects, and color control. It is recommended you have Adobe Illustrator software before starting this bootcamp.
Scheduling and pricing info for all available Illustrator courses can be found on Ledet’s website.
Where: 35 Middlesex Turnpike
If you can’t make an in-person class work or simply prefer to learn from the comfort of your own home, there are plenty of online options to choose from. CourseHorse and Noble Desktop both offer numerous Illustrator courses at beginner to advanced levels.
One of the best CourseHorse schools offering online Illustrator classes is Computer Training Source, Inc. CTS has offered computer software training classes for businesses and individuals since 1991. The instructors at CTS are chosen for their knowledge of the software they are teaching as well as their ability to present topics in a clear and concise manner. They also keep class sizes small to ensure you’ll receive important personal attention and 1-on-1 time.
There are many Illustrator options to choose from at CTS, the first being Illustrator Part 1. This course is a beginner level class that will get down to the basics of Illustrator. You’ll learn to draw shapes, use color, and manipulate paths. It also covers basic typography, grouping content, object stacking order, print considerations, layers, and exporting your work for both print and web. There’s a lot to learn when it comes to Illustrator, and this course gives you the comprehensive introduction you’ll need. Illustrator Part 1 is for ages 18 and older and has an average class size of around 10. Visit CourseHorse to check out pricing info and to book your spot.
When you’ve finished Illustrator Part 1, or if you already have prior Illustrator experience, you might want to check out Illustrator Part 2. Illustrator Part 2 teaches you advanced path manipulation and appearance controls. It covers patterns, symbols, brushes, gradient mesh, perspective drawing, masking techniques, creative effects, print proofing and exporting directly to the web. This class is ages 18 and up and has an average class size of 10. You can check out the course page for booking and pricing info at CourseHorse.
Illustrator Part 3 is also offered through CTS, so you can conveniently cover every aspect of Illustrator with the same institution! This course is offered at all levels, but it is recommended you have at least a good grasp on beginner skills. Illustrator Part 3 teaches you the practical application of content based on what you’ve learned in previous Illustrator classes, so the more you know, the more you will benefit from this class. It focuses on content management, streamlining work‐flow and real world design techniques. It’s the perfect course for those looking to round out their Illustrator skills and get a full grasp on how to use those skills outside of the classroom. Like Part 1 and Part 2, Illustrator Part 3 is an ages 18 and up course with an average class size of 10.
Noble Desktop is one of the leading online design and coding schools. It boasts an extensive catalog of creative and technical courses including Illustrator in a Day, a 6-hour course that quickly gets you familiar with the essentials. In this course you’ll learn how to create shapes and use the pen tool to draw vector graphics. By the end of this one-day class you’ll be able to control the pen tool, draw straight lines and curves, use colors, layers, brushes, trace images, and create custom artwork!
If you want to learn Illustrator in greater depth, check out their Adobe Illustrator Bootcamp, a comprehensive course that teaches you to master Illustrator in just a few weeks. From logos to patterns, packaging and type, you’ll learn exactly what Illustrator can do. You’ll create numerous graphics throughout the course, using standard drawing tools, the pen tool, type, compound paths, effects, laysers, blends, and more essential toolkit items. This course will also show you how to more easily create complex shapes out of basic shapes that are easier to draw.
Check out scheduling and price info, as well as other course options at Noble Desktop.
Boston Industries That Use Illustrator
Boston is a hot spot for industries in need of skilled graphic designers, brand managers, and marketing professionals. You can use your Illustrator knowledge almost anywhere in the city, but a few industries in particular are known to seek out talented Illustrators.
The marketing industry promotes brands and campaigns that target audiences using print, television, web, or social media advertisements. Professionals in the marketing industry have various job responsibilities depending on the position they are in. Content Developers work on creating the marketing materials for the campaigns. These materials include brochures, infographics, advertisements, videos, and social media content.
With the rise of digital and social media marketing, the marketing industry expects to grow 10% over the current decade. This is considerably faster than the average growth for jobs in the nation. Over the years, marketing has become a highly competitive industry, and having Illustrator experience will put you ahead of the curve.
The fashion industry also has a high demand for Illustrators. Apparel design involves creating clothing, accessories, and footwear. While there are various aspects to the fashion industry, most commonly, you will find Fashion Designer positions. Fashion Designers sketch out designs, select the fabrics, and give instructions on how to make the products to create original designs. Accessory Designers follow the same process, specializing in items like handbags, suitcases, belts, scarves, and more. Costume Designers focus on designing and creating pieces for the performing arts and motion pictures.
Architecture is another field in need of talented Illustrators. The architecture industry involves the planning and designing of houses, offices, factories, and other structures. Professionals will have various responsibilities depending on their position within the industry. Architects focus on the plans and designs for buildings while preparing the structure specifications. Civil Engineers design and build infrastructure projects. Construction Managers oversee the process of creating the structure. Drafters focus on converting the designs of architects into technical drawings.
Finally, many sectors are involved in the art and design industry, including illustration, professional photography, video game design, animation, theater, interior design, and film. Content creation can contribute to business marketing, branding, packaging, and sales in art and design careers
Illustrator Jobs & Salaries in Boston
There are plenty of opportunities to use your Illustrator skills in Boston’s job market. Content Writers can expect to make around $68,000 per year, while Directors of Marketing can expect to make over twice that at around $134,000. There are lots of jobs inbetween, such as a Digital Strategist that starts at $80,000 a year, as well as Marketing Analysts that start at an average salary of $87,000. Whether you’re more focused on the creative, design side or the analytical, strategy driven side of the Illustrator spectrum, you’ll find a way to utilize your skills in Boston.
