City Lit Pro: Infographic design with Adobe Illustrator

What is the course about?

Infographics are a powerful way to create visually appealing contents to present complex information. You will learn to use Adobe Illustrator software to design icons, graphics, type, graphs and charts to represent real data. We will also look at Infographics’ structure and how to simplify information to make it attractive, easy to understand and deliver maximum impact.

Infographics can be used to express data, statistics, timelines, processes, relationships and stories. Infographics can be applied in websites, blogs, social media, brochures, presentations, reports, adverts, posters, teaching, comic subjects, magazines, awareness campaigns, and even resumes.

What will we cover?

• Creating, opening and saving files in illustrator
• Customizing Illustrator interface
• Working with Vector graphics
• Working with Paths, Lines and Shapes
• Add colour using the Colour Picker, Fill and Stroke
• Creating simple and complex Shapes
• Converting graphics into Symbols
• Creating Graphic Styles
• Telling a story with image: content, message, design and format.
• Bringing in data from Microsoft Excel
• Creating live charts and graphs with data
• Columns, Data Markers and Pie Charts
• Working with the value axis and category axis
• Applying design to express live data
• Adding and editing numeric values
• Working with text
• Saving and exporting your infographic in appropriate formats for Print and Web.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

• Create and manipulate Vector graphics in Illustrator
• Optimize graphics to use in Infographics
• Simplify complex information
• Create a professional and engaging Infographics structure
• Present information through visually appealing elements
• Create graphs, charts and pie charts in Illustrator using real/live data
• Add graphics to represent and express data inside graphs and charts
• Work with type in Illustrator
• Prepare work for print and web.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

No prior knowledge of Adobe Illustrator software is required but you should have good computer skills and understanding of how to launch, create, copy and save files in a computer.
You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions. You should be able to use numbers and be able to carry out simple measurements and calculations.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

You will be taught using a range of techniques including workshops, short lectures, demonstrations, and by completing practical exercises.Student preparation and homework outside class times is strongly encouraged.Notes will be provided.
Should you wish to practice homework you will need to have access to your own Adobe® Creative Cloud licence for Illustrator, which is what will be used to teach this course.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

To participate on this course you will need access to the latest version of Adobe Creative Cloud. As a City Lit student, you may be entitled to student discount on Adobe Creative Cloud applications. Please visit the Adobe website Creative Cloud for education webpage for full details.

You will need to create an Adobe account using your City Lit email address which includes your student number. (This is in the format 123456@student.citylit.ac.uk). You can access your City Lit email through your supplied Office 365 account.

Please check the suitability of your computer system here: Adobe system requirements Adobe Creative Cloud for Students - system requirements

*Please note that your Adobe account is not accessible to City Lit and no technical support can be provided. At renewal, you will need to create another Adobe account using your personal email.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

Please click here to view our courses in the Adobe Creative Cloud.