How to Learn InDesign: Level Up Your Digital Designs

For those who want to learn how to use applications such as Adobe Illustrator or Adobe Dimension, learning Adobe InDesign is likely on your to-do list. With InDesign being one of the top software applications for all sorts of digital designs, it is no surprise many people want to learn it.

In this guide, we have included all of the resources you will need to begin your InDesign learning journey. From in-person courses to online resources, there are many different ways for every different type of learner to succeed.

What Is InDesign?

Adobe InDesign is one of Adobe’s many Creative Cloud apps used for editing digital work. InDesign is currently considered to be the industry-leading app for creating layouts, page design, and various other digital creations.

InDesign allows you to create print and digital versions of everything from posters and business cards to ebooks and advertisements, all in one single app. The versatility of Indesign makes it one of the best apps to learn how to create digital art.

What Is InDesign Used For?

Since you can use InDesign to create so many different projects, it is no surprise to see it is used in a wide variety of industries. From graphic design to marketing to simply a hobby, InDesign is useful for pretty much anything.

• Graphic Design. If you want to learn how to become a graphic designer, you’ll want to learn how to use InDesign. Graphic designers use InDesign for creating and editing beautiful graphics.
• Artwork. It is becoming more and more common for people to create digital artwork and InDesign is a great way to do so. Whether it be custom commissions or simply creating art for fun, InDesign is one way to do it.
• Publishing. When publishing ebooks, many publishers use InDesign to create a custom page layout and edit what the book will look like in an online format. This is one of the best ways to ensure books maintain their aesthetic.
• Marketing. One of the best digital marketing tools you can have under your belt is expertise in Adobe InDesign. Most of the best digital marketing courses will teach you how to use InDesign, as it is such an essential aspect of digital marketing.

InDesign Skills

All InDesign professionals will agree that there are a few absolutely essential skills to learn in InDesign. No matter what version of InDesign you end up using, you will agree that learning these skills is crucial to using the app.

Creating Text

Since InDesign is often used to create advertisement materials such as brochures and business cards, it is absolutely essential to learn how to create text in InDesign. By learning this skill, you will be able to complete any design you can think of.

While this is one of the most basic skills to learn, there are layers to creating text. As you begin to master this skill, you will be able to create different fonts, sizes, and even text frames to add that pop to your designs.

Creating Frames and Shapes

Frames and shapes are crucial to any photo or image-based designs, and any experienced InDesign user will tell you to learn how to create them. These tools can be used to create custom frames for your text, images, and shapes, as well as perfect shapes.

Using the option to create shapes rather than drawing them allows you to make clean, perfectly symmetrical designs. While many artists may prefer to draw everything instead of using the option to create shapes, this tool can be particularly useful for business marketing.

Change Size and Orientation of Pages

Since many desktop publishing agencies use InDesign templates to create the best ebook page layout and orientation, it is no surprise that being able to change the size and orientation of pages is an essential skill. 

This is one of the basic skills, but again, one of the most important. Being able to quickly and easily edit the format of your pages is useful in many designs, but particularly so for publishers working on ebooks.

Learning InDesign

If you want to learn to design illustrations and graphics in InDesign, you’ve come to the right place. There are many different ways to learn how to use the Adobe Creative Cloud app, and we cover each way in this guide.

Whether you learn best through watching InDesign tutorials, reading books, or enrolling in courses, we have your back. While we recommend combining as many of these ways as possible, you can create whatever learning path works best for you.

How Long Does It Take to Learn InDesign?

There really is no set timeframe to learn InDesign, as it all depends on you and how you plan to learn. For those who are able to study for six to eight hours a day, InDesign can be mastered in just a month or so.

For others, who have commitments preventing them from studying as often, it may take a few months to learn InDesign. It simply depends upon you, your schedule, and how determined you are to learn.

How to Learn InDesign: Step-by-Step

Even though there are many different paths you can take to learn InDesign, this step-by-step guide provides a good base for any way of learning. You can modify these steps as much or as little as you want to fit your learning style. 

1. Purchase and Install Software Application. As with all of the Adobe applications, the first step to learning InDesign. While you can begin by using the free trials version, you may find yourself struggling to continue learning without access to the full version when you need it.
2. Watch Adobe Tutorials. After you have downloaded the software application, you will want to begin watching the Adobe certified tutorials on Adobe’s website. These tutorials will walk you through the basics of the app.
3. Take InDesign Classes. We know not everyone is interested in taking classes to learn the application, but enrolling in even just one or two can make a huge difference. Whether you prefer in-person or online, taking a class can speed up your learning.
4. Read Books. Reading books about Adobe InDesign in your free time is an awesome way to learn the app. There are many books out there to help you out, and they have information useful to both beginners and experts.
5. Practice, practice, practice. Especially when it comes to design apps, the best way to master the software is to practice. The more you practice, the better you will become.

The Best InDesign Courses and Training

Taking a few InDesign classes can make a huge difference in learning to master the app. Whether you prefer in-person, online, or even free courses, we have picked out a few of your favorites to help you on your journey.

Best In-Person InDesign Classes

Those who enjoy learning in a face-to-face or one-on-one environment tend to best in in-person courses. While these are only a couple of options, they are our top picks and will definitely give you the start you need.

Adobe InDesign Training (2 parts)

• Provider: New Horizons Computer Learning Centers- Arizona, California, Nevada, & Utah
• Time: 2 days each (4 days total)
• Prerequisites: None
• Cost: $790 each

New Horizons Computer Learning Centers offer Adobe InDesign Training at all of their various locations throughout Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah. This training is broken up into 2 different courses meant to be taken in succession.

Each half of this training program takes two days to complete and costs $790. These courses can be taken in a group or on your own, making it good for both individuals and companies trying to learn InDesign.

InDesign Bootcamp

• Provider: American Graphics Institute- Various Locations
• Time: January 11, 2021 – January 14, 2021 (4 days)
• Prerequisites: None
• Cost: $1,390

The American Graphics Institute offers an InDesign Bootcamp at many locations across the United States. For $1390, you can enroll in this four-day bootcamp and become an Adobe InDesign expert.

For those who are unable to attend any of these in-person courses, the American Graphics Institute also offers this bootcamp virtually. This version follows the exact same curriculum as the in-person bootcamp by using a live, instructor-led format.

Best Online InDesign Courses

For those who have busier schedules or simply prefer learning at their own pace, from their own homes, online courses are a fantastic option. These are some of our favorite online InDesign courses.

Adobe InDesign CC- Essentials Training Course

• Provider: Udemy
• Prerequisites: None
• Cost: $129.99

Udemy is well-known for offering fantastic tech-related courses, so it is no surprise to see this course make our favorites list. For $139.99, this Adobe InDesign CC- Essential Training Course is perfect for beginners.

During this course, you will not only learn the basic skills needed to master InDesign, but also create 5 new projects to add to your portfolio. With 7 hours of on-demand video and access to course materials for a lifetime, this is one course you don’t want to miss out on.

InDesign Secrets

• Provider: InLearning
• Time: Ongoing Series
• Prerequisites: None
• Prerequisites: None Linkedin InLearning Membership

Through Linkedin’s InLearning, you can enroll in a unique course called InDesign Secrets. This course is available for free for one month during a membership trial or can be accessed whenever with an InLearning membership.

The unique feature of this course is that it is ongoing, and new lessons are added weekly. The course instructors are constantly looking for new tips and tricks to teach students enrolled in the course, making this a useful course for even the most versed InDesign users to take.

Best Free InDesign Courses

Who doesn’t love a free class? Especially for those learning InDesign for hobby work rather than paid work, we understand how important free classes are, so we have rounded up a few of our favorites.

Adobe InDesign Made Easy

• Provider: Udemy
• Time: 11 hours
• Prerequisites: None
• Cost: Free

Created for those just beginning to use InDesign, this Udemy course covers the basics and few more complex techniques in an easy-to-follow manner. Focusing specifically on how to design page layouts and formatting, this course is an awesome resource for beginners.

Consisting of 11 hours of on-demand video, this course can easily be taken at your own pace. While the course itself is free, you can pay for a version of the course that offers instructor Q&A and a certificate of completion.

Brochure Design Using Adobe InDesign

• Provider: Udemy
• Time: 1 hour
• Prerequisites: None
• Cost: Free

For those wanting to learn more specific skills in InDesign, this Udemy course is a fantastic option. Offered completely free, this Brochure Design Using Adobe InDesign course is meant for beginners and promises a completed project by the end of the course.

Since this course consists of a one-hour long video, it can easily be completed in one day. For those who are interested in other designs, this course can still be useful, as the brochure template is easily transferable to posters, flyers, and magazine pages.

Best InDesign Books

Reading books may seem like the old-fashioned way of learning, but it is definitely a great way for many to learn. By picking up a book every once in a while or even reading two or three a week, you can become an InDesign master in no time.

Adobe InDesign CC Classroom in a Book, Kelly Anton and Tina DeJarld

An installment of the Classroom in a Book series, Adobe InDesign CC is a textbook-style guide to learning InDesign. This book provides a learning experience akin to being in a college course, but without the price of tuition and college fees. Written by two Adobe InDesign experts, Kelly Anton and Tine DeJarld, this book is sure to answer all of the questions you may have about learning the application.

InDesign CS5 for Dummies, Galen Gruman

We all love a classic For Dummies book, and even more so when it covers a subject you are trying to learn. InDesign CS5 for Dummies is a fantastic addition to the For Dummies franchise, as it is written by InDesign expert Galen Gruman. 

While reading this book, you will learn all about InDesign’s most important tools and features. Though this book was written with beginners in mind, more experienced users may also find a few bits of information previously unknown to them in this book.

Adobe InDesign CC: A Complete Course and Compendium of Features, Stephen Laskevitch

In Stephen Laskevitch’s Adobe InDesign CC: A Complete Course and Compendium of Features, you will learn all about how to use Adobe InDesign to create book publications. Written with publishers in mind, this book serves as the ultimate guide to creating the best page design for your book, whether it be an ebook or printed publication.

Best Online InDesign Resources

For anyone who uses InDesign, whether you are just learning or well on your way to becoming an expert, you can never have too many resources. These online resources are great for learning, refreshing your knowledge, or even just for ideas.

SkillShare

SkillShare is an awesome resource for those interested in learning pretty much anything, as there are a plethora of tutorials available about almost anything you can imagine. While you do have to pay for most of the tutorials about InDesign, they are highly rated and contain everything from how to learn basic skills to advanced technique training.

Adobe

When using any Adobe product, you will definitely want to use their official website when you have questions. With tutorials, a user manual, and various other resources available, the Adobe website is the perfect place to learn InDesign. By watching their tutorials to learn the basics or double-checking the user manual to answer a specific question, you are sure to find useful information here.

Lynda

Lynda is a newer installment from Linkedin, and many Adobe users swear by it for learning Adobe applications. Though the courses and tutorials do have a price, you can enroll in a membership and receive all of the courses you ever wanted. For those who are a bit unsure of paying for a membership, you can enroll in a free trial for one month and make a decision after the month is up.

Should You Study InDesign?

Whether you are an artist looking for a new way to create digital art or a publisher trying to best format the pages and design of ebooks, Adobe InDesign is the app for you. There are always going to be other options, but seeing as InDesign is the industry-leading application for creating these designs, you can’t go wrong.

So, to make a long answer short, here at Career Karma we highly encourage you to study InDesign. It may take some time to learn, but by enrolling in various courses, reading books, and taking advantage of the available online resources, you can master this app with ease.