Why We’re Using Illustrator in This Course

I want to take a moment to explain why Illustrator is part of our design fundamentals course—especially since some of you may not plan to use it again in your careers.

The goal of this class is for you to leave with a strong understanding of design fundamentals: the elements and principles of design that apply across all creative fields. Illustrator is simply the tool we’re using to practice those ideas.

Here’s why this matters for you, no matter your discipline:

  1. Digital Literacy – Even if you never touch Illustrator again, you will work with creative software in your field. Illustrator gives you a foundation in concepts like layers, grids, vectors, and file types that carry into tools for interiors, fashion, game art, and beyond.

  2. Precision & Discipline – Illustrator forces careful decisions about alignment, proportion, and rhythm. These are universal design skills that transfer directly to things like CAD layouts, garment patterns, or game environments.

  3. Visualization & Communication – Illustrator allows you to create clean, professional mockups. Whether it’s a mood board, a floor plan, or a character silhouette, this ability helps you communicate your ideas clearly to others.

  4. Shared Medium, Shared Language – In this course, everyone—regardless of major—works with the same tool. That creates a level playing field and a common design language. Sometimes this sparks new insights, like a fashion student experimenting with vector repeats or a game art student exploring silhouettes the way a graphic designer might.

  5. Confidence With Tools – Many students start out feeling intimidated by professional software. By the end of the course, you’ll have moved from “I can’t even open this program” to “I can produce a finished layout.” That confidence will help you when you encounter new tools in your own field.

Bottom Line

This course isn’t about turning you into an Illustrator expert. It’s about learning design fundamentals in a controlled digital environment and gaining transferable skills you can apply anywhere. Think of Illustrator as the practice field—the real game is how you apply design principles in your chosen discipline.

Let me know if you have any questions :-)

Best,

Jeff