What is illustration?

An illustration is an artful creation and visual explanation of words, concepts, or ideas, that is used to amplify the graphic look and feel of a published article, landing page, or goods and products. Illustrations can be used as visual hooks on posters, cereal boxes, printed materials like brochures and flyers, magazines, video games, and films. Illustrations are the drawings you find to make websites and apps more user-friendly, including emojis. Illustration is both the creation of and result of visual imagery that is used online to add graphic context to words and stories on the internet. In web articles, an illustration will attempt to add color to an essential element of the article. An illustration is typically created by an illustrator or increasingly, a graphic designer.

Why learn illustration?

Learning how to draw and create illustrations is a creative tool that can help you open up your imagination and creativity in both your personal and professional lives. Illustration is also useful as a skill in many professions. Learning how to illustrate also helps to open up the power of the right side of the brain, which is the creative side. This can help balance your logical, intuitive left-brain thinking capabilities. You can also advance your insights of illustration into online multimedia concepts.

What are typical careers that use illustration?

Among the typical careers for someone who is good at illustration can be a professional illustrator, a medical illustrator, a graphic designer, a creative web director, and similar roles that emphasize creativity and visual acuity. Illustrators can find work with publishing companies, web content agencies, and advertising agencies. Illustrators who work in digital medium can take on projects on a freelance basis for a wide array of clients.

How can online courses on Coursera help me learn illustration?

Taking online courses on Coursera about illustration can open up your talent base to understanding software programs like Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, and other leading software tools used in major companies today. When you take online courses, you can also gain an understanding of the history and evolution of type fonts, graphics, and use of color and space on both digital and print projects.

What are the benefits of taking an online Illustration course?

Online Illustration courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Illustration skills. Choose from a wide range of Illustration courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

What Illustration courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Illustration, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Best Illustration Courses & Certificates [2025]

Explore the Illustration Course Catalog

Status: Free Trial
California Institute of the Arts
Graphic Design
Skills you'll gain: Typography, Design Elements And Principles, Graphic Design, Graphic and Visual Design Software, Design, Visual Design, Photography, Logo Design, Design Software, Digital Design, Creative Design, Color Theory, Photo Editing, Adobe InDesign, Graphic and Visual Design, Image Quality, Style Guides, Branding, Art History, Design Research
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
22K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Status: AI skills
Adobe
Adobe Graphic Designer: Design that Demands Attention
Skills you'll gain: Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Responsible AI, Logo Design, Digital Design, Generative AI, Graphic Design, Graphics Software, User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) Design, Visual Design, Packaging and Labeling, File Management, Design Reviews, Project Design, Prompt Engineering, Image Analysis, Presentations, Client Services, Branding, Storytelling
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
1.7K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Adobe
Graphic Design
Skills you'll gain: Adobe Illustrator, Color Theory, Typography, Graphic and Visual Design, Graphic Design, Graphics Software, Graphic and Visual Design Software, Design, Adobe Creative Cloud, Design Elements And Principles, Creative Design, Digital Design, Generative AI
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
138 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Michigan State University
Art for Games
Skills you'll gain: Unity Engine, Animations, 3D Modeling, Color Theory, Animation and Game Design, 3D Assets, Video Game Development, Game Design, Adobe Photoshop, Autodesk Maya, Visualization (Computer Graphics), Computer Graphics, Conceptual Design, Computer Graphic Techniques, Prototyping, Graphic and Visual Design, Graphical Tools, Design, Data Import/Export, Design Elements And Principles
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
418 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Skillshare
Kickstart Your Creativity with Procreate
Skills you'll gain: Creative Design, Creativity, Peer Review, Digital Design, Design Elements And Principles, Graphical Tools, Storyboarding, Storytelling, Design Software, Technical Drawing, Color Theory
Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Skillshare
Learn to Draw
Skills you'll gain: Technical Drawing, Design Elements And Principles, Growth Mindedness, Graphic and Visual Design, Goal Setting, Personal Development, Detail Oriented, Creativity
3.8
Rating, 3.8 out of 5 stars
10 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months

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Start my career

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Explore topics outside of work

Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Skillshare
Adobe Illustrator Essentials
Skills you'll gain: Adobe Illustrator, Color Theory, Graphics Software, Creative Design, Design, Graphic and Visual Design, Design Software, Typography, Graphic Design, Graphic and Visual Design Software, Graphical Tools, Adobe Creative Cloud, Creativity
Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Skillshare
Brand Illustration: Create Stylized, Unforgettable Imagery
Skills you'll gain: Brand Strategy, Presentations, Branding, Case Studies, Storyboarding, Storytelling, Graphic and Visual Design, Creativity
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
California Institute of the Arts
Fundamentals of Graphic Design
Skills you'll gain: Typography, Design Elements And Principles, Graphic Design, Graphic and Visual Design Software, Design, Visual Design, Photography, Design Software, Digital Design, Creative Design, Color Theory, Image Quality, Photo Editing, Creativity
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
18K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Skillshare
How to Draw: A Beginner’s Guide Pt 1 – Basic Shapes
Skills you'll gain: Design Elements And Principles
4.1
Rating, 4.1 out of 5 stars
8 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Skillshare
Design a Strong and Cohesive Product Brand
Skills you'll gain: Packaging and Labeling, Brand Strategy, Competitive Analysis, Presentations, Content Creation, Target Audience, Storytelling, Branding, Product Design, Design Strategies, Social Media, Design, Marketing Design, Case Studies, Design Thinking, Brand Awareness, Adobe Illustrator, Social Media Marketing, Graphic Design, Brand Management
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
California Institute of the Arts
Introduction to Imagemaking
Skills you'll gain: Photography, Photo Editing, Graphic and Visual Design, Design Research, Visual Design, Adobe InDesign, Design, Design Elements And Principles, Digital Publishing, Aesthetics, Color Theory, Creativity, Peer Review
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
2.9K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks