Art Deco Style for Digital Illustration
A course by Mads BergIllustrator
A course by Mads Berg, Illustrator
Create elegant artwork in Illustrator using dynamic compositions and minimalist color palettes
Art deco is a decorative art that is still revisited in many kinds of visual arts. The style–characterized by simplified geometric shapes combined with ornate and organic elements–still appeals to a wide audience today. Illustrator Mads Berg is renowned for his contemporary art deco illustrations, merging Nordic simplicity with the iconic decorative art style.
In this course, Mads Berg shows you his entire illustration process for creating a commercial poster in art deco style. Learn about the history and relevance of the art style to seamlessly fuse it into your digital illustrations. Create unique, elegant artwork that is ready to present to a client.
What will you learn in this online course?
16 lessons & 13 downloads
First Draft
13 minutes, 27 seconds
Final Draft
7 minutes, 31 seconds
Bringing Your Composition into Illustrator
18 minutes, 38 seconds
Working with Colour and Gradients
7 minutes, 2 seconds
Art Deco Typography
15 minutes, 5 seconds
Art Deco Ornaments 1
17 minutes, 59 seconds
What's included in this course?
Meet Mads Berg, who tells you about his journey as an illustrator and shares the artistic influences that inspire him. See why art deco has become popular again and find out what Mads covers in the course.
Delve into the history of art deco and see why it’s still relevant today. Understand what a brief is by analyzing a real-world example and discover how to take control of a project. Then, learn his sketching and research process. Once you’ve seen Mads’ tips and techniques, create the final draft of your illustration using tracing paper.
Next, upload your illustration into Illustrator, set up your working document, and learn about the different color systems available. Get useful tips on how to work with layers and groups, and see why it’s important to organize your artboard. Work on each detail of your illustration, filling it with color and gradients in the final step of the creative process.
Explore the use of textures in your vector illustration and see how to apply text and typography to your artwork. Add the final touches to your illustration by integrating art deco ornaments, frames, and patterns. Finish the course by learning how to prepare your artwork for different formats, ready to share with your followers or client.
Recommended software & tools for this course
What is this course's project?
Create illustrated artwork that includes custom typography and art deco ornaments.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is for anyone who would like to learn about art deco illustration and its relevance in contemporary advertising.
Requirements and materials
Basic drawing skills and some experience with Adobe Illustrator are recommended.
You will also need a computer with Adobe Illustrator, a pencil, and some paper.
Reviews
- 25 days ago
Very helpful course, enjoyed it a lot
- 1 month ago
Very good course :)
- 8 months ago
Fantastic course! If i could offer one critique though...in the texture module, it would have been extra if Mads had shown us how to apply some of his signature texture effects to his works...otherwise, brilliant stuff!
- 9 months ago
great course
- 11 months ago
I loved it, thank you for the excellent class, and I loved learning from you. Much appreciated for sharing your knowledge.
Mads has illustrated for clients such as Coca-Cola, Orangina, San Diego Zoo, Lego, Monocle, and Wired. His illustrations have been exhibited internationally and celebrated with awards such as "Best Danish Children's Comic" prize in 2010 and the Danish Design Prize in 2009. He also lectures at his former art school, the Academy of Art and Design in Copenhagen.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- About Me
- Influences
- What Will We Do in This Course?
- U2
The Initial Steps
- What Is Art Deco?
- Briefing and Client’s Conversation
- First Draft
- Final Draft
- U3
Applying Colour
- Setting Up and Working with Colours
- Bringing Your Composition into Illustrator
- Working with Layers and Groups
- Working with Colour and Gradients
- U4
Taking It To the Next Level
- Adding Texture to the Image
- Art Deco Typography
- Art Deco Ornaments 1
- Art Deco Ornaments 2
- Final Touches, Formats and Conversion
- FP
Final project
- Art Deco Style for Digital Illustration
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FAQs
Yes, this course is designed for illustrators with some experience, focusing on intermediate-level skills in Art Deco illustration, poster design, and digital workflows.
You will need Adobe Illustrator, a graphics tablet (like Wacom), a computer, and basic drawing materials for sketching. All digital techniques are taught using Adobe Illustrator.
You will learn to create Art Deco-inspired posters, develop a signature illustration style, master digital techniques in Adobe Illustrator, integrate typography and decoration, and manage commercial illustration projects.
Yes, the course teaches you how to create vintage and Art Deco-style illustrations using Adobe Illustrator, focusing on color palettes, gradients, and geometric forms.
Yes, the course covers integrating typography with imagery following Art Deco principles, teaching you how to achieve a cohesive and visually balanced poster design.
Absolutely. The course addresses client briefs, communication, and adapting your Art Deco illustrations for commercial use, including POS materials and commissioned artworks.
Basic familiarity with Adobe Illustrator is recommended, as the course builds on standard digital illustration workflows and assumes some prior knowledge.