Katie Holian
I'm took the Graphic Design Course to amp up my design skills. I've always loved doing graphic design but I don't have any formal training (I went to school for Fibers/textiles) and wanted to start executing designs that I have in my mind. Right now I work as a ProductionArtist during the day and take on a few clients a year to do Squarespace websites, but I really wanted to improve my skillset, especially when it comes to Illustrator.
I love how incredibly thorough the course was. The results from the class all depend on how much time you're willing to commit to it. For the first portfolio project I worked on, I spent between 70-100 hours on it which seems insane but I ABSOLUTELY love how it came out. My background is in Concept Design/Trend Analysis so I spent a lot of time with conceptualizing an interesting project to bring to life. Puno does an incredible job walking you through the in's and out's of Illustrator, Figma, Photoshop, starting a design business, and more. I will definitely refer to these lessons for years to come.
One good thing that came from this course was my desire to work with clients again and create websites. I lost that during the pandemic and felt that my skillset around design wasn't at the level of where I wanted it to be. I'm looking forward to continue growing. Also, having a community of designers at our fingertips is wonderful. Pep talks, job openings, critiques. It's a little design oasis.
My advice would be to GO FOR IT!!! I had wanted to take the class for a year or two and wish I had taken the plunge sooner. I felt like I earned another degree after taking this course. My confidence level has increased and I finally feel like I have an understanding of how to get the results I'm looking for. There is no fluff in this class, truly valuable skills are taught. Thank you ilovecreatives team!
Graphic Design Course Graduate 🏆