14 Best Adobe Illustrator Courses Online 2021

What are the best Adobe Illustrator courses online in 2021?

Becoming a graphic designer involves understanding and mastering many theoretical, visual, and practical skills. Adobe Illustrator, a vector graphics editor, is part of the skill set that is essential for students to learn. In this review, we will give you a tour of the best Adobe Illustrator courses online to help you find a class that fits your need and schedule. 

Adobe Illustrator Courses – Overview

In the right hands, Adobe Illustrator is an extremely versatile tool.

It is by far the most popular tool for creating and manipulating vector graphics and is used to create digital images and images for print. It also works its magic in animation to create logos, graphs, and charts. As photoshop has become synonymous with photography, Adobe Illustrator has become synonymous with graphic design.

Learning the basics of Illustrator isn’t hard; however, to understand how to utilize this software to its maximum potential takes plenty of knowledge and practice.

There are a plethora of online courses, training programs, and resources available when it comes to learning Illustrator. To make things easier for you, we have curated this list of some of the most helpful and Adobe Illustrator courses online.

The aim is to help you improve your Illustrator skills quickly, efficiently, and effectively. Whether you are learning for a hobby, looking to increase your employable skillset, or refreshing your memory, these classes are going to be an excellent place to start.

Best Adobe Illustrator Courses Online 2021 – Top Picks

1. Adobe Illustrator CC – Essentials Training Course – Udemy

Udemy is an online course provider where learners can purchase and enroll in individual courses for an affordable fee. This is an absolute beginner’s course introducing Illustrator’s various tools and uses. It consists of 9 and a half hours of video content and blends instruction with real-world examples and project-based learning.

Learners will be taken through all of the basics of Illustrator from using the drawing tools to understanding color use. The course is highly rated by reviewers who praised its clarity and the wonderful resources that the instructors offered.

If you have never used Illustrator before or are new to the world of graphic design this course was designed for you. With such glowing reviews, it is certainly a smart place to start but it is also one of the best Adobe Illustrator courses online for beginners. With some variation, the class is also available on Skillshare.

Instructor: Phil Ebiner, Daniel Walter Scott, Instructor HQ, Udemy
Level: Beginner | Lectures: 45 | Video: 9.5 hours. | User Rating: 4.8 ★★★★★
Price: from $11.99. Sale up to 95% off. View course website.

2. Adobe Illustrator CC – Advanced Training Course – Udemy

This course is aimed at learners who already have a basic understanding of Illustrator and some experience using it. It is advised by the instructor to enroll in the Udemy Essentials Training course before enrolling in this one if you don’t have the experience.

The course’s real aim is to help learners develop better design management skills to speed up their productivity and workflow. However, while doing this the course introduces various Illustrator skills such as 3D design and image blending.

Much like the previous course, this course has received excellent reviews commending its great resources and content. We suggest that you take the beginner and advanced courses consecutively for a more comprehensive learning experience. Bundled together, these are some of the best Adobe Illustrator courses online for beginners.

Instructor: Daniel Walter Scott, Instructor HQ, Udemy
Level: Intermediates | Lessons: 56 | Video: 10 hours. | User Rating: 4.7 ★★★★☆
Price: from $11.99. Sale up to 95% off. View course website.

3. Logo Design with Draplin – Secrets of Shape, Type, Color – Skillshare

Skillshare is an affordable online learning community that connects learners with teachers and creative industry professionals. This 70 minute class with Aaron Draplin and American graphic design guru. The course blends video instruction with hands-on learning as learners fine-tune their logo design skills by designing a family crest.

Draplin guides learners through the process of creating their family crest while highlighting and discussing the importance of shape, typography, and color in logo design. This course is highly praised in reviews based on Draplin’s ability to engage learners and his ability to simplify the process of design via Illustrator.

While this Adobe Illustrator course is aimed at intermediate learners, it could also be of benefit to beginners looking for a mix of theory and hands-on design work.

Instructor: Aaron Draplin, Skillshare | Level: Intermediates
Video Lectures: 10 | Class Projects: 726 | User Review: 4.6 ★★★★☆ Price: from $8.99/month annually. Get course with free Premium trial.

4. 3D Illustration: Creating Isometric Designs in Adobe Illustrator – Skillshare

An intermediate Illustrator course teaching isometric design combining the knowledge of two instructors, Dan Khuhlkan, an accomplished illustrator, and Nathan Goldman, a successful graphic designer, of DKNG Studios.

In his class, he covers the principles of isometric design, pen and paper sketching and planning, lighting, grid making, utilizing Illustrator toolsets to improve workflow, color use, and much more. The 13 video lessons only take 2 hours of your time. Short and compact.

By the end of the course, you will have completed a project where you create an isometric illustration of a city block. This one of the Adobe Illustrator courses that exceeded the majority of learners’ expectations and is praised for its clarity and practicality. This class should be of interest to anyone looking to learn or improve on their 3D illustrating skills.

Instructor: DKNG Studios, Nathan Goldman, Dan Kuhlgen, Skillshare
Level: Intermediates | Lectures: 13 | Projects: 216 | User Review: 4.7 ★★★★☆ Price: from $8.99/month annually. Get course with free Premium trial.

5. Character Illustration – From Concept to Final Artwork – Skillshare

This is a wonderful intermediate level course introducing illustrators to the world of character design. Matt Kaufenberg teaches the course, a freelance illustrator working with a few big-name companies such as Netflix and Hasbro.

The course covers 2 hours and 5 minutes worth of video content spread across six units or lessons. Each lesson covers a fundamental concept in character design and illustration.

While the class is rated for intermediate designers via Skillshare, it is aimed at beginner artists. It will discuss everything from finding inspiration and character design to using Illustrator and Photoshop to add texture, color, and depth to your work.

Like all courses on this platform, the learner will have the chance to take a hands-on route and create their project. This project will lead to the creation, illustration, and realization of the learner’s very own character.

Instructor: Matt Kaufenberg, Skillshare | Level: Intermediates | Video Lessons: 6 | Class Projects: 541 | User Review: 4.8 ★★★★★
Price: from $8.99/month annually. Get course with free Premium trial.

Reading Tips: If you like to develop your post-production design and photography skills, here is a list of the best Photoshop courses, or for learning the best photography courses as well as graphic design courses.

6. Adobe Illustrator – The Complete Guide – CreativeLive

CreativeLive allows learners to choose from an affordable subscription service or to purchase individual courses. In this course, beginner students will be guided through 14 hours of class content by Jason Hoppe an experienced and certified Adobe instructor.

It aims to provide learners with a balance of instructional videos and give students the chance for hands-on learning. You will study the basics from shape manipulation to create logos or icons to improve Illustrator workflow.

The course is highly praised in reviews for its in-depth approach, professionalism, and simplicity. If you have never used the software before, this is among the best Adobe Illustrator courses online to begin your design journey with.

Instructor: Jason Hoppe. CreativeLive
Level: Beginners | Content: 13.5 hours | Illustrator Classes: 20
Price: from $11/month ($149/year)| Rating: 99% ★★★★★

7. Adobe Illustrator Cloud: Essentials for Creating Projects – CreativeLive

In this beginner Illustrator course, taught by Author and Adobe educator Brian Wood, learners are directed through a variety of project-based lessons aimed to familiarize students with the layout and toolsets of the editor.

Special attention is paid to color creation and use and the use of a variety of patterns and brushes. What sets this course apart is how comprehensive it is and its intelligent use of project-based learning with excellent examples from the instructor.

The course has received glowing reviews based on its approachability and the amount of informative and helpful content it provides its learners with. This is one of the best Adobe Illustrator courses for beginners with easy to follow video lessons and projects.

Instructor: Brian Wood. CreativeLive
Level: Beginners | Content: 10.5 hours | Illustrator Classes: 56
Price: from $11/month ($149/year)| Rating: 99% ★★★★★

8. Illustrator CC Fundamentals – Pluralsight Course

Pluralsight is a subscription-based learning community and platform that provides video courses for the tech industry and digital creatives. This course is aimed at complete beginners in Illustrator guiding them through the fundamentals of the software.

Learners will be exposed to the key concepts of design and Illustrator. The course presents an excellent example of how Illustrator designs are utilized across various platforms and the effective use of the Creative Cloud applications.

In a relatively short course consisting of 4 and a half hours of video content, students will learn Illustrator design basics from drawing to typography. It maintains a high review rating and is a good place for learners to start as it provides well-rounded Illustrator lessons on the fundamentals of the editor and its associated Adobe products.

Instructors: Matthew Pizzi | Level: Beginner | Duration: 4.5 hours
Subscription: $29/month. $299/year. | Rating: 4.7 ★★★★☆
Info: Try course with free trial.

9. Illustrator CC for UX Design – Pluralsight Course

This is an Illustrator course for intermediates and aimed at learners interested in learning UX or user experience design. You will learn how to design mobile apps using Illustrator and improve your workflow in creating wireframes for your designs and mockups for presentations of them to your clients.

The course consists of almost 4 hours of video content taking you from basic drawing and design using Illustrator through to the wireframe and mockup development process. The instructor, William Everhart, has plenty of design experience and presents the material in an easy to follow and interesting manner.

Rather than being a general overview of Illustrator, this course is specific to its use for UX. That doesn’t mean that there isn’t something to learn for everyone and this is a great course for expanding your design and illustrative skills into the world of UX.

Instructors: William Everhart | Level: Intermediates | Duration: 4 hours
Subscription: $29/month. $299/year. Get free trial. Rating: 4.7 ★★★★☆
Info: Try course with free trial.

10. Illustrator CC for Creative Professionals – Pluralsight Learning Path

This is not a course but a curated set of courses based on a learning path intended to provide learners with a comprehensive and practical way to learn everything one needs to know about Adobe Illustrator. This track consists of 14 best Adobe Illustrator courses and will guide students from beginner levels to intermediate to advanced ones.

It will cover in detail everything from drawing to font design. Students will acquire the skills needed to understand Illustrator’s interface and tools, develop a style and workflow, create and manipulate shapes, create logos, create brand identities, use color effectively, use Illustrator for 3D design, and print production.

For learners looking for a comprehensive package, this is a great career track. If you are going to pay for a yearly subscription to Pluralsight you might as well enroll in this class.

Instructors: Matthew Pizzi, Laura Coyle, William Everhart, Laura Ruhlin and others.
Level: Beginner, Intermediates, Advanced | Illustrator Courses: 13
Subscription: $29/month. $299/year. Get free trial. Rating: 4.8 ★★★★★

11. Graphic Design by CalArts – Coursera

Coursera is an online course provider that hosts courses from several major institutions. This specialization is hosted by CalArts and consists of 5 courses introducing students to the fundamentals of graphic design. While this specialization isn’t specifically for Illustrator, it provides the novice designer with the skills required to use it effectively and other Adobe Creative Cloud/Suite applications such as Photoshop and InDesign.

The courses in this specialization are based on the fundamentals of graphic design, an introduction to typography, an introduction to image-making and manipulation, a history of design, and a capstone project in which learners create their brands.

One of the platform’s biggest benefits is that the courses can be audited for free, and learners can earn a certificate if they pay a fee and if they need it. Thus, this is a great place for budding designers to start and to get familiar with the techniques and principles.

Provider: CALARTS. Coursera | Instructor: Michael Worthington | Duration: 15 hours
Pricing: Free. Certificate available for a fee. | User Review: 4.7 ★★★★☆

12. Adobe Illustrator Essentials Training – Shaw Academy

Shaw Academy is an online education organization hosting affordable courses available anywhere. This course introduces learners to the fundamentals of Adobe Illustrator.

The course teaches the use of layers, appropriate tool use, designing infographics, typography, logo design, and creative problem-solving in Illustrator. After completing the 8 lessons, learners will receive an accredited diploma, which is certainly a benefit. Learners can also enroll in the class for free so that they can see if it is for them or not.

This class is great for beginners and learners looking to put an accredited diploma on their C.V. improving their employability in the design industry. One of the best Adobe Illustrator courses at Shaw Academy.

Publisher: Shaw Academy | Certification: Yes | Level: All | Lessons: 8
Duration: 4 weeks | Price: Subscription | User Rating: 4.8 ★★★★★

13. Illustrator Essential Training – LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIn Learning is an online course platform hosting learning videos from industry leaders and experts. In this course, taught by the highly acclaimed Tony Harmer, students will learn the fundamentals of Illustrator design.

This Adobe Illustrator course covers the editor’s environment and workspace discussing the use of artboards, layers, shapes, colors, and the use of tools for design. You will learn Illustrator basics through a series of walkthrough videos to create your own drawings and designs.

One of the best Illustrator lessons takes learners through keyboard shortcuts, creating efficient workspaces, and creating Creative Cloud Libraries to improve your workflow. The videos are available for free and if you would like you can pay to access the full course and for a LinkedIn Learning certificate to embellish your LinkedIn profile.

Instructors: Tony Harmer | Level: Beginner | Courses: 27 Online Classes
Subscription: $29.99/month or $17.99/month annually

14. Illustrator One-on-One: Fundamentals – LinkedIn Learning

Illustrator One-on-One is a beginner course taught by Derek McClelland, an expert designer and author of an impressive array of books on design. It consists of 15 units taking you from a cursory glance at Illustrator and what it does to create and save your design work for the web and screen.

Being perfect for absolute beginners, each unit will be presented in a digestible manner. Your instructor demonstrates how to create and manage your workspace and provides examples of the basic use of most tools found in the Illustrator environment.

Each unit consists of short video lessons that aim to scaffold your learning in a way that will improve your workflow in Illustrator. The Illustrator course is easy to follow and this makes it perfect for anyone who has never used the editor before.

Instructors: Deke McClelland | Level: All | Illustrator Courses: 15 Classes
Subscription: $29.99/month or $17.99/month annually

How To Choose The Best Illustrator Courses?

Because Illustrator is so diverse you should choose your Adobe Illustrator courses based on where your interest lies. In the case that you have a general interest, then pick a more general course. If you are interested in logo design pick a logo design course.

Just because you choose to learn a specific type of illustrative technique doesn’t mean that you won’t be learning the basics of Illustrator. Be sure to understand where your skills are and review the course before enrolling in it.

If it is a class intended for advanced designers, you might struggle to keep pace. So pick based on your interests and your skill level to choose the best Illustrator courses tailored to your needs. It might be worth repeating a certain skill level as well.

Best Illustrator Courses Online 2021 – Verdict

Wrapping up our tour of the best Illustrator courses online. Illustrator skills can open a world of opportunities. Whether you want to start drawing an online comic, get a job at a design firm, make silly pictures for your friends, whatever … when it comes to design you can’t get much better than Illustrator.

After all, it is the design industry standard. Learning the basics is easy as stated before but once you become adept at using the various tools Illustrator has to offer and your design work and drawing becomes much more fluid, it becomes a much more powerful tool in your arsenal.

Bearing this in mind, practice as much and as often as you can and never stop learning. Online learning offers us a simple way of accessing knowledge and know-how from teachers and professionals alike. Whether you like learning through doing or observing there is an instructor that will inspire you and a methodology that best suits your needs.

What are the best Illustrator courses online in 2021? If we have not mentioned a class, but one that should be listed and matches certain quality criteria, please let us know in the comments below. Feel free to share your experiences with any of the classes above.