It’s that time of year again, when little kids and college students alike head back toward those hallowed halls of education. But even if you can’t count yourself among those lucky ones, you can still take this time to reinvest in your own design education.
If you’re short on time but want to learn some new skill sets or refresh some of those you already have, take a look through this collection of great design tutorials for all levels and interests. It’s time to get back to school!
1. Illuminating Motherboard in Photoshop
Program: Photoshop
Level: Beginner
Skills: Filters, layer, masks, tools
2. Create a newsprint publication in InDesign
Program: InDesign and Photoshop
Level: Beginner
Skills: Grids, process work, printing prep
3. Designing an elegant blog layout in Photoshop
Program: Photoshop
Level: Beginner
Skills: Blending, filters, guides, layers, styles, tools, type
4. Wireframe animal skulls using Illustrator’s blend tool
Program: Illustrator
Level: Beginner
Skills: Blend tool
5. Build an HTML email template from scratch
Program: HTML
Level: Beginner
Skills: Style properties, tables
6. How to create a double exposure effect in Photoshop
Program: Photoshop
Level: Intermediate
Skills: Blending modes, edge selection, gradients, levels, masks, tools
7. Design a retro-inspired sci-fi film poster
Program: Photoshop
Level: Intermediate
Skills: Blurs, brushes, effects, filters, gradient maps, tools, type
8. Create a vintage type design using envelope distort in Adobe Illustrator
Program: Illustrator and Photoshop
Level: Intermediate
Skills: Color fill, distort, effects, paths, objects, textures, tools
9. Turn it On! Neon light vector text treatment
Program: Illustrator
Level: Intermediate
Skills: Effects, gradients, objects, pattern brush, stroke, tools, type
10. Design vinyl wall stickers
Program: Illustrator
Level: Intermediate
Skills: Brushes, color, objects, printing
11. Create 3D animated icons in After Effects
Program: After Effects
Level: Intermediate/Advanced
Skills: Effects, keyframes, masks, paths, shapes, strokes, transform
12. How to color inked line art in Photoshop
Program: Photoshop
Level: Advanced
Skills: Adjustment layers, brushes, modes, textures, tools
