Work faster.

My secrets to working in Illustrator at super speed. 1hr 15mins of juicy content, covering everything from setting up your workspace, to working with hardware.

Bonus Downloads

My brand style guide template, my Illustrator setup template, setup files, pdf cheat sheet and more

Get more clients through the door

In this course I’ll show you my secrets to working as fast as possible in Adobe Illustrator, 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, plus additional software and hardware tricks that’ll have you flying around Adobe Illustrator and working iteratively inside the program. 

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 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. 

14 Video Chapters

This course is broken up into manageable chunks, which you can dip in and out of at your leisure (1hr 14mins):

1. Introduction
2. Class Orientation
3. My Logo Design Process
4. My Sketchbook
5. Desk Tour
6. Artboards & Workspaces
7. Illustrator Fundamentals
8. Shortcuts & Actions
9. Defaults, Preferences & Templates
10. Bonus Tips
11. Live Edit
12. A Note on CC Libraries
13. Class Project
14. Conclusion

Bonus Downloads

1. Brand Style Guide Template
   This document is designed to be a one-pager for clients that might not have the budget to do a full set of brand guidelines with me.

2. Illustrator Shortcuts Cheat Sheet
   A list of my most commonly used shortcuts, plus some suggestions on ones that you might like to add. There's also breakdown of the keystrokes to use if you install my...

3. Illustrator Actions
   Install this file to use my custom Illustrator actions, demonstrated in chapter 8. I've also included the VIA setup file, should you choose to buy the same macro pad I use. 

4. Illustrator Template and My Client Folder Structure
   Work with my Illustrator template, including all amended defaults. This *.ait file will be the starting point of your new workflow.

Meet your instructor

My name is James Barnard.

I am a logo designer and a seasoned freelancer with around 15 years experience in the industry of graphic design. I have worked with companies from all over the globe, designing logos for motorcycle clubs, restaurants, sports bars, engineers, 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 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. 

I got my start in the publishing industry, working for titles like Grazia, FHM, Men’s Health and the Daily Telegraph in the UK, but I’ve been freelancing for more than 8 years, and I now run my own logo design offering from my home studio on the Gold Coast, Australia. I also teach everything I know over on my social channels to something like half a million followers, plus I’m an Adobe Certified Professional!

So rest assured that I have been there, done that, and you can put your trust in me.

“This course is exactly what I imagined it would be… full of value, knowledge and that beautiful Barnard energy that everyone needs in their day. If you want to become more efficient in your process and learn an essential tool from an industry pro, this is for you! And It’s a fucking steal, you can’t lose here.” - James Martin

“The walkthrough of the branding project was super helpful; seeing how James moves quickly from a rough sketch to Illustrator to test out his ideas before moving on. There are loads of nuggets to help people get quicker using Illustrator.” - Ian Barnard

“Not only is “Turbocharge” jam packed with innovative tips, but James also makes it so easy to digest. The man is not only a great designer, but one of the best teachers in the world with a personality that just makes you smile.” - Allan Peters

“Expert logo design tips with a dash of wacky humour. It’s JUST what you need to energize your creative process! Do yourself a favour and discover a Myriad (Pro 😉) of time-saving strategies from the productivity guru himself.” - Jacob Cass

“I just knew this course would be great. Whether you're new to Illustrator or looking for ways to enhance your workflow efficiency, this course will be incredibly helpful. Each lesson is packed with valuable tips, from creating new shortcuts to streamlining your Adobe Illustrator workflow, and it even includes advice for your logo design process. There's a lot of value packed inside; you won't be disappointed.” - Abi Connick

“This is the course I needed years ago! James has figured out a way to make Adobe Illustrator work for us. With each video, James had me taking notes and smiling from ear to ear (the best way to learn). Whether you’re a budding graphic designer or a seasoned pro, ‘Turbocharge’ is packed with incredibly useful tips, tricks, and workflow methods that are guaranteed to make you a more efficient and effective designer.” - CJ Cawley

“As someone who feels like they know Adobe Illustrator pretty well, moving through James' course was refreshing and resourceful! I learned new shortcuts and quick tips that I'll be able to apply to my workflow immediately. Regardless of your level of experience, you'll take away something from this course. James' ability to teach while keeping the content engaging, punchy, and playful is a testament to his skillset. Highly recommended!” - Kristy Campbell

“Every once in a while you find a designer who *knows* what you need to learn, no cheap tips and tricks, this is all solid, useful advice - I even had to take notes! James walks you through his process, it’s gold all the way through, from equipment, to thought process and execution…and a little humour along the way. I’ll be recommending this to anyone looking to learn Illustrator and logo design!” - Dave Clayton

“This course is easy to follow and full of really practical and helpful tips. James is a great teacher and I really enjoyed learning about how he works and his process. If you’re looking to improve how you make the most of Adobe Illustrator then don’t hesitate getting this course!” - Liz Mosley

“An incredibly valuable course breaking down Illustrator tips, tricks, and tools. Plus, getting an intimate look at a master logo designer’s process, just WOW. James is a great teacher with an easy to follow teaching style and his humour is the cherry on top.” - Dave Hopkins

"The use cases for macropads in this course are perfect. James uses our Creator Micro heavily to speed up his process, and it's so great to see it in action here." - Mike di Genova