Business, Commerce and Management Studies Marketing

Illustration Techniques And Application Fundamentals Training

SAQA US 117682 | NQF 5 | Credits 10 | Duration 7 Days
From $1,523 per delegate

Description

This course equips learners with foundational and advanced illustration techniques, enabling them to create effective visual communications for various media. Participants will gain practical skills in applying illustration principles to convey messages clearly and creatively in a professional context.

Learning Outcomes

  • Demonstrate a range of illustration techniques using traditional and digital tools.
  • Apply design principles such as composition, colour theory, and perspective to illustrations.
  • Analyze visual communication needs and select appropriate illustration styles.
  • Create original illustrations that effectively communicate intended messages.
  • Evaluate illustrations for effectiveness and suitability in different media contexts.

Target Audience

This course is designed for graphic designers, marketing professionals, content creators, and anyone seeking to enhance their visual communication skills through illustration.

Prerequisites

None — open enrollment. Basic computer literacy is recommended for digital illustration components.

Course Outline

Day 1: Introduction to Illustration Techniques and Materials

Objectives:
• Understand the scope of illustration as a visual communication tool.
• Identify and describe various traditional and digital illustration media.
• Recognise the role of illustration in different industries.
• Apply basic principles of design and composition.

Topics:
• Overview of illustration and its applications
• Traditional media: pencils, charcoal, ink, markers
• Digital media: tablets, software basics (e.g., Adobe Illustrator, Procreate)
• Elements of design: line, shape, colour, texture
• Principles of composition: balance, contrast, unity
• Setting up a workspace and preparing materials

Day 2: Drawing Fundamentals and Observational Skills

Objectives:
• Demonstrate improved hand-eye coordination through contour drawing.
• Apply shading techniques to create form and depth.
• Use perspective and proportion to create realistic sketches.
• Analyse light and shadow in observational drawing.

Topics:
• Contour drawing and gesture drawing
• Shading techniques: hatching, cross-hatching, stippling, blending
• One-point and two-point perspective
• Proportion and measurement techniques
• Drawing from life: still life and figure basics
• Practice exercises with varied subjects

Day 3: Colour Theory and Application in Illustration

Objectives:
• Explain the colour wheel and colour relationships.
• Apply colour harmonies to create mood and emphasis.
• Mix colours effectively in both traditional and digital media.
• Use colour to enhance narrative and visual impact.

Topics:
• The colour wheel: primary, secondary, tertiary colours
• Colour harmonies: complementary, analogous, triadic
• Colour temperature and value
• Mixing paints and creating palettes
• Digital colour selection and adjustment
• Colour in storytelling: emotional and symbolic use

Day 4: Advanced Drawing Techniques and Concept Development

Objectives:
• Develop original concepts from brainstorming to refined sketches.
• Apply advanced rendering techniques for texture and detail.
• Create cohesive character or environment designs.
• Use reference material effectively to inform artwork.

Topics:
• Brainstorming and thumbnailing
• Character design: anatomy, expression, costume
• Environment design: perspective, atmosphere, props
• Advanced rendering: texture (fur, metal, fabric)
• Using photo references and mood boards
• Iterative sketching and critique process

Day 5: Digital Illustration Tools and Workflow

Objectives:
• Navigate digital illustration software interfaces confidently.
• Use layers, brushes, and selection tools effectively.
• Apply digital techniques such as masking and blending modes.
• Develop an efficient digital workflow from sketch to final art.

Topics:
• Software overview: Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Procreate
• Layers and layer management
• Custom brushes and brush settings
• Selection tools and masking
• Blending modes and adjustments
• Digital sketching, inking, and colouring workflow
• File formats and export settings

Day 6: Illustration for Specific Applications

Objectives:
• Tailor illustration style and content for different media (print, web, advertising).
• Create illustrations for editorial, children's books, and branding contexts.
• Understand technical requirements for reproduction and digital display.
• Apply industry standards for resolution, colour modes, and file types.

Topics:
• Editorial illustration: concept and execution
• Children's book illustration: narrative and character consistency
• Branding and advertising illustration: style guides
• Technical specifications: DPI, CMYK vs RGB, file formats
• Preparing artwork for print and screen
• Portfolio presentation and self-promotion basics

Day 7: Final Project and Professional Practice

Objectives:
• Complete a comprehensive illustration project from brief to finish.
• Present and critique work constructively in a group setting.
• Compile a professional portfolio piece.
• Outline next steps for continued skill development and industry engagement.

Topics:
• Final project brief and planning
• Independent work with instructor guidance
• Peer review and group critique
• Portfolio assembly and presentation tips
• Industry pathways: freelance, studio, in-house
• Continuing education and building a brand
• Course wrap-up and certification

Practicals

No practicals for this training.

This course is made up of exercises and case studies delivered alongside the theory — no separate practical sessions are required to complete it.

Summatives

Each delegate is assessed continuously throughout the course and a final summative test at the end.

Daily Exercises — 30%

Every training day ends with a multiple-choice exercise scored out of 100%. The scores from each daily exercise are averaged across the duration of the course to produce a Daily Average mark, which contributes 30% to the final total.

Final Test — 70%

On the last day a final summative test is written. It is a multiple-choice paper with multiple-answer questions: each question may have more than one correct option, and a single wrong selection on a question marks the entire question wrong — no partial credit. The final test is scored out of 100% and contributes 70% to the overall mark.

Final Total
Component Out of Weight
Daily Average (multiple choice) 100% 30%
Final Test (multi-answer multiple choice) 100% 70%
Final Total 100%

All marks are recorded on the AATICD LMS and visible to each learner under their account.

Certificate

Certificate of Completion

Awarded to delegates who achieve an overall mark of 50% or higher on the Final Total (Daily Average 30% + Final Test 70%).

How it works
  • Certificates are auto-generated on the AATICD LMS as soon as the marks pass the 50% threshold.
  • Each certificate is a branded PDF with the delegate's name, the course title, the unit standard ID, NQF level, credits, and the date of issue.
  • You can download or print your certificate from your LMS dashboard at any time after issue — there's no reissue fee and no expiry date.
  • If you scored under 50% you can sit the final test again at the next scheduled session at no extra cost.
Where to find it

Sign in to the LMS, open your dashboard, and your certificates appear under My Certificates. Each entry has a View / Download button and a print option.

Training Discounts

Group discounts apply automatically — the more delegates you enrol, the greater the saving. Discounts are calculated at 3% per 5 delegates, scaling up to 40% off for 100+ delegates.

Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% discount per 5 delegates, up to 40% off for 100+ delegates. Contact us for a custom group quote.

Upcoming Training Sessions
Online training — attend live sessions from anywhere via our virtual classroom.
Start End Delivery Season Price Action
Wed 09 Sep 2026 Thu 17 Sep 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $1,523 Register
Tue 29 Sep 2026 Wed 07 Oct 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $1,523 Register
Mon 19 Oct 2026 Tue 27 Oct 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $1,523 Register
Mon 07 Dec 2026 Tue 15 Dec 2026 Virtual Summer 2026 $1,523 Register
Fri 15 Jan 2027 Mon 25 Jan 2027 Virtual Summer 2026 $1,523 Register
Thu 18 Feb 2027 Fri 26 Feb 2027 Virtual Summer 2026 $1,523 Register
Wed 03 Mar 2027 Thu 11 Mar 2027 Virtual Autumn 2027 $1,523 Register
Tue 09 Mar 2027 Wed 17 Mar 2027 Virtual Autumn 2027 $1,523 Register
Mon 15 Mar 2027 Tue 23 Mar 2027 Virtual Autumn 2027 $1,523 Register
Fri 11 Jun 2027 Mon 21 Jun 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $1,523 Register
Thu 01 Jul 2027 Fri 09 Jul 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $1,523 Register
Wed 21 Jul 2027 Thu 29 Jul 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $1,523 Register
Tue 07 Sep 2027 Wed 15 Sep 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $1,523 Register
Mon 27 Sep 2027 Tue 05 Oct 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $1,523 Register
Fri 22 Oct 2027 Mon 01 Nov 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $1,523 Register
Mon 06 Dec 2027 Tue 14 Dec 2027 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,523 Register
Fri 31 Dec 2027 Mon 10 Jan 2028 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,523 Register
Thu 20 Jan 2028 Fri 28 Jan 2028 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,523 Register
On-Campus training — face-to-face sessions at our training venues across Africa and beyond.
Showing all 498 sessions across 26 venues
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Mon 03 Aug 2026 Tue 11 Aug 2026 Johannesburg, South Africa Winter 2026 $3,283 Register
Tue 04 Aug 2026 Wed 12 Aug 2026 Mauritius Winter 2026 $4,525 Register
Wed 05 Aug 2026 Thu 13 Aug 2026 Cape Town, South Africa Winter 2026 $3,769 Register
Thu 06 Aug 2026 Fri 14 Aug 2026 Dubai, UAE Winter 2026 $5,929 Register
Fri 07 Aug 2026 Mon 17 Aug 2026 Pretoria, South Africa Winter 2026 $2,284 Register
In-House training — we bring the trainer to your organisation, tailored to your team.
Start End Delivery Season Price Action
Thu 17 Sep 2026 Fri 25 Sep 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,982 Register
Wed 07 Oct 2026 Thu 15 Oct 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,982 Register
Tue 27 Oct 2026 Wed 04 Nov 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,982 Register
Tue 15 Dec 2026 Wed 23 Dec 2026 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,982 Register
Mon 18 Jan 2027 Tue 26 Jan 2027 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,982 Register
Fri 26 Feb 2027 Mon 08 Mar 2027 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,982 Register
Thu 11 Mar 2027 Fri 19 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,982 Register
Wed 17 Mar 2027 Thu 25 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,982 Register
Tue 23 Mar 2027 Wed 31 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,982 Register
Mon 14 Jun 2027 Tue 22 Jun 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,982 Register
Fri 09 Jul 2027 Mon 19 Jul 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,982 Register
Thu 29 Jul 2027 Fri 06 Aug 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,982 Register
Wed 15 Sep 2027 Thu 23 Sep 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,982 Register
Tue 05 Oct 2027 Wed 13 Oct 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,982 Register
Mon 25 Oct 2027 Tue 02 Nov 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,982 Register
Tue 14 Dec 2027 Wed 22 Dec 2027 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,982 Register
Mon 03 Jan 2028 Tue 11 Jan 2028 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,982 Register
Fri 28 Jan 2028 Mon 07 Feb 2028 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,982 Register
Training Discounts
Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% off per 5 delegates, up to 40% for 100+

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