Hidden Characters: Illustration and Character Design from Real Life
A course by ProfeDesigner and Illustrator
A course by Profe, Designer and Illustrator
Design characters from everyday objects using drawing, color, and illustration in Illustrator.
This course with illustrator and designer Alfredo Rios Aldana shows you how to turn the ordinary things around you into characters with their own quirks and attitude.
Alfredo starts with a simple idea: slow down, look closely, and let the shapes you see spark new characters. You’ll sketch what’s in front of you, break objects down into basic forms, and use those shapes to build characters that actually feel alive.
Along the way, you’ll look at composition, character basics, shape language, and color. Alfredo walks you through his workflow, from loose sketches and tiny thumbnails to a finished vector illustration in Illustrator. You’ll try out different color combinations and learn tricks for pulling palettes from photos or references you like.
By the end, you’ll have a finished character illustration, a method you can return to whenever you’re stuck for ideas, and maybe a more playful way of looking at the world around you.
What will you learn in this online course?
6 lessons & 6 downloads
Finding the Hidden Character
11 minutes, 22 seconds
Colors
6 minutes, 54 seconds
Illustrating the Character
7 minutes, 17 seconds
Finishing the character and saying goodbye
5 minutes, 18 seconds
What's included in this course?
You'll slow down enough to actually look at the spaces you move through every day, notice the small things you normally tune out, and sketch them without worrying about getting everything perfect. Little by little, your eye gets better at spotting the core shapes in objects, and your sketchbook fills with quick notes that bring back a bit of that lost sense of wonder.
From there, you start mixing those simple shapes to invent characters. You try a few rough drafts, pick the one that feels right, and push it further. You'll play with color using a few basic harmony ideas, build a palette that feels like the places you know, and turn your chosen character into a full illustration in Illustrator, from the first vector blocks to the final touches.
Recommended software & tools for this course
Who is this online course for?
This course is for beginners and mid‑level illustrators, designers, and visual‑arts students. It's also for anyone creative who feels stuck or easily distracted, likes keeping a sketchbook, enjoys noticing everyday objects, and wants to turn simple shapes into lively, colorful characters.
Requirements and materials
You don’t need much experience. Knowing the basics of drawing and having a light touch with Illustrator helps, and a bit of curiosity goes a long way. Bring a small sketchbook, a few pens or pencils you like using, and a computer with Illustrator for the digital part.
Reviews
- 2 months ago
good course
- rikardokalvoPLUS2 months ago
Excelente curso 100% recomendado
He is currently an illustrator at Pictoline, where he has learned how to produce complete, high-quality illustrations in very little time. This process has taught him how to optimize basic tools while always pursuing the best results.
In 2020, he teamed up with Maga Rey and cofounded "Wild Fontana," a brand where they experiment with illustration and its application on textiles to create decorative pieces for the home.
Content
Hidden Characters: Illustration and Character Design from Real Life
- Introduction: Observation and Inspiration
- The essence of objects
- Finding the Hidden Character
- Colors
- Illustrating the Character
- Finishing the character and saying goodbye
- Final project
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
Certificates
PLUSIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
You’ll learn to observe everyday objects, abstract their shapes, and combine them to create original characters, along with sketching techniques, color use, and vectorizing in Illustrator.
The course is aimed at students with basic drawing or digital illustration skills, but you don’t need to be an Illustrator expert. It’s perfect for anyone looking to boost their creativity and technique.
You’ll need a sketchbook or notebook, pencils, pens or markers, and access to Adobe Illustrator. Having a portable drawing kit is recommended to easily capture your observations.
You observe the object, distill its basic shapes, and reinterpret them to create unique characters by adding details, expressions, and mixing visual elements from different objects.
The course teaches mindful observation and visual recording techniques to help you capture the essence, shapes, and details of objects around you for character creation.
You’ll learn to pick opposite colors on the color wheel to create contrast and harmony, highlighting elements and enriching your characters’ visual identity.
The process involves sketching in your sketchbook, digitizing the drawing, then vectorizing it in Illustrator for precise editing of shapes, colors, and details.