Learning InDesign helps professionals develop a number of skills in layout, print, and digital design that can be applied to a number of careers and personal pursuits. An important factor that goes into deciding to learn a new skill is researching complementary and related skills. Doing so will help you make more informed decisions about what you want to learn, and it will help you decide whether or not learning a specific skill is the right decision for you. You will also learn what kind of skills you may want to learn to complement your training later on. Read on to learn more about related InDesign training options such as web design, user interface (UI) design, digital design, and social media marketing.

What is InDesign?

Released in 1999, Adobe InDesign is the industry standard in page layout design software, and it is one of the software programs that comprise the Adobe Creative Cloud. Together with Photoshop and Illustrator, InDesign is one of the most commonly used creative design tools across a number of industries, ranging from publishing to graphic design. Built to streamline the process of designing page layouts for books and magazines, InDesign has a plethora of uses that make it a versatile tool for many creative endeavors. As part of a heavily integrated array of creative tools, Adobe InDesign gives creatives the chance to create compelling and vibrant page layouts.

Unlike its sister programs, Illustrator and Photoshop, InDesign serves a specific but vital function, building page layouts. Creatives will use InDesign to build prototype layouts for everything from brochures to web pages, and the program has tools for populating those prototypes with graphics, texts, and even interactive elements. While it is primarily used in traditional print media, InDesign is seeing increasing use in the digital sphere, such as the world of ePublishing and website design.

Read more about what InDesign is and why you should learn it.

What Can You Do with InDesign Skills?

Adobe InDesign allows users to create vibrant and memorable design layouts that can be used for anything from print advertisements to promotional brochures to newsletters and magazines. Almost any print layout can be built with InDesign, and the tool is often used to help Web Designers produce mock-ups of web pages. Users can add text, color, and images to their layouts to ensure they communicate what they are trying to communicate. InDesign also lets users easily create templates or replicate pages to streamline the multi-page design process.

InDesign also has numerous non-professional uses for users who are hoping to create eye-catching posters, infographics, or flyers for their own organizations or communities. Visual design skills can help users share information in memorable and effective ways, and learning InDesign will help anyone hoping to communicate with the masses. Additionally, many small businesses or private commercial organizations like Etsy shops or local bands can greatly benefit from having individuals on staff with InDesign training, as the program helps non-professionals make professional-grade graphic page layouts.

Additionally, because InDesign is so closely integrated with the rest of the Adobe Creative Cloud, users who are familiar with other programs can seamlessly integrate their work in other programs into their layout designs. Photos and illustrations can be edited or created in Photoshop and Illustrator and then easily brought over in InDesign to populate a layout. Users can also transfer work between InDesign and XD to help build prototype web layouts. These connections help expand the functionality of all Adobe Creative Cloud applications.

Skills Related to InDesign

After learning InDesign, should you choose to pursue a different career than originally intended, your skills can easily be applied in another direction. Experts in InDesign can continue to develop their skills and pursue careers in areas such as graphic design, web design, and marketing. 

Graphic Design

Graphic design is the art of combining layout, images, and text to convey a message. Graphic design elements can be digital or print and involve projects such as infographics, branding assets, billboards, posters, packaging, flyers, catalogs, and advertisements. Graphic Designers use InDesign to design page layouts and fit designs to various screen sizes. Graphic Designers work in industries such as creative services, marketing, advertising, publishing, public relations, and manufacturing.

InDesign professionals interested in developing graphic design skills can attend Noble Desktop’s Graphic Design Certificate. Students learn essential graphic design concepts along with InDesign and other Adobe tools. The course also includes a portfolio workshop to showcase your work to prospective employers. 

Layout Design

Layout design is similar to graphic design in that both fields work with text, images, and shapes to convey messages. However, while Graphic Designers usually seek to create messages through singular images or canvases, Layout Designers build navigational layouts that convey messages to users on how to perform actions or locate information. They use InDesign as well as additional Adobe creative software such as Photoshop and Illustrator. They may also use additional tools such as Figma for building wireframes and prototypes. Layout Designers can work in fields such as publishing, graphic design, product design, digital development, or web development. 

Layout design is a practice commonly used by UI Designers, who design layouts and navigation for users of a website or digital application. If you’re interested in learning layout design, you can attend Noble Desktop’s UI Design Certificate. Students learn essential layout design concepts as well as Adobe design tools and Figma. The program includes a portfolio workshop to showcase your work to prospective employers. 

Digital Design

Digital design is similar to graphic design. The main difference between the two is that digital design commonly involves movement through animations and interactive elements. Digital Designers essentially work with elements of both graphic and layout design. They also use similar tools, including Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, and Figma. Digital Designers work in industries such as film, revision, web design, gaming, social media, and animation.

Noble Desktop offers a Digital Design Certificate. You’ll learn essential graphic design concepts and how to apply those concepts to interactive layouts. You’ll also learn the necessary Adobe tools along with Figma. A similar field, motion graphics design, applied digital design concepts to video. If this sounds intriguing to you, check out the Motion Graphics Certificate.

Web Design

Web design includes elements of graphics, layout, and digital design to build effective web pages. Web Designers may use Adobe tools such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign to create graphics to enhance the visual aesthetic of their website. Graphics can also enhance navigational elements such as buttons or menus. Skills in Figma and layout design also aids Web Designers in building effective web page layout and navigations. In addition, web designers need to know programming languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. They work in industries such as publishing, advertising, design, and computer systems.

Noble Desktop’s Web Design Certificate teaches essential design concepts as well as web coding and Figma. Students also learn how to build web pages with WordPress and how to customize layouts with their knowledge of coding. The certificate includes a portfolio workshop to showcase your work to prospective employers.

Social Media Marketing

Social media marketing is the practice of using social media to market a business and grow an audience. Social Media Marketers create marketing campaigns using a variety of media including videos, paid ads, and graphics, among others. They’ll employ a number of social media websites, such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok. InDesign plays an important role in laying out graphics and images and formatting content to the unique requirements of each social media platform.

Noble Desktop offers a Social Media Marketing Certificate that teaches students how to market across various social platforms. Although the certificate doesn’t teach Adobe programs, skills gained through InDesign and other Adobe software can be applied to the marketing strategies learned. The certificate includes a portfolio workshop as well as guidance on how to optimize your LinkedIn and other social media profiles to stand out against the competition.

Digital Marketing

Digital marketing involves promoting a business or campaign through any digital platform. This includes social media, mobile devices, websites, SEO, paid advertisements, email marketing, and other strategies. As with social media marketing, InDesign allows marketers to layout content and format that content to the unique requirements of each digital platform. Device optimization is essential to digital marketing as mobile, desktop, and tablet screens all have different specifications that must be catered to. Without careful formatting, one design will look different on each device. InDesign helps take the guesswork out of device optimization.

Noble Desktop’s Digital Marketing Certificate teaches digital marketing strategies for social media platforms, email, and SEO. Although the certificate doesn’t teach Adobe programs, skills gained through InDesign and other Adobe software can be applied to the marketing strategies learned. The certificate includes a portfolio workshop as well as guidance on how to optimize your LinkedIn and other social media profiles to stand out against the competition.

Learn InDesign Skills with Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop offers a wide range of training options for students seeking to learn Adobe InDesign. Ranging from introductory courses such as InDesign in a Day to immersive career training programs like the Graphic Design Certificate program, Noble has a training program built to fit your needs. These courses are all taught by professional instructors with years of training as both teachers and graphic designers. Each course comes with the option to retake the course for free within a year of the initial enrollment, meaning that students have the option to take the courses again in order to receive more hands-on experience with InDesign or to gain more training in skills that they found difficult the first time through.

The Adobe InDesign Bootcamp gives students hands-on experience working with InDesign through exercises that mirror the kinds of projects that professional Graphic Designers would work on. Students will learn how to create layouts with InDesign’s text, color, and graphic tools, they will learn how to import formats and styles to easily build layouts, and they will learn how to work with parent pages to easily create complex, multi-page designs for projects like brochures and magazines. This course is ideal for students who want to learn the advanced features of InDesign within a professional context. At the end of this bootcamp, students will be prepared to use InDesign as part of their professional lives, and they will be able to demonstrate to their employers that they have received in-depth InDesign training.

Noble’s Graphic Design Certificate program takes this InDesign training and pairs it with career-focused training in Photoshop and Illustrator. Students will learn the background of graphic design, receiving training in philosophies of composition, color theory, and typography. Then, they will learn how to use Illustrator and Photoshop to create digital illustrations and assets that can be imported to InDesign to populate finished page layouts. Bringing these programs together, the Graphic Design Certificate program is built to take students from novice users to trained designers, aiming to help them find a new career once they’ve completed the course. This certificate program also provides students with one-on-one career mentoring so that when the course is complete, graduates will be ready to enter the workforce as Graphic Designers.

Key Takeaway

• InDesign skills apply to a number of industries and related fields.
• InDesign professionals can choose to pursue a variety of careers, including:
• graphic design - using text and visual elements to convey a message
• digital design - creating animations and interactive elements for digital media
• layout design - creating the layout and navigational elements of a website to lead the user and convey information
• website design - creating the graphic and interactive elements of a website
• social media marketing - promotion through social media platforms
• digital marketing - promotion through all digital platforms, including social media, SEO, and email, among others
• You can receive comprehensive InDesign training through Noble Desktop, either in person or online.