I have taken several hands on classes from Ascend (at the Deerfield location) and have been very impressed on all levels. They are very organized - class descriptions and schedules are online, clear & accurate. The registration process is easy. Questions about courses/registrations are answered thoroughly & promptly. Class sizes are kept small to allow greater instructor/student interactions. Instructors have unfailingly queried the attendees to determine if there are specific areas of interest among students and done their best to accommodate those areas within the scope of the class. Instructors often went above & beyond and spent portions of break/lunches helping students. The quality of instruction is very high. Instructors I have interacted with (Flash, Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver) have all been top notch - extremely knowledgeable and also excellent at presenting/explaining the materials. Course formats are project based so you actually build skills thorough working with the software. Course materials are of a high quality & serve as excellent post-class references. The 6 month retake policy is almost too good to be true - definitely use it to refresh/learn more from any class(es) you take. Although I have not taken advantage of it yet, Ascend organizes users groups & other events that look interesting. Ascend Training offers an excellent value for learning new software or expanding your skills in existing programs. read more

I recently took a mobile apps (Apr 2012), iPhone XCode Objective-C Class at Ascend on Michigan Ave. Staff: The instructor Gene Backlin is an instructor at DePaul, and has written several books on the subject, and was a wealth of knowledge. Jori and the staff were extremely welcoming, and friendly. Location: The location is easy to get to by all forms of transportation, and is in a historical building on the 4th floor, with a lot of charm and history, There is an outdoor terrace, and a nice spread of snacks, bagels, donuts, coffee, tea etc. The atmosphere is great, it has a good vibe. There are 3 training rooms. We ate lunch in the Artists Cafe which was convenient, and had great food! Equipment: Our room had all brand new iMacs, top of the line swivel chairs, and a modern projector. It was a great environment to learn. Benefits: For the class I took there was a 4 month retake policy, so you can re-take the class for no charge if you have the need! Conclusion: I would highly recommend Ascend, I've been to other training facilities, and this is by FAR my favorite, the staff, the training, the atmosphere was five star!! Keep up the great work, you've really got a good thing going here. Thanks, Chuck. read more

I have attended at least 6 classes at Ascend in Deerfield, and have never been disappointed. They are flexible, and provide great hands-on training. Most classes I have attended have had an average of 5 students, so you get personal attention, have the opportunity to ask questions that pertain directly to you and how you use the softwares in your business environment, learn shortcuts and tips & tricks that are simply not taught in books. The instructors are real-world designers with a wealth of knowledge, and if they cannot answer your question, they will find someone who can, all the way through Adobe Certified Masters. I love the free re-take policy, which allows me to learn the content, go back into the real world and use it, then come back again and ask questions that are specific to how I use the software, that maybe wasn't covered in class before. The coordinating staff who handles registration is friendly and welcoming, and for out-of-towners, this facility is far enough away from the hustle and bustle of the city, but with accommodations nearby for easy access to the training facility. read more

I publish a small reader magazine and was converting my program from Publisher and needed help to learn InDesign. I actually found the Ascend Training group on-line and took the Level 1 InDesign class. The class was excellent and gave me a good foundation to start working and practicing the components I learned. After a few months I definitely needed a refresher course and was able to attend a second, free class, ask my many questions and deepen my understanding of the program. I definitely recommend this program to others. While the training was not inexpensive, to be able to go back and take the 3 day class again, was well worth the initial expense. I traveled from a rural area in Indiana and Chicago was a little challenging to navigate if you don't live there. However, the Ascend Training facility was in the historic Fine Arts Building which was very convenient to the train and options for lunch. read more

I've been looking into training in the Adobe Creative Suite. My marketing team recommended Ascend Training as one of the best training courses out there. A co-worker attended a course there last year and said her instructor was very professional, informative and helpful. The atmosphere was great and she left with a world of new and useful information. She now runs our corporate website. I've looked into a few different training providers and Ascend Training is by-far the best I've come across. I look forward to attending a free seminar and then kick starting my introductory class. read more

I took the Intro to Flash class and learned a lot. Ron did a great job showing the capabilities of Flash and walking us through several exercises. He packed a lot of info into the three days, yet I never felt rushed. I liked the small class sizes, the staff was super friendly and helpful and the instructor encouraged us to email with any questions following the class. I also attend many of the free Adobe seminars, which are often led by Ascend instructors. The instructors are top-notch experts with real world experience, and I definitely plan to take more classes. read more

Ascend is hands down the best training for Adobe programs in Chicago. They are so friendly, helpful and incredibly knowledgeable. The class sizes are very small to accommodate questions and this helps create a more intimate learning environment. The facility is great, very nice and clean and accommodating. I took the introduction to InDesign and was creating professional fliers, proposal covers and wedding invitations the next day. I will be taking as many classes as I can over the next few months! Worth every penny. read more

I have taken several classes from Ascend Training, including one class twice (they offer FREE retakes!) and some of the free seminars (awesome topics!) they offer periodically. I always find myself learning SO much in a short period of time (it's amazing how much they cram into 3 days!). Their teachers and curriculum are super efficient at going in-depth into the world of adobe software, but they also aren't afraid to stop and answer your questions, since usually there are only 3-7 people in each class anyway. read more

Ascend really has it together, with whip smart instructors and thorough curriculum. I learned a lot, and highly recommend it for anyone wanting to learn virtually any technology. The only reason for a 4 star review is I wish they offered one on one training. Their classes are very regimented, and when I took a web design class I had a difficult time applying what I learned to my particular site. Never the less, it was money well spent and I have no complaints. Glad I found it! read more

Ascend Training and it's entire staff are terrific! They install confidence and the knowledge you need in the entire Adobe software family. Even though I may feel like I have a good handle on a particular program, they're always able to show you a new trick or short cut that opens up a whole new aspect I never knew! I would highly recommend Ascend Training to anyone who's looking to not only be efficient and confident in an Adobe program but dangerous too! Thank you Ascend! read more

I have taken 4 classes at Ascend and received fantastic training in InDesign and Illustrator. My teachers not only shared several tricks of the trade but also provided information regarding how to continue my education in Adobe products. I subsequently was able to become Certified in Adobe Illustrator CS4. I don't think that I would have been able to do that had I not taken the Ascend classes. Thank you Ascend!!! read more

Ascend training is highly effective. I, regularly, take and teach classes in digital media at the college level and am highly impressed with how so much information is so effectively taught (used, and understood) in such a short time frame. The instructors I have experienced are not only up to date with the software, but are wonderfully adept at teaching it in a student-centered, user-friendly environment. read more

I've taken many classes at Ascend and at other places. Although I live in Utah, I prefer Ascend training classes to every other training class I have taken and I will happily travel to Chicago for Ascend classes. The instructors are friendly and professional and seem to sincerely help the students master the material. I enjoy the environment and the classes. I can't wait to come to my next class! read more

I've attended several classes at Ascend but I've always taken advantage of going back to retake the classes. This is an absolutely fabulous perk that you can't find anywhere. And it really helps to reiterate all the info you learn. Also, have reached out to them for specific help and they are always there to help you find ways to solve your Adobe issues. They are all that and a bag of chips!! read more

I have attended a few trainings at Ascend and I have nothing but praise for the company. They are the total package: great customer service, great facility and most importantly great teachers. After each class I took I was able to take back what I learned and apply it to my job. I look forward to going back in the future. Keep up the great work. read more

Taken a number of classes in both locations. Great to have classes where you are actually working in the application during the training. Teachers are very knowledgeable, and often they can focus on topics especially relevant to the students attending that session. read more

I've taken several classes here in the last few years, and they really know what they are doing. I've learned more in the 2 day sessions than I've learned taking a 6 week class. Nice learning environment, great location and great staff. Two thumbs up! read more

Hey, I'm the Training Coordinator for Ascend--come check us out when you need a class in any of the Adobe Creative Suite 3 apps--we offer great classes in all the CS3 programs: InDesign, Dreamweaver, Flash, Photoshop, Illustrator, Flex, and others! read more

Attended a few free sessions that they offer and always find myself learning a ton. Great teachers who take the time to not just tell you the right way to do something, they show you how to do something the right way. Would recommend to anyone. read more