SVG Vectorial Graphics: Illustrate and Animate with Code
A course by Javier Usobiaga FerrerWeb designer
A course by Javier Usobiaga Ferrer, Web designer
Learn to create vector illustrations for your website, from basic lines to interactive animations
If you've ever wanted to combine the technical power of web programming and the creative freedom of graphic design, this course is for you. Javier Usobiaga, web designer and cofounder of Swwweet studio, teaches you how to get the most out of scalable vector graphics (SVG), an interactive and responsive vector file format designed for web browsers as an alternative to JPG, PNG, and GIF file types. In this online course, discover the effects, filters, and animations you can use to create your own interactive illustrations with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code.
Javier also teaches Introduction to Responsive Web Development with HTML and CSS on Domestika, a course that walks you through the fundamentals of front-end web development and helps you build the foundations you need for this course on SVG.
What will you learn in this online course?
32 lessons & 28 downloads
Labels and basic attributes
5 minutes, 16 seconds
Styles in SVG
4 minutes, 57 seconds
Line, polyline, and polygon labels
5 minutes, 21 seconds
Stroke label (path)
4 minutes, 45 seconds
The viewbox attribute
4 minutes, 6 seconds
Text tags
6 minutes, 55 seconds
What's included in this course?
Start by exploring Javier Usobiaga's work as well as his influences from the world of SVG illustration and animation.
Next, explore how the SVG format works at its simplest level to learn how to work with it and use it to your advantage. Get back to basics by writing code for an image using only a code editor, setting visual editors aside to understand the foundational mechanics. Learn to apply styles with attributes and CSS, and then delve into line, polyline, polygon, and path elements to create an endless variety of points, lines, and curves. Find out how to insert text tags and discover viewBox attributes to generate virtual windows allowing you to zoom in and define the visible portion of an image.
Once you're familiar with the basics, it's time to use other optimization features like vector editors and coding tools to group, define, and reuse SVG elements—effective and efficient alternatives to writing endless lines of code.
Then learn how to embed SVG elements in a website as Javier walks you through the various ways to incorporate content images, background images, and JavaScript coding. Explore ways to apply SVG to icons, its role in responsive websites, tips to improve legibility on screen, and methods for optimizing its application on all web browsers.
Discover SVG effects like transformations, gradients, patterns, masks, and filters, as well as different types of animations such as CSS, sequential, line, and interactive animations. To wrap up, challenge yourself with more advanced types, including JavaScript animations, animated checkboxes, morphing, and path-guided animations.
Recommended software & tools for this course
What is this course's project?
Create an illustration with animated vector images. You can choose any theme you like and make your project as simple or as complex as you want; the goal is for you to apply the tools explored throughout the course.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
Programmers, designers, illustrators, and anyone who's interested in design and wants to tackle new projects with HTML and CSS.
Requirements and materials
You need basic knowledge of HTML and CSS to take this course.
As for materials and tools, you need a computer, a code editor, and a vector-graphics editor like Illustrator, Sketch, Inkscape, or similar software.
Reviews
- 11 months ago
Muy puntual, da la clase muy bien y es entendible, con ejercicios faciles y buenos.
- 1 year ago
EXCELENTE CURSO
- 1 year ago
Gostei muito
- 2 years ago
excellent course for beginners.
- 2 years ago
excelente curso lo recomiento explica muy bien y se entiende todo
He also enjoys a lot in his facet as professor of Web Design in renowned workshops and schools like Elisava, IDEP.
Usobiaga understands the web as a whole, not only how beautiful it can be on the computer screen, but its usability in different devices and circumstances.
In his words "I think that as important as the aesthetic is how fast it charges or how well it responds, and I think that in our industry we often forget about that."
Content
- U1
Introduction
- Presentation
- Influences
- U2
SVG Basic
- Labels and basic attributes
- Styles in SVG
- Line, polyline, and polygon labels
- Stroke label (path)
- The viewbox attribute
- Text tags
- U3
Tools and optimization
- Vector editors and export
- Organization of SVG
- SVG optimization
- U4
Incorporating SVG to the web
- Ways to load an SVG on the web
- Icons systems
- SVG responsive
- Accessibility in SVG
- Support in browsers
- U5
Effects in SVG
- Transformations
- Gradients
- Patterns
- Masks and clipping paths
- Filters
- U6
Animation in SVG
- Types of animation in SVG
- Animation with CSS
- Sequence animation
- Drawn animation
- Interactive animation
- U7
Interaction and advanced animation
- Animation with JavaScript
- JavaScript libraries for animation
- Animated checkbox
- Mutation (morphing) in SVG
- Animation along a stroke
- Inspiration
- FP
Final project
- SVG vector graphics: illustrate and animate with code
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
Certificates
PLUSIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) is an XML-based format for creating vector graphics that scale without losing quality. It’s widely used in web development for icons, illustrations, animations, and interactive graphics.
This course is designed for people with intermediate web development skills. Basic experience with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript is recommended to get the most out of the material.
You should have a basic understanding of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, plus some familiarity with a code editor. You don’t need to be an expert, but a foundation in web technologies will help you keep up with the course.
You’ll learn how to create custom SVG graphics, animate elements using CSS and JavaScript, integrate icons, apply advanced styling, work with paths, gradients, and patterns, and optimize SVG files for the web.
The course teaches you how to animate SVGs by accessing the DOM and modifying attributes with JavaScript, as well as using CSS keyframes to create visual effects, transitions, and animation sequences.
The course explains that SVG attributes like fill and stroke allow direct styling, while CSS offers greater control, reusability, and easier maintenance—especially useful in large projects and reusable components.
You’ll learn to use the viewBox attribute, adjust preserveAspectRatio, and apply responsive design techniques so your SVGs fluidly adapt to any device or resolution.