Today, we’re going to take a few minutes to talk about the new online learning platform Learn Squared.
You may have seen our previous interview with art director and motion graphics designer Ash Thorp. Thorp has had a rich career designing graphics and directing artists for major Hollywood films, video games, and advertisements. He also hosts an artist-centered podcast called The Collective.
But one of the more interesting things that Ash Thorp has been involved with recently is Learn Squared. If you read our Thorp interview, you know that Learn Squared is an online platform where renowned digital artists in a number of disciplines teach other renowned artists from different fields their techniques.
This approach to teaching and learning allows for a much more diverse program, perspective, and outcome. As the Learn Squared page quotes…
“We aim to demonstrate the idea that everybody starts somewhere.”
So, let’s take a deeper look at the programs offered on Learn Squared so far, the types of instructors involved, and what some of the students have had to say about the experience.
The Learn Squared Platform
Learn Squared offers a number of courses by industry-leading artists like motion graphics designer Ash Thorp, illustrator Tuna Bora, and photographer Zhang Jingna. Each course is taught by one instructor to another, giving a unique perspective to each class.
Courses include in-depth video tutorials and community access for sharing work and discussing topics. Additional options allow students to download files, and get insight into the learning process from the “apprentice”.
Additionally, a limited number of mentorship seats are available that include weekly live chat with the mentors, personalized feedback on student’s work, and more.
Each course on Learn Squared is offered with 3 pricing packages, so students can choose the level of immersion that works best for them.
The Basic course level comes with lifetime access to the course, video lessons, and a community pass to connect with other students and share work. This level is $100 per course.
For $200 per course, students can move to the Learn Squared level where they are given access to the “apprentice journey”, seeing exactly how the apprentice has learned from the course and the work they’ve completed. At this level, students also get to download files and have access to the mentorship archive.
The Professional level is where the personal mentorship comes in along with homework review, and this course level is priced at $1,000 per course. Although that might seem like a lot at first glance, the opportunity to have your work reviewed by a top-level industry professional can serve as an invaluable resource.
Currently, Learn Squared has 9 courses available for purchase, with the newest offerings starting in February.
One such offering is the Main Title Design course taught by co-founder Ash Thorp. This is Thorp’s main area of expertise, so it’s an opportunity to learn from one of the best in the business while also seeing how illustrator Tuna Bora handles the course and creates a unique vision of her own.
Results
The Twitterverse has been lively with praise for the offerings of Learn Squared. Here’s what some students have had to say about the process so far.
“Do it! You won’t regret it! Best $$$ I’ve spent on learning so far.” John Fischer
“I pretty much want to take all of their classes- Fellow #Artist folk check them out.” Mary Longshore
“I’m so in on this @learnsquared! If anything, just to watch Ash’s process. Can’t wait!!” Eric Bucy
If the rave Twitter reviews aren’t enough, seeing some of the work completed by students should give you a good idea of what can be expected and achieved with these courses. Here are a few of the “homework” assignments posted on Twitter from recent classes.
It looks like there might be a little of something for every level and every type of visual creative offered up at Learn Squared. With the apparent success in its opening months, it’s likely that many new courses will be rolling out in 2016, and many students will find a new set of skills and a new perspective on their approach to their art.
