Illustrator Projects

Adobe Illustrator help

Illustrator by Example Adobe Illustrator, the versatile vector drawing tool, is an increasingly popular tool for designers to use. In this course, you will learn how to design a series of Swatch watches—faces, bands, promotional materials, everything—with a design plan based on a (fictional) client's brief from Swatch headquarters.

Students will also use Photoshop and learn how Illustrator and Photoshop interact. Designer and illustrator Michael Hamm will help you with critique and feedback along the way. It's "time" to be creative!

On this page: enrollment details | instructor | class projects and objectives | prerequisites

Class Title: Illustrator by Example Start Date: Classes start daily. Enroll today and gain immediate access. Class Length: Three months of access to class materials and instructor feedback. Instructor: Michael Hamm Other details: Self-paced, online, 24 access to online learning environment
	Tuition: $408

Class Instructor Bio: Michael Hamm is a freelance designer and Web developer with more than 8 years of experience in the field of interactive design. Based in Washington State, Michael previously worked for JPMorgan Chase as an interactive designer. Michael's work has been published in various Web design books and magazines. In addition, he has served as technical editor on several design books published by Friends of Ed. Michael is an Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) in Adobe Illustrator and he is the founder, designer, programmer, and writer of Ergodraw.com, a Web site that grew from his passion for the illustration software and all things vector. LEFT: Completed projects from Illustrator By Example with Michael Hamm. Learn Illustrator while creating unique design for a Swatch watch

Class Projects and Objectives:

This online class is packed with projects and tips.  Students can expect to: 

• Explore some common and useful Illustrator tools.
  
• Use shape tools and point manipulation to create a watch case.
  
• Use rotation and duplication to place hour markers on the watch.
• Write a project proposal for a series of three Swatch watches.
  
• Locate images to accompany the theme and make them Illustrator-ready.
  
• Use the steps from the lesson and the theme to design the cases and faces of the three watches.
• Convert a basic shape into a watch band shape.
  
• Fill the watch band with various types of gradients.
  
• Fill the watch band with an image and learn to overlay it with a translucent gradient.
  
• Add details to the watch using shapes and various strokes.
  
• Create a complex watch buckle using the Pathfinder palette.
• Consider various techniques from the lesson for filling in the shape of the watchbands.
  
• Decide on imagery, gradients, and color combinations for the details that support the watch's theme and feel consistent but unique.
  
• Use the steps from the lesson and personal theme to design the details of the three watches in Illustrator.
• Learn to use a Clipping Mask to insert images within existing shapes.
  
• Learn to work with each of Illustrator's type tools.
  
• Design a promotional poster for the Swatch collection using type, shape, and other features.
  
• Create a 2D model of a watch box.
  
• Create a 3D mockup of the watch box using the 2D model and Illustrator's Transformation features.
• Decide on a method of promoting a Swatch trio.
  
• Create an effective design for this promotional material using text and other imagery.