Introduction to Adobe Illustrator

About this class

This course offers a comprehensive introduction to Adobe Illustrator, equipping participants with essential skills to create vector-based designs for both print and digital media. Students will explore the software’s core tools and functions, including drawing, typography, color management, and composition techniques. The course emphasizes hands-on learning through guided projects, fostering creativity and confidence as participants build fluency in graphic design. By the end of the course, students will be able to apply their skills fluently to a wide range of creative projects.

A free taster will be provided online on September 21,2025 for interested participants from 6-7pm.

Class Outline

Week 1

Introduction to Adobe Illustrator & Basic Tools

• Exercise: Create a set of three icons (e.g., a house, tree, and sun) using only basic shapes (rectangle, circle, and polygon).
• Objective: Familiarize students with shape tools, alignment, and basic design principles.

Week 2

Pen Tool & Vector Drawing

• Exercise: Trace over a simple image (like a leaf or a fish) using the pen tool to create an outline and fill with color.
• Objective: Improve control with the pen tool, anchor points, and curves.

Week 3

Typography & Text Manipulation

• Exercise: Design a simple wordmark using a word of their choice, customizing fonts and experimenting with type effects (e.g., warping or text on a path).

Objective: Get comfortable with text tools, typeface selection, and creative type adjustments.

Week 4

Color, Gradients & Swatches

• Exercise: Apply a gradient to a shape and adjust it in at least three different ways (linear, radial, and freeform).
• Objective: Experiment with different gradient settings, including colors and direction, to understand color blending and depth.

Week 5

Working with Layers & Masks

• Exercise: Create a simple layered scene (e.g., a sunset with
  mountains) and use a clipping mask to add texture to one of the objects (like the sky or mountains).
• Objective: Practice using layers for organization and controlling visibility with clipping masks.

Week 6

Advanced Vector Techniques (Pathfinder & Shape Builder) (Pattern making)

• Exercise: Combine multiple shapes (e.g., circles, rectangles) to create a more complex object (e.g., a car or an animal) using the pathfinder or shape builder tool.
• Objective: Understand how to merge, subtract, and intersect shapes for more advanced vector design.

Week 7

Final Project & Review (Book Cover)

• Exercise: Before starting the final project, create a mini mood board with a color scheme, typography, and a few sketches to plan their final piece.
• Objective: Encourage planning and brainstorming for the final project, using all the skills learned in previous classes

Materials needed

Please note: VCUarts Qatar reserves the right to cancel classes that do not meet the minimum enrollment requirements. Any fees already paid will be refunded.

Items to Purchase for This Class

• Laptop
• Adobe Illustrator Software

VCUarts Qatar can provide laptops for participants who do not have their own; however, availability is limited. When registering, kindly indicate if you require one.

Schedule

Start: Sun, 05 Oct, 2025
End: Sun, 16 Nov, 2025
Lessons: 7
Days: Sundays
Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Location: VCUarts Qatar Campus
Cost: QAR 850

Instructors

Destarte Prieto

Destarte Prieto is a multidisciplinary designer with expertise spanning graphic design, product design, video, and research. With a strong passion for experimentation and exploring new creative techniques, Destarte thrives on pushing the boundaries of design. Holding an advanced degree in design, her thesis centered on sustainable material innovation, reimagining waste materials into meaningful applications.

Currently, Destarte contributes to the academic community as a teaching assistant, supporting students in their creative growth and exploration. Her work emphasizes the intersection of design, fabrication techniques, and research, aiming to inspire others to see the untapped potential in the world around them.