Creative Career Foundations: Clarity, Confidence & Direction

As your course instructor, James Barnard, I'll tell you: I can’t draw! There, I’ve said it. And I’m proud to say it, because there’s a stigma that seems to follow designers around like a bad smell; that in order to be a great logo designer, you need to be good at sketching. I am proof that you do not. Over roughly 15 years I have worked with companies from all over the globe, designing logos for motorcycle clubs, restaurants, sports bars, electricians, tech firms, musicians and even tv personalities. And I made every one of these logos without the need for artistic skills with a pen and paper, by creating a workflow that allows me to work at lightning fast speeds in Adobe Illustrator. During my career I have worked in the publishing industry, for in-house design teams, at agencies and as a freelancer for my own clients. And at every single one of these jobs I made a name for myself as a designer that works quickly. In this course I’ll show you my secrets to working in Illustrator at super speed, to help you test and ultimately refine your designs in a vector format. You’ll discover how to: - Set up your hardware - Customise your workspaces and keyboard shortcuts - Use additional software and hardware tricks With these tips you'll be flying around Adobe Illustrator and working iteratively inside the program. Some of the techniques in this course are for beginners, but ideally you should have a basic understanding of Adobe Illustrator. I will cover some of the fundamental tools you’ll need to work up logos, but I’d class this course as beginner-to-intermediate. The workflow and techniques in this course are designed to help you question your current workflow and to help you optimise your output and increase your efficiency. With these tips, you’ll be able to take simple line drawings (terrible sketches) and work them up in vector in no time, to either rule out that concept, or refine it to perfection. And with these skills you’ll hopefully be able to get more clients through the door. At the end of the course you can follow along as I design a logo from start to finish. My Hardware and Specs - MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports, 2 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5) - 2 x Samsung 28" U28E590 UHD displays - Logitech MX Master 3S for Mac Mouse - Logitech MX Keys for Mac Keyboard - Creator Micro Macro Pad by Work Louder My Software - macOS Ventura 13.4.1 - Adobe Illustrator CC 2024 v28.0 - Adobe Photoshop CC 2024 v25.1.0 - Logitech Options+ v1.58 - VIA v2.0.5 Instructor bio: James Barnard is a logo designer, educator, and seasoned freelancer with nearly 15 years of experience in graphic design. Formerly a designer in the UK publishing industry, he now runs his freelance logo design business from Australia’s Gold Coast, specializing in creating visual identities with meaning. In addition to his client work, James is passionate about teaching the next generation of designers. Through his courses and online content, he shares his expertise in design software and creative business, reaching and inspiring a community of over half a million learners worldwide.

By the end of this course, you will be able to define creative fearlessness for yourself, uncover the early sparks that shaped your creativity, and design a personalized “Creative Compass” to guide your future work with clarity and courage. In this powerful, reflective class, Senior Art Director Sarah Edwards shares the mindset shift that transformed her creative life: the opposite of fear isn’t confidence—it’s coexistence. Through guided exercises like exploring the five senses of childhood, rediscovering your “First Fire,” identifying your personal color palette, and finding the “needles in your haystack,” you’ll reconnect with the creative threads that have always been there. Step by step, you’ll translate these discoveries into a visual Creative Compass—a tangible reminder of your inner flame. This course is for anyone who has ever felt stuck waiting for confidence to arrive. Whether you’re a designer, illustrator, entrepreneur, hobbyist, or simply someone longing to create more freely, this class is for you. No prior experience is required—just openness, honesty, and a willingness to reflect. Come ready to dig deep, and leave as your own creative hero.