Digital Illustration (Online) | Minneapolis College of Art and Design

Digital Illustration (Online)

Through projects, discussions, and lectures, acquire a thorough understanding of all aspects of digital illustration.

Course description

Learn about the exciting field and practice of digital illustration. Explore the creative process, from creating initial sketches to final illustration critiques. Develop skills in conceptual image making as well as digital painting and drawing techniques in Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop.

Demonstrations of Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop are provided. Learn about the latest tools and file preparation standards for production, including file formats, color palettes, and image resolution. Assignments have an emphasis on technical achievement and presentation. / Students will have access to Adobe Creative Cloud software throughout the course./ This course can also be taken towards the Illustration Certificate.

Open to students ages 18 and above. Review complete policies, including class cancellation policies, before completing your registration.

Class meeting details

This online course is asynchronous, meaning that there are no set class meeting times. Instead, the course is project-based, with 2 to 3 deadlines per week, and students can choose a time and place that works best for them to complete the work. Course activities may include readings; video demonstrations and tutorials; online discussions; projects; and critiques.

Prerequisites

Introduction to Illustration or equivalent experience. Previous experience with Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator are helpful, but not required.

Required Materials

Supplies

  • Pen or pencil
  • Notebook or sketchbook
  • USB drive or cloud storage option for saving work

Software
Adobe Creative Cloud (provided by MCAD)

Hardware
A computer capable of running Adobe Creative Cloud software, with internet access, a camera or scanner to capture and upload work.

Class resources

This class uses Adobe Creative Cloud and Canvas, MCAD’s learning management system. Please see the link for more information.

Class savings

Register on or before May 11 and save $25.
Register for more than one class at a time and receive $25 off each additional class (same-day registrations only).
Additional savings. Are you eligible?

Questions?

Contact MCAD Continuing Education at continuing_education@mcad.edu or call 612.874.3765.

Register

Title
Non-credit Tuition
$600.00
Not Yet Open for Registration

Registration opens April 27.

  • Date:
    -
  • Time:
    Asynchronous
  • Day(s) of the week:
    Asynchronous
  • Ages:
    Open to students ages 18 and above.
  • Term:
    Summer 2026
  • Instructor: James O'Brien
  • Location:
    Online
  • SKU:
    CSDE 9477 20 SU26

Prerequisites:

Introduction to Illustration or equivalent experience. Previous experience with Adobe Photoshop and illustrator is helpful, but not required.

Address

2501 Stevens Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55404

Contact Us

612.874.3700
800.874.MCAD (6223)
Fax: 612.874.3701

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Land Acknowledgement

The Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) acknowledges it is located on traditional, ancestral, and contemporary lands of Indigenous people. This is the ancestral homeland of the Dakota and Ojibwe people, who were forcibly exiled from the land because of aggressive and persistent settler colonialism. We recognize that this place has a complex and layered history. As a community dedicated to creativity, MCAD is committed to ongoing efforts to support and advocate for American Indian Nations and peoples.


Nondiscrimination Policy

MCAD admits students of any race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, or marital status to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, or marital status in the administration of its educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, and other school-administered programs.