40 lessons · 1.5 hours 5 modules iPad-compatible 5-day money-back guarantee

The Problem

Your designs need to speak a manufacturer's language

Sketching by hand works at the beginning of your design development; but once you begin working with manufacturers, buyers, and collaborators, you need to clearly communicate your design ideas with precision. They need flat sketches that communicate exactly what you intend, at scale, in color, with details they can act on.

Illustrator is the industry standard. But most designers either avoid it entirely or spend months fumbling through YouTube tutorials designed for graphic designers, not fashion ones.

This course changes that. It's built specifically for how fashion designers think and work in Illustrator everyday.

Color CAD
Production-ready color presentations
Create professional color CADs you can send directly to buyers and production teams
Exercises
Practice files included
Structured drills and tracing exercises so you build real skill, not just watch videos
2
Platforms covered
Full desktop and dedicated iPad lessons so you can work wherever your process takes you

Who This Is For

Right course. Right designer.

This is for you if

  • ✓ You need to draw precise and proportional flat sketches for tech packs or presentations
  • ✓ You want to boost your confidence as a designer
  • ✓ You have design ideas but no reliable way to communicate them digitally
  • ✓ You want to overcome imposter syndrome and own your creativity
  • ✓ You have Illustrator but have never learned to use it for fashion
  • ✓ You are completely new to Illustrator and want to start the right way

This is not for you if

  • ✕ You already design confidently in Illustrator (Level 2 may be the better fit)
  • ✕ You are looking for general graphic design instruction
  • ✕ You need 3D rendering or CLO3D workflow skills

Real results from real designers

5 star rating

Best for Beginners!

December Smith

This course is a great foundation for beginners to learn how Illustrator works and how to apply the tools to your designs. Everything is easy to follow and t...

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This course is a great foundation for beginners to learn how Illustrator works and how to apply the tools to your designs. Everything is easy to follow and the exercises help the most. I followed along with each lesson and by the end was able to successfully sketch my own design, knowing exactly what to do. I can't wait for level 2!

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5 star rating

What a life saver!

Ryan Roberts

Mikelle is a born teacher with Illustrator. I'm so glad I took this course as I came away with a much better understanding of Illustrator and with a really s...

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Mikelle is a born teacher with Illustrator. I'm so glad I took this course as I came away with a much better understanding of Illustrator and with a really solid foundation as well. I love that I can find additional info from her youtube channel which feels is such a plus.

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5 star rating

This course is going to help me 100%

Glenda Belle

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5 star rating

Illustrator class review

Olayemi Adewale -ojo

The course is very explanatory and easy to understand. Thank you for the course Looking forward to an advance class

The course is very explanatory and easy to understand. Thank you for the course Looking forward to an advance class

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Ready to start sketching?

Enroll Now — $150

What You'll Be Able To Do

By the end of this course, you will

  • ✓ Communicate your designs without hiring anyone to translate them
  • ✓ Send files manufacturers can actually work from
  • ✓ Present your designs to buyers and collaborators with confidence
  • ✓ Keep your designs moving from idea to production without delays
  • ✓ Use the pen tool to draw accurate flat sketches from scratch
  • ✓ Color a flat sketch and create a Color CAD

Your Illustrator for Fashion foundation

    1. Welcome to the Course

      FREE PREVIEW

    1. Student Manual

    1. Navigating the Workspace

      FREE PREVIEW

    2. Setting Preferences

      FREE PREVIEW

    3. Introduction to Color

    4. Introduction to Tools (Shapes)

    5. Introduction to Tools (Selection Tools)

    6. Introduction to Illustrator on iPad

    1. Memory Game

    2. Intro to Illustrator Crossword Puzzle

    3. Intro to Illustrator Crossword Puzzle Answers

    1. Introduction to the Pen Tool

    2. Drawing a Tee Shirt (Setup)

    3. Introduction to the Pen Tool on iPad

    4. Methods of Drawing a Flat Sketch in Illustrator

    5. Introduction to Flat Sketches

    1. Pen Tool Practice Exercises

    2. Pacman tracing exercise

    3. Supplemental Videos

About this course

  • $150.00
  • 40 lessons
  • 1.5 hours of video content + practice exercises + bonus resources
  • 5 day money back guarantee

Meet the Instructor

Fashion Educator and Business Strategist Mikelle Drew-Pellum

28+ years in the fashion industry, from corporate design rooms to classroom both corporate and universities. Mikelle has spent her career helping independent designers and brand owners master the digital tools, documentation standards, and business strategies they need to build profitable fashion businesses. She doesn't teach theory. She teaches what works.

Trained designers at:

J.Crew logo
Eileen Fisher logo
GAP logo
PVH logo
Victoria's Secret logo
Champion logo
Orvis logo

One-Time Purchase

$150

1-year access · no subscription

Enroll Now

What's included

✓Illustrator for Fashion Design (Level 1)
✓All 40 lessons + iPad content
✓Exercises and practice files
✓Full course access for 1 year
✓5-day money-back guarantee

5-day money-back guarantee on one-time course purchases

If this course is not right for you, email within 5 days of purchase for a full refund. Memberships can be cancelled anytime.

What our students are saying:

Karina Bajana, Footwear Designer

Mikelle has such a comprehensive understanding of these programs and is extremely good at explaining, coaching through the hands-on experience, and understanding/responding to questions. I highly recommend her if you’re looking into learning basic or advanced Adobe skills.

Doris Hofmann, Designer

I highly recommend Mikellle: Great teaching skills, super experienced and up to date with the latest software novelties.

Soo M., Men's Designer

I love Mikelle's class. She is sooo good at teaching. Learning can be so tired , but I have never felt tired in her class. She has vital power that makes students keep putting attention to work with smile. She is something.

Sean Coco, Designer

Best Instructor Ever !!!! 🏆🏆🏆

Brenda Van Name, Design Director

An Engaging Passionate Talented Creative, a pleasure to learn from and work with. Mikelle is a gifted instructor having the rare ability to deliver detailed training for complex programs with fun, approachable style. The experience arms a student with confidence to begin experimenting and the desire to learn more. I highly recommend her classes to anyone beginner or advanced.

Common Questions

Before you get started

Yes. You'll need an active Adobe Illustrator subscription. Adobe offers a free 7-day trial if you want to test it first. The course covers both desktop and iPad versions.
Yes. No prior Illustrator experience is required. The course is structured to take you from zero, starting with workspace setup and working up through flat sketching and coloring.
A one-time purchase gives you this course and its current content for one year. If you purchase this course as part of a bundle, you'll receive lifetime access.
Yes. Dedicated iPad lessons are included covering Illustrator on iPad, the pen tool on iPad, and custom color creation on iPad. You can follow along on either platform.
Yes. Flat sketching is the first step and one of the necessary elements to building a complete tech pack. Many designers take both courses in sequence.