Illustrate Your Day: An Intro to Symbol Design (Skillshare)

Symbols are incredibly powerful communication tools. They can communicate faster than words, in memorable and powerful ways, and in a universal way that transcends cultural and language barriers. They are the one language we all can understand. During this class you will learn how to create these amazing communication tools using vector editing software, and use symbols to tell the story of a day in your life.

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What You'll Learn

- Selecting Your Referents. We'll start off by bubbling ideas for icons we'd like to create and begin sketching them.

- Design Techniques to Maximize User Comprehension. We'll cover some basic elements of icon design then apply design technique to our referents to create more refined sketches.

- Drawing Symbols in Illustrator. We'll use Adobe Illustrator to create digital vectors of our icon designs.

- Polishing Your Designs. We'll finalize our icons and share them with the world.

What You'll Make

You will start off the class by documenting what your daily routine is. After you think through this, you will narrow down these items to a list of the 20 essential activities or objects that define your daily life. Once you have these 20 referents you will learn how to design a symbol that visually communicates the essence of each one of these concepts.

Once the designs are completed you will create a linear timeline using your symbols. This will serve as a visual representation of your life.

This class is perfect for anyone wanting to learn more about Adobe Illustrator, graphic design, iconography, illustration, and creative storytelling.

Design a set of symbols that tells the story of your day

Introduction and Selecting Your Referents

1. Create a list of your daily routine

Create a chronological list of all the "steps" you go through your day. Think about this list as a story arc from the moment you awake to the moment you go to bed. Be as specific as possible.

Lets try to keep this list PG-13.

2. Narrow your list

Once your list is created:

- Narrow down the list to the 20 core concepts you think truly define your day.

- Write your final 20 referents in chronological order.

- Upload a picture to the project section.

Design Techniques to Maximize User Comprehension

1. Define your referent

Create a list of the core components or visual elements that define your referent.

2. Experiment with design techniques

Choose two referents. Sketch one where the Iconic design technique will be used, and the other where the Narrative design technique will be used.

3. Sketch your referents

On a page of your sketchbook or piece of paper create a sketch that visually communicates each one of your referents. The sketches should use one of the design techniques discussed.

4. Share your sketches

Upload an image of your sketches to your project page. Offer feedback to your classmates on their project pages.

Drawing Symbols in Illustrator

1. Draw your icons with Illustrator

Use the line and fill techniques we covered in the video lesson.

2. Share an icon

Share an image of the single design you are most proud of.

Polishing Your Designs and Putting it all Together

1. Finish your vectors

Arrange your icons into an illustrative timeline.

Merge your layers to create a final polished vector design.

2. Share your timeline

Share an image of your final visual timeline. The timeline will consist of the 20 symbols you've designed. Be sure to offer feedback on your classmates' project pages.

3. Upload your project to The Noun Project

Create an account at The Noun Project.

Upload the symbols to your Noun Project account.

Attached below is my final artboard.