Adobe Illustrator (Essentials)

Who we are

We are designers and project managers and software experts. Mostly, we are people people with a passion for teaching and learning.

What we do

We develop and deliver training courses and services. Our teachers are outstanding. They make a genuine difference in how well and how quickly students learn. We probably tweak and update our courses more than any other training firm. When class is over, we continue to help our clients with free and unlimited support via zoom, phone or email.

Our goal

We want to be the best in the world at helping people learn. That includes awesome customer service and adding value in every situation.

Our clients

Our clients are stars and we are honoured they chose us as their training partner.

How experienced are your instructors?

Our instructors know the subjects they teach inside and out. They will be able to answer all your questions in class, or find an answer for you afterwards. When they aren’t teaching in class, they are usually working on projects in their respective fields. They keep learning too.

What makes your training classes better than others?

We study as much as we teach. We make sure our lesson plans are relevant and we update and refine those lesson plans continuously. Our classes are organized and professional, and our small class size (maximum 6 people) helps to ensure you get the best training experience possible. Our practice exercises are notably better. We take a keen interest in our clients to make sure we provide the best training possible. This is not rhetoric. It is important to us that students know they can count on us.

Do you have a printed catalog and schedule you can send me?

Because software is updated so often, and because we frequently add new courses to accommodate client needs, it never made sense to invest our resources in conventional printed literature. We keep the online schedule up-to-date and have course outlines available as PDFs.

Registration Procedures & Policies

How do I register for a class?

You can register online and pay your course fees with a credit card. Or call us and we’ll process the transaction for you. Some clients prefer to pay by cheque and we are happy to send them an invoice. Please understand we can only confirm your registration once payment is received (pre-payment is the only way we have of knowing who will actually show up for class).

What is included with your courses?
Your class registration fee includes instruction, a good reference book, and unlimited after-class support. Note: For some courses, like Acrobat XI for example, there isn’t a good reference book in existence. Believe me, we’ve looked.

What version of the software do you teach on?

Our policy is to use the latest version of the software in each of our training classes. We usually adopt new versions of software immediately upon their release, and are up to speed on them within a day.

Do you have a Money Back Guarantee?

We pride ourselves on getting things right. That doesn’t mean we are perfect but when we make mistakes we fix them. If you’re not happy with your class get in touch with us and we’ll either provide you with a course credit or a full refund. It’s your choice.

What is your Retake policy?

Our policy is to offer students one Retake on the current version of the application they were trained on. This does not include new course materials or books, which can be purchased separately at your discretion. All retake seats are confirmed on a space available basis.

What do I need to know before I come to class?

Our instructors are professional, patient and considerate. Generally, you will not feel out of place even if you are a complete novice when you attend our regular classes. It is vitally important, however, that you are comfortable using your computer (using the mouse, opening and saving files, etc.). If you do not have this basic level of familiarity with computers, you may not be able to keep up. Students with insufficient computer skills may be required to observe the class lessons or do their best to keep up without slowing down the rest of the class. In this case, Retake and Money Back options will be offerred, or not, at our discretion. It is our philosophy that to a large degree, participants get the most value from a class when they are well prepared for the experience. Participants are encouraged to communicate their primary objectives to us.

How many students are in each class?

Most of our training classrooms hold a maximum of six students. The average class size hovers around 4. This lets us work closely with each student to make sure they learn everything they need to know.

What types of computers do students get to use during class? Do you train on both Macintosh and Windows?

Some students like to bring their own laptop to class. Otherwise, we provide each student with a mac or a pc, according to their preference. With most software apps, the interface is exactly the same whether you work on a mac or pc.

How far in advance should I register?

We recommend registering as soon as you are certain you want to attend the class. Some classes fill up a couple of weeks in advance of the class while others are filled months ahead. What types of payment do you accept? We accept all major credit cards, company cheques, cash, and electronic file transfers.

Do you charge sales tax?

GST is applied on all training services. HST is applied according to the laws of each province or territory.

Do you accept purchase orders?

We are happy to invoice your firm based on a purchase order. However, payment of the invoice must be received before we can confirm that registration (receipt of payment is the only way we have of knowing who will actually show up for each class).

Do you have financing available?

We do not provide financing for courses.

What is your policy regarding student cancellations and rescheduling?

We sincerely value our client relationships and are forced to make some hard business decisions when it comes to cancellations. Our scheduling and instructor deployment decisions are made based on commitments we receive when people register. Cancellations and rescheduling with short notice cost us significant resources, and we must pass these costs on to those who cancel.

Rescheduling

Rescheduling requests made 10 days before the course begins are free. Rescheduling that takes place less than 10 days before the course begins will incur a $75 administration fee. We do not charge for student substitutions at any time. While we make every effort to deliver classes as scheduled, we reserve the right to reschedule previously confirmed classes for a variety of reasons including but not exclusively, the illness of the Trainer. In such cases, we will inform the Client as soon as possible of the new dates.

What is your satisfaction guarantee policy?

Basically, we want you to be 100% happy. If you are not satisfied after taking a class you may ask to retake it with a different instructor, or receive a class credit. All reasonable requests will be considered. We strive to do everything possible to ensure a successful, long-term relationship with our clients and we want you to enjoy your experience with us. In the unlikely event we fail to meet your expectations, we will do our best to work with you to resolve customer service issues in a way that is fair for all parties involved.

What is your policy regarding low-enrollment cancellations and rescheduling?
All courses are guaranteed to run. If we must reschedule a class due to instructor illness or other company related scheduling conflicts, we will work closely with you to provide an alternate date.

Onsite & custom training

Do you provide onsite training?
Our specialty is creating, organizing and delivering top-notch onsite training. We quote these sessions on a per project basis. We generally customize our onsite classes according to the needs of each client.

What about onsite support and project assistance?

We offer onsite assistance for advanced training and help with tricky projects. This generally follows a customized agenda. Rates vary but are typically $495 for a 3-hour session and $175 per hour thereafter.

Do you provide customized training?

Probably our greatest expertise is in creating customized training in any field. We understand the learning process. Our network of teachers and specialists is unsurpassed. If you have a particular training requirement, you’ve come to the right place. We can deliver your proprietary material or develop and deliver a program based on your company’s specific challenges and project requirements.