Eight Skillshare
Classes in,
and Still Raging On!
It’s been a helluva run with Skillshare all these years. You have to understand, it’s not like we sought them out. When these platforms hit the scene, many online video course outfits came after us. Some sketchy, some a bit intimidating. Skillshare didn’t scare us away. We did our research, liked the ease-of-use of their platform and meshed well with their crew. When you take on something like this, you have to understand precisely this: You are going to be spending lots of time with these people. It better be a good fit. And it was.
And we’re forever thankful for all the effort, opportunity, bandwidth, editing, promoting and expertise that went into our Skillshare classes—there are too many folks to list! Thank you from all of us at the DDC.
Our very favorite part of our Skillshare courses? Any skill level can learn something from each class. If you are just starting out, or a raging expert, there’s gonna be something for you in each class. We worked hard on this. Dig in, students! GO!
Skillshare Class No. 08
The Business of Graphic Design:
Protect & Perfect Your Passion
When you start making money from your creative passion, it’s easy to get caught up in your craft and ignore all the “businessy” things. If spending hours crafting a logo for a new client is a walk in the park, navigating taxes, client contracts, and email etiquette can feel more like an uphill battle. Luckily, legendary graphic designer Aaron Draplin isn’t just a fan of logo design and long afternoons with Adobe Illustrator. He also enjoys making an honest iving as a self-employed designer by running a business that works like a well-oiled machine.
Skillshare Class No. 07
Crusty Techniques:
Getting Dirty with the DDC
While legendary designer Aaron Draplin has spent most of his career creating work on the computer, he’s always been inspired by the rough quality of vintage graphics that were created by hand. In this class, you’ll learn all about how he adds that signature “scrizz” to his digital designs—and why those little imperfections can actually make your work better.
First, you’ll learn a bit about the history of graphic design, and explore some of the old artifacts and modern artists that inspire Draplin to add this crusty quality to his work. Then, you’ll dive into Photoshop and Illustrator to learn techniques you can use to add a little grit to your work.
The best part is, these techniques and ideas are super simple and accessible to designers of all levels. Whether you want to create full vintage-inspired graphics, or just want to add a little bit of crust to make your work feel more human, you’ll finish class with some new skills in your graphic design toolkit to carry forward and use to elevate your work.
Skillshare Class No. 06
How to Make Merch
From pins and patches to posters and hats, well-designed merch can be a designer’s dream—if it’s done right. Enter, Aaron Draplin. For the past 15 years, Aaron has been designing the best merch in the biz. Now, he’s sharing the tips, tricks, and trade secrets he’s gathered over a career centered on making great stuff. With his usual straight talk and zero funny business (ok, maybe a little funny business), Aaron will walk you through every step he takes each time he wants to create something new—and might just share some never-before-heard stories of mishaps and mayhem along the way.
Skillshare Class No. 05
21 Tips for Speeding Up
Your Design Workflow
Share a recent design you're proud of and let us know how you're implementing one (or more!) of Draplin's design productivity techniques.
Some questions to consider: What stage of the design process will you streamline first? The before, during, or after? Which productivity tip do you think will be most useful for you moving forward? Are you already implementing any of Draplin's best productivity practices? Which one/s? Whether you choose to update your color swatches or convert your type to outlines, be sure to let us know how you're implementing Draplin's techniques in the project gallery. We can't wait to see how you're making your designs un-mess-with-able!
Skillshare Class No. 04
Iterating with Shape, Style, and Color
Minor tweaks add up to big breakthroughs in this in-depth class all about the subtle skill of iteration. Join Aaron as he dives into his personal illustration process, using shape, style, and color to push his creativity to new heights with every project. You'll illustrate a person, place, and thing to create an ode to your hometown, evolving each individual piece along the way.
Key lessons include: Iteration exercises to push your design style, Adobe Illustrator tips and techniques for moving quick, building color palettes from reference imagery and illustrating objects with standard and custom shapes.
Whether you're an illustrator or designer, new to art, or have years of experience, Draplin's creative approach will help anyone looking to develop their personal style. After taking this class, you'll have mastered the art of iteration, allowing you to push ideas further, make your art more unique and create better work.
Skillshare Class No. 03
Customizing Type:
Creating Wordmarks That Work
Join design icon Aaron Draplin as he shares tried and true techniques or customizing type—an essential skill for graphic designers of all levels. In this 90-minute class, you'll follow along as Draplin digs for antique typographic references and then creates several type treatments of his own to design merchandise for Portland, his beloved hometown.
The lessons cover: Discovering reference material, kerning/owning the space between characters, customizing letterforms, sketching type from scratch and prepping a file for print (and even finding a good promotional item vendor to work with!) PLUS bonus segments on adding texture and rebuilding typefaces from scratch
Draplin teaches you to avoid "default" typeface settings and to take ownership of your design by managing the forms, in-between spaces, and relationships of the letters you're working with. Once you master customizing type, you'll have a powerful skill in your design toolkit for every branding, logo, and visual styling project that comes your way.
Skillshare Class No. 02
Circular Logo Design:
Combine Type & Icons in a Classic Shape
Want to level up your logo design? Join acclaimed graphic designer and DDC founder Aaron Draplin for a 60-minute tour de force championing the techniques and challenges of combining type and icons into a circle, a foundational shape of graphic design.
Follow along with Draplin as he creates variations of an often forgotten yet useful object: the travel sticker. From his wizard-like workflow you'll learn the importance of: Hierarchy, line-weight, and graphic balance, key command mastery and setting up and wrapping up your document.
Whether you're just getting started with Adobe Illustrator or are a seasoned graphic veteran, you are sure to learn some new tips and tricks as you create circular designs of your own.
Skillshare Class No. 01
Secrets of Shape, Type and Color
Portland-based designer Aaron Draplin is legendary for pride and craftsmanship he brings to every project. Whether designing for Draplin Design Company clients like Nike and Ride Snowboards, or personal brands like his Field Notes memo notebooks, his work always strikes viewers as functional, nostalgic, and iconic. How does he do it?
In this 70-minute class, you'll go behind-the-scenes as Aaron shares his logo design process with a very personal project: the family crest. From background research to geometric structure to typography to color choice, he provides helpful tips and shortcuts in Illustrator for creating beautiful work in a hyper-efficient manner.
Throughout the class, Aaron emphasizes the benefits and techniques of simplifying designs in order to create compelling logos. It's a perfect class for designers, creators, and everyone who wants to be inspired by a master at work.
Skillshare
Documentaries
Skillshare Documentary
Designer in a Van:
On The Road with Aaron Draplin
Join the Skillshare Film Team on the road with Aaron Draplin—iconic designer, hit Skillshare teacher, and legendary man of mystery. In 2017, Draplin hit the road in a one-of-a-kind orange van to meet with fans, students, and designers for a book tour unlike anything a designer has done before.
Inspired by the DIY and punk bands before him who have taken their tours into their own hands, he and his partner Leigh McKolay did all of the scouting, booking, driving, talking, hyping, fighting, making up, and making it work—all the while shipping merch and running the Draplin Design Company (DDC) from the backseat.
How does he make it work? Whether you're a creative searching for inspiration, a Draplin fan, or simply curious for a real-world look at a successful side hustle, see how Draplin has built an iconic career from the ground up…all from his signature orange van.
Skillshare Documentary
Studio Tour with Aaron Draplin
From the Skillshare YouTube caption: “We’re back with another Studio Tour, this episode featuring the one and only Aaron Draplin. Come inside and hear about the importance of creativity, workspace setup, and embracing chaos in the creative process. From the cozy confines of a basement to the open expanse of a backyard, Draplin dives into how creativity can be embraced in any environment. Embrace the magic of "creative chaos" and see how different environments fuel productivity and inspiration. Learn exactly how Draplin Design Co. operates entirely out of this single space, with every aspect, from designing through fulfillment, seamlessly integrated into the studio's workflow. Get practical tips on balancing professional and personal projects, staying motivated, and evolving with new tools and techniques as you grow your practice.”
Click the video to the left, or click here to go to the YouTube super page.
Behind the Scenes on a
Couple Skillshare Shoots
A couple days of filming and you get to know people. Tight confines, in-the-moment improvising, nailing lines, forgetting lines and reshooting continuity patches really brings the team together. It started with Eliot Curtis and Bill Antonucci, and each subsequent shoot would have a new crew member to get used to. Met some talented folks along the way, who were incredibly accommodating of me and my little mess out here in Portland. Sure do appreciate all the time spent! Just 40 calories, Bill, just for calories!
Setting up the big shot for the big idea for the big moment, using big cameras.
Becca Cloyd and Bill Antonucci.
Digging in a drawer for some little zim-zam to talk about…
