After nearly 6 years of training thousands of designers around the world, Sketch Master will stop accepting new enrollments next week and will begin a gradual process of shutting down. Existing students will continue to have access to the courses for a while, and this page provides all the details about the transition.
Why is Sketch Master shutting down?
Simply put, Sketch Master is no longer sustainable. In recent years I’ve struggled to keep the three existing courses up to date with Sketch’s frequent software updates and, to a lesser extent, the updates Apple, Google, and others make to their operating systems and UI design resources. As a designer these updates delight me, but as a teacher they are unpredictable and daunting. Even if 95% of a curriculum is still relevant, one small change can require rewriting or re-recording dozens of meticulously-crafted videos—a process that can take up to 5 months per course. The undertaking is Sisyphean.
It’s challenging, humbling, and emotional to shut down a project I’ve poured so much of myself into. More than anything, I’m sad to let go of something that has facilitated so many connections to other creatives and life-long learners. From students in Singapore, web developers in Poland, illustrators in Colombia, design directors in Australia, and even Sketch’s own team members, I’ve been touched by the heartfelt stories from each person who emailed me about how much the training meant to them. I will miss seeing these in my inbox. The sadness is mixed with profound gratitude.
As my own design career has evolved, I’ve realized that moving on from Sketch Master will allow me to create new things that are even more impactful for fellow designers like you. So I will wind down the operation gradually and thoughtfully over the coming year.
What happens now?
Winding down Sketch Master will be a gradual transition.
The courses will continue to accept new students and sales for one more week—until April 18.
Existing students will continue to have access to the courses for one more year—through April 2023.
Certificates will continue to be available (at their same unique URLs) indefinitely. I understand that certificate links are often shared on résumés and social media, so I plan to maintain this service for many years to come.
Can I still access the course(s) I signed up for?
Yes. Existing students will continue to have access to the courses for one more year—through April 2023.
I recently bought the course(s)—can I get a refund?
Yes. If you bought one or more of the courses in the past 2 months and feel that you didn’t receive enough value from it, I will gladly send you a full refund. Just send me a message.
Can I download the videos and resources?
Yes. If you signed up for a course you can download each of its videos. Simply play a video, then click on the Share button at the bottom right (beside the timeline), then click Download.
If Sketch Master resonated with you, I know you’ll appreciate the projects I work on next. I’ve been designing my own typefaces, building a tool that allows type designers to better test their fonts, leading live virtual workshops about niche topics like Python Scripting for Type Design, and slowly gathering material for a book, workshop, or online course series about icon design. I also plan to publish more articles about design, creativity, and learning.
If these projects pique your curiosity, join my newsletter for periodic updates.
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for joining me on this journey. Because of you, Sketch Master grew beyond my wildest imagination, and now it’s time for us to outgrow it. As with any meaningful change in life, I’m a little sad, and also excited to find out what’s around the next bend.
Peter Nowell
Creator, Sketch Master
