Tutorials are a mix of text and video casts. The site's Illustrator section seems to have gone dormant in November 2014, but don't let that stop you from exploring the 150+ articles on Illustrator alone.

The bad thing is that it is sporadically updated. The good thing about Layers Magazine is the huge collection of graphic design tutorials, Illustrator included.

It is true that an illustrator with drawing skills will have more opportunities, but it is equally true that a lack of drawing skills isn't a make-or-break deal. It is important to have an aesthetic eye for good design and creative chops, mostly because today's designers rely more on the computer than on traditional drawing techniques.Ī foundation built on design knowledge helps, however, so don't stop practicing your drawing. It's the standard tool for apparel design, including T-shirts, and almost all packaging design work is done in Illustrator - such as, say, the label for a wine bottle or the packaging of your favorite orange juice. People designing watches use Illustrator, and people designing shoes use it too.

I learned quickly that in graphic design, all you need is the ability to quickly rough out a design concept.Īnd Adobe tells us all about the real world applications:Īctually, just about every industry uses Illustrator, from two-dimensional CAD designs in engineering fields to the greeting cards made by Hallmark.

Adobe illustrator classes