Criteria for Creative Professionals When Selecting Educational Platforms
In today's digital age, education is no longer just about textbooks and classrooms. It's a business decision, whether you're looking to improve your portfolio or land a big client project. With numerous online learning platforms available, it can be challenging to find the right one for digital illustrators, graphic designers, and artists. Here's a guide to help you make an informed choice.
Curriculum Quality and Relevance
When selecting an online learning platform, it's essential to find one that offers courses tailored to your specific interests, such as digital illustration, graphic design, animation, or motion design, and taught by industry professionals.
Platforms like ArtStation Learning provide specialized courses from successful digital artists focusing on practical skills like character sketching and environment design, often for free since it is now owned by Epic Games. Skillshare offers thousands of project-based classes across design fields with clear skill-level paths, covering tools like Adobe Suite, Figma, and prototyping software. School of Motion is highly recommended for motion graphics and animation, with in-depth courses led by industry pros and community engagement.
Value for Money
Every dollar counts, especially when investing in yourself. ArtStation Learning is free, a significant advantage for budget-conscious learners. Skillshare has a subscription model with a free trial, unlocking unlimited courses, which is cost-effective if you want access to a wide range of topics and continuous learning. Udemy offers courses typically priced around $15, often with sales, allowing a la carte purchasing of specific courses, beneficial if you want to focus on specific skills without a subscription. Domestika and SuperHi offer paid courses with affordable options and some free content, plus active community support.
Community Support and Engagement
Platforms with an active community can provide feedback, peer interaction, and motivation. Skillshare excels here with project sharing, group critiques, challenges, and workshops. School of Motion fosters a strong connection among students and instructors, supporting interaction throughout multiweek courses. Behance Livestreams offer free resources plus community forums or Slack groups for guidance and feedback. ArtStation doubles as a portfolio platform where you can engage with other top artists, providing networking alongside learning.
In summary, when choosing the best online learning platform, consider the curriculum matching your goals, within your budget, and ensuring community feedback and interaction to enhance learning and creative growth. If budget is tight, ArtStation Learning and Behance Livestreams offer quality free content. For ongoing, diverse learning with community, Skillshare is a top pick. For deep animation training, School of Motion is unmatched. For targeted courses you can buy individually, Udemy offers flexibility. Always keep an eye out for layered promo codes or bundle discounts on high-quality learning sites.
Remember, every creative has been a beginner at some point, and there is always someone ready to offer advice when needed. Seek a platform with community support, such as interaction with other creatives or guidance from instructors. It's important to listen to your instincts and check out the real details before signing up for a learning platform. Happy learning!
[1] ArtStation Learning: https://www.artstation.com/learn [2] Skillshare: https://www.skillshare.com/ [3] Domestika & SuperHi: https://domestika.org/, https://superhi.io/ [4] School of Motion: https://www.schoolofmotion.com/ [5] Udemy: https://www.udemy.com/ [6] Behance Livestreams: https://www.behance.net/live
