What is Illustrator, and why is it important to learn about?

Adobe Illustrator is a vector-based graphic design, editing, and drawing application program that has become the industry standard for graphic design professionals. The online era has made visual communication more important than ever, and Illustrator is an invaluable tool to help designers create compelling logos, posters, infographics, animations, and other design elements for the web as well as the real world. Illustrator has become the industry standard in part because of its longevity. Development of Adobe Illustrator began in 1985 on the original Apple Macintosh platform, and it has continually been improved and expanded to other platforms along with other Creative Suite and Creative Cloud applications such as Acrobat, Photoshop, and InDesign. Today, it is capable of quickly creating designs that work across print as well as the web and apps for both desktop and mobile devices. And, because its use is ubiquitous in the industry, working in Illustrator makes it easy to collaborate and share with other graphic designers. While Illustrator today has a wide range of powerful tools and use cases that were unimaginable when it was first released, successfully using this program requires the same skills that have been the hallmark of graphic designers in any era. Today’s top graphic design professionals bring together a talent for creativity in visual communication with a mastery of traditional principles regarding the use of space, color, and typography to convey information effectively with images and text. Illustrator is simply the tool that makes it possible to use these skills to reach the widest possible audience.

What kinds of careers can I have with a background in Illustrator?

A background in using Adobe Illustrator is increasingly essential for a career in graphic design. With the advent of the internet and e-commerce making visual aspects of brand communication and web design more important than ever, graphic designers that are able to work in digital formats using this industry-standard program have terrific opportunities to find work for their in-demand skills. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), graphic designers earned a median annual salary of $52,110 per year as of 2019. And, while most graphic designers have a bachelor’s degree in the field, those lacking a 4-year graphic design degree “may complete technical training in graphic design to meet most hiring qualifications” according to BLS.

Can I learn about Illustrator by taking online courses on Coursera?

Absolutely! Coursera offers a wide range of popular courses in web design, digital marketing, and graphic design, including courses that teach skills in Illustrator. You can learn these skills through individual courses as well as Specializations spanning multiple courses from top-ranked schools like California Institute of the Arts and University of Colorado Boulder. And, because learning online lets you view and complete course materials on a flexible schedule, pursuing your education in Illustrator with Coursera is a flexible option that can make sense for students as well as mid-career graphic design professionals seeking to refresh their skills for the digital age.

What are the benefits of taking an online Illustrator course?

Online Illustrator courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Illustrator skills. Choose from a wide range of Illustrator courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

What Illustrator courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Illustrator, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Top Illustrator Courses - Learn Illustrator Online

University of Michigan

AI for Creative Work

Skills you'll gain: Data Ethics, Generative AI, Artificial Intelligence, Creativity, Risk Analysis, Image Analysis, Business Risk Management, Human Computer Interaction, Compliance Management, Business Ethics, Risk Management, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Innovation, Content Creation, Design Thinking, ChatGPT, Law, Regulation, and Compliance, Corporate Sustainability, Regulation and Legal Compliance, Machine Learning

University of Colorado Boulder

Basics of Inclusive Design for Online Education

Skills you'll gain: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, Educational Materials, Course Development, Instructional Design, Disabilities, Instructional and Curriculum Design, Visual Impairment Education, Technical Communication

Status: Free

Coursera Project Network

UI/UX Design with Sketch: Travel Booking App

Skills you'll gain: Wireframing, User Interface (UI), Prototyping, User Experience Design, User Centered Design, Design, Design Elements And Principles, Usability Testing, User Flows

Coursera Project Network

Draw an interactive wireframe in Mockplus

Skills you'll gain: Wireframing, Mockups, UI Components, Interactive Design, User Interface (UI), User Flows, Usability Testing

Status: Free

University of California, Santa Cruz

Data-Driven Animation for Science Communication

Skills you'll gain: Scientific Visualization, Data Visualization Software, Data Presentation, Data Storytelling, Graphics Software, Visualization (Computer Graphics), Storyboarding, Peer Review, Post-Production, Computer Graphics, Technical Communication, Style Guides, Scripting, Adobe Creative Cloud, Adobe Illustrator, Code Review, Editing, Scripting Languages, Autodesk, Adobe Photoshop

University of Colorado Boulder

Graphic Design Elements for Non-Designers

Skills you'll gain: Logo Design, Color Theory, Design Elements And Principles, Graphic Design, Graphic and Visual Design Software, Design Software, Design, Typography, Color Matching, Storytelling, Graphic and Visual Design, User Experience Design, Design Reviews, Digital Design, Creative Design, Graphical Tools, Adobe Creative Cloud, Web Content, Content Creation, Design Research

University of California San Diego

Information Design

Skills you'll gain: Graphic and Visual Design, User Interface (UI) Design, Mockups, Responsive Web Design, Design, Typography, Wireframing, Design Elements And Principles, Usability, Interaction Design, Prototyping, User Experience Design

Status: Free

Coursera Instructor Network

Creating Infographics with GenAI for Marketing

Skills you'll gain: Infographics, Data Visualization, Target Audience, Data Storytelling, Design Elements And Principles, Technical Communication, Content Creation, Generative AI, Communication, Process Analysis, ChatGPT

Status: Free

Coursera Project Network

Adobe Photoshop for Beginners: Generative AI Images

Skills you'll gain: Adobe Photoshop, Generative AI, Adobe Creative Cloud, Data Import/Export, Graphics Software, Editing, Graphic and Visual Design, File Management

Status: Free

Coursera Project Network

NightCafe for Beginners: Create AI Art

Skills you'll gain: Generative AI, Editing, Artificial Intelligence, Graphical Tools, Creativity, Content Creation, Innovation

Packt

Foundations of 3D Modelling in Blender

Skills you'll gain: 3D Modeling, Visualization (Computer Graphics), Graphical Tools, Computer Graphics, File Management, Prototyping

Status: Free

Coursera Project Network

Adobe Indesign for Beginners: Workshop Flyer Design

Skills you'll gain: Adobe InDesign, Color Theory, Typography, Graphic Design, Adobe Creative Cloud, Design, Graphic and Visual Design, Digital Design, Design Software

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Explore the Illustrator Course Catalog

AI for Creative Work

Basics of Inclusive Design for Online Education

UI/UX Design with Sketch: Travel Booking App

Draw an interactive wireframe in Mockplus

Data-Driven Animation for Science Communication

Graphic Design Elements for Non-Designers

Information Design

Creating Infographics with GenAI for Marketing

Adobe Photoshop for Beginners: Generative AI Images

NightCafe for Beginners: Create AI Art

Foundations of 3D Modelling in Blender

Adobe Indesign for Beginners: Workshop Flyer Design

Illustrator learners also search

In summary, here are 10 of our most popular illustrator courses

Frequently Asked Questions about Illustrator

What is Illustrator, and why is it important to learn about?‎

What kinds of careers can I have with a background in Illustrator?‎

Can I learn about Illustrator by taking online courses on Coursera?‎

What are the benefits of taking an online Illustrator course?‎

What Illustrator courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?‎

Other topics to explore