Discover the Best Illustrator Classes in Washington, D.C.
Adobe Illustrator has been regarded as a vital tool in the graphic design industry since it was first released in 1987. Vector format is key in graphic design, allowing users to create graphics that can be expanded infinitely, as opposed to raster-based graphics which can only be blown up as fair as their pixels allow. It produces outstanding results for logos, icons, typography, and other complex illustrations.
Whether you are curious about graphic design or looking to make a career out of it, you won’t get far without learning Illustrator. Not only is Illustrator best for designing web pages or an app, it is the leading software for creating custom fonts, patterns, infographics, and other forms of custom art. Once you learn it, you’ll love it.
Best Illustrator Classes & Schools in
Washington D.C is full of opportunities to learn Illustrator both in-person or online. Ledet Training has a D.C. campus that offers a traditional classroom learning experience, while the Noble Desktop and Computer Training Source, Inc. offer a wide variety of online choices.
Ledet Training offers multiple Illustrator courses from beginner to advanced levels. Ledet instructors 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.
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 is a 1-day instructor-led workshop that 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: 1634 I Street NW Suite LL100
One of the best schools on CourseHorse 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.
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.
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.
Washington, D.C Industries That Use Illustrator
The political climate and job market might be the first things that spring to mind when you think of Washington D.C. However, you don’t need to be a politician to take advantage of what our Country’s capital has to offer. There are plenty of industries that can put your Illustrator skills to work in D.C.
The Marketing industry plays an important role in image-driven D.C. 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. Content Developers can hold job titles like Brand Marketing Assistant, Social Media Manager, and Content Coordinator, to name a few.
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.
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.
Whether you plan to use your Illustrator skills for art or analytics, D.C. will have plenty of opportunities for you to explore.
Illustrator Jobs & Salaries in
As far as Marketing jobs go in Washington D.C., there are a few that might interest you. Web Content Specialists start around $64,000, with more specialized Content Writer and Content Strategist jobs starting around $70,000-$78,000. Instructional Designers average 36% above the national average, making a starting wage of $96,000. In the Architecture industry, Civil Engineers and Construction Managers can expect to make around $110,000.
