How to find help learning how to layout a publication?

Tom Jenkins

This topic has 5 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 9 months ago by Janis Sharkey.

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- July 9, 2014 at 8:02 pm #69424
  
  Tom Jenkins
  Member
  
  I’m a recent marketing graduate and I now have a marketing internship. I am comfortable manipulating InDesign.
  
  I am really struggling with my projects. I have no idea what my publications should look like. Basically, I’m not sure what I should shoot for. I have tried re-creating other people’s work. it has not been helpful.
  
  I definitely don’t need the skill sets of a graphic designer. But, I would like to be comfortable laying out/designing brochures, flyers, pamphlets etc.
  
  Thank you in advance, I appreciate the help.
- July 10, 2014 at 6:51 am #69441
  
  David Blatner
  Keymaster
  
  Tom, I’m not sure if you’re asking how to design pieces or how to learn InDesign better to create the pieces? I usually do recommend re-creating other work to learn how to build it. What do you find has not been useful about that?
- July 11, 2014 at 6:07 pm #69479
  
  Tom Jenkins
  Member
  
  Thanks for the reply.
  
  I’m asking how to learn how to design pieces better. The biggest problem I have with my pieces is figuring out what I want the design to be.
  
  I think that when I tried to replicate other people’s work I may have bitten off more than I can chew. I am relatively new to InDesign and Photoshop.
  
  I am working on a piece that I hope to have done for work on Monday morning. Perhaps, I can post what I have so far and get some feedback. Is there any way for me to attach a file?
  - July 14, 2014 at 3:54 pm #69502
    
    Dwayne Harris
    Member
    
    Tom–it’s not so easy to answer your question. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Everyone has different ideas of what looks nice and what doesn’t. For example, at the company I work at, there are several of us who do pagination and layout. And we all do things a bit differently.
    
    You can’t attach or post a file directly to this forum, but if you have Drop Box or a 4Shared account or something, you can upload it there, and then post the link to your file here.
- July 13, 2014 at 8:27 am #69488
  
  Bonnie Barrett
  Member
  
  Graphic design is a complex skill that will take time to master.
  If you are in a pinch, I recommend using a pre-designed template.
  If you want to study design on your own, you can subscribe to Lynda.com where there are many hours of expert instruction on both the technical and artistic aspects of graphic design.
- July 18, 2014 at 12:23 pm #69564
  
  Janis Sharkey
  Member
  
  A practical suggestion is to design not for yourself, but for your reader. That will help you decide how innovative or staid your piece can be, what size type you use, etc. You don’t have to recreate other designer’s work, but you can take note of the “rules” they each use. Coming up with your own design rules will then help simplify your task each time you have to do it. There are many books and ebooks on the principals of good design. Take a look at some of them.
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