Intro to 2D design with Illustrator

Are you ready to discover 2D design and make your own vector drawings? In this module, you will learn how to draw your own laptop stand with Adobe Illustrator and share it on Thingiverse!

Quiz

Watch the video above first, then answer the quiz to make sure you understand the main notions. Some questions may need to look up elsewhere through a quick Internet search!

This quiz is mandatory. You can answer this quiz as many times as you want, only your best score will be taken into account. Simply reload the page to get a new quiz.

The due date has expired. You can no longer answer this quiz.

Assignment

Make it happen!

This assignment is mandatory. If you update your work but the link doesn't change, you don't need to re-submit it.

Tools

Adobe Illustrator is a vector graphics app that lets you create logos, icons, drawings, typography, and complex illustrations for any medium. In this video, you will learn more about the wide range of projects you can make using this platform. This software is available on every computer in your makers' lab.

Thingiverse is a platform gathering a large community of makers, where you can find and share 2D and 3D files.

Project

Design your own laptop stand with Adobe Illustrator. If you don't want to design a laptop stand you can design what you want as long as your creation shows at least one interlocking assembly and one engraving.

Submit

Create a Thingiverse account & share your design by clicking on "Create" and "Upload a thing!".

The due date has expired. You can no longer submit your work.

Before submitting, make sure you check all of the criteria below.

Your design respects the constraints described above (interlocking and engraving)
Your Thing' s visibility is set to "public"
You did this work by yourself, and it’s not someone else’s

Going further

Definitions

Vector graphics, unlike raster graphics, provide reliable coordinates and can be used to control machines like laser cutters. It also lets you scale up your design without any loss of resolution. This is the major difference between Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator.

Tools

Gravit is an free online alternative to Illustrator.
Makercase, making a box has never been so easy!
Slicer, a software to convert 3D models (.stl) into lasercut slices

Resources

Illustrator tutorials on Adobe's website
The Noun Project, icons you can get as Vector Graphics (.svg)
Bent wood, a collection of patterns to make flexible wood!
The Bézier Game, a game to help you master the pen tool

Projects