10 Best Skillshare Courses for Improving Your Design or Illustration Skills
Skillshare is one of my favourite ways to keep upskilling as a creative—and it's something I've used for years to stay sharp, explore new techniques, and push my work in new directions.
Whether you’re looking to deepen your illustration skills, get better at branding, or explore motion design, here’s a curated list of 10 top-rated Skillshare classes for designers and illustrators.
1. Logo Design with Draplin: Secrets of Shape, Type and Colour
Taught by: Aaron Draplin
Great for: Logo designers and creatives who love bold, functional design.
Why it’s worth your time: Draplin’s no-nonsense approach is both insightful and entertaining. You’ll learn practical tips for creating strong logos, as well as how to develop your own design process.
2. Find Your Style: How To Develop Your Own Lettering Aesthetic
Taught by: Gia Graham
Great for: Lettering enthusiasts and illustrators wanting to create polished hand-lettered art.
Why it’s worth your time: Gia walks you through the entire process—from sketch to final flourishes—with a warm and encouraging teaching style. A great class for building confidence with lettering in Procreate.
3. Digital Illustration: Learn to Use Procreate
Taught by: Jarom Vogel
Great for: Beginners and intermediate illustrators looking to master Procreate.
Why it’s worth your time: This course is ideal if you're just getting started with digital illustration. You'll walk away with a solid workflow and a full illustrated scene of your own.
4. Character Illustration: Drawing Faces, Figures & Clothing
Taught by: Gabriel Picolo
Great for: Illustrators who want to develop storytelling and personality in their characters.
Why it’s worth your time: Picolo’s style is expressive and full of heart, and his process is easy to follow. You’ll learn how to create characters that feel dynamic and alive.
5. Learn to Draw: Daily Practices to Improve Your Drawing Skills
Taught by: Brooke Glaser
Great for: Creatives building a daily drawing habit.
Why it’s worth your time: With short, manageable exercises, this class is perfect for unlocking creativity and building confidence—even if you’re pressed for time.
6. Pattern Play in Procreate: Turn Motifs Into Fun Seamless Repeat Patterns
Taught by: Vinitha Mammen
Great for: Illustrators and surface designers who want to master repeat pattern creation in Procreate.
Why it’s worth your time: If you’ve ever wanted to turn your illustrations into patterns for fabric, stationery, or print-on-demand products, this class is a must. Vinitha walks you through creating seamless repeats using a simple and intuitive process—no Photoshop needed. It’s approachable, fun, and opens up a whole new way to monetise your artwork or diversify your portfolio.
7. Logotype Masterclass with Jessica Hische
Taught by: Jessica Hische
Great for: Designers ready to elevate their lettering and logo work with a deep dive into logotype creation.
Why it’s worth your time: Jessica Hische is a legend in the lettering world, and in this course, she walks you through her entire process for creating polished, professional logotypes. You’ll learn how to refine letterforms, improve spacing, and build type-based branding that stands the test of time.
8. Dynamic Brand Identity: Designing Logos That Evolve
Taught by: Paula Scher
Great for: Intermediate to advanced designers working on large-scale branding systems.
Why it’s worth your time: Paula Scher is a legendary designer, and in this course she walks you through the process of designing logos that shift, scale, and evolve with a brand. It’s a masterclass in flexible identity design, taught by one of the most respected names in the industry.
9. Level Up Your Typography: Creating Animated Stickers in After Effects
Taught by: Manon Louart
Great for: Designers and illustrators who want to explore motion design and bring type to life.
Why it’s worth your time: This playful, hands-on course teaches you how to animate custom typography using After Effects. It’s perfect for creatives looking to expand their skillset into motion graphics, add flair to social media posts, or create dynamic assets for clients.
10. A Step-by-Step Guide to Art Licensing: Sell Your First Piece of Artwork Online
Taught by: Cat Coquillette
Great for: Illustrators and surface designers who want to turn their art into a passive income stream.
Why it’s worth your time: Rubin shares a deeply personal look at the mindset behind lasting creative work. It’s less Cat breaks down the entire process of licensing your artwork—from creating sellable pieces to uploading them on platforms like Society6 and Redbubble. If you've ever wanted to see your work on products and earn while you sleep, this course is a fantastic place to start.
Wrapping Up
Skillshare is packed with practical, engaging, and inspiring courses for creatives at every stage of their career.
It’s one of the platforms I return to again and again whenever I want to sharpen my skills or explore something new. If you're a designer or illustrator looking to grow your creative toolkit, explore new workflows, or just stay creatively curious, Skillshare is absolutely worth checking out.
Happy learning!
