How Difficult is it to Learn InDesign?

For the last twenty-four years, Adobe InDesign has been the premier tool for designing layouts for print publications like newspapers and magazines. One of the reasons for its popularity is that Adobe has frequently been iterating on the program to make it as accessible and user-friendly as possible.

This doesn’t mean that there aren’t challenges to learning InDesign, but there are a number of resources available to help overcome these challenges. Live, hands-on training is the most in-depth way to learn the program, especially for those who aspire to work in a creative industry, but there are a number of other options available to students who are less certain that they want to make graphic design their career.

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?

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.

What Are the Most Challenging Parts of Learning InDesign?

Learning InDesign can be difficult for students unfamiliar with page layout and design. Given that it is a creative design tool, the program can only do so much to help facilitate users' creativity. Therefore, students without a background in graphic design may find themselves intimidated by a program full of tools that they aren’t sure what to use for. This can be addressed with a little training and education, but it may be an early roadblock for students who are new to graphic design.

Also, while Adobe InDesign is an industry-standard creative design tool, there are still alternate options for students to learn, particularly if they are hoping to make visual designs professionally. Students may find it difficult to parse which of the programs is right for them.

How Does Learning InDesign Compare to Other Applications/Languages/Fields?

Although it is an industry-standard tool for designing page layouts, new users may wish to consider alternatives to InDesign. There are many alternative options available, such as Xara Page & Layout Designer, VivaDesigner, or Affinity Publisher. All of these programs have similar features and options, though some are designed with professional publishers in mind, like Affinity Publisher. This means that some of the programs may be less beginner-friendly than Adobe since they are designed with a specific, skilled clientele in mind.

Like many other Adobe Creative Cloud applications, the biggest advantage that InDesign offers is its ease of integration with other Adobe programs. Since very few Graphic Designers only use InDesign, they will likely be using other graphic design software during their usual work, which usually means using other Adobe programs. Since each program has become industry-standard, one of the largest advantages of using InDesign is how easily it works with other programs users are already likely to be familiar with.

The high monthly cost of InDesign is another issue that users may want to consider. InDesign is a more expensive program than many of its alternatives, particularly for users who are licensing the full suite on their own. Free alternatives, like Scribus and a paired-down version of VivaDesigner, are available. In addition, many alternatives to InDesign don’t use a subscription model and can be purchased directly, though this means the upfront cost is going to be a bit higher.

Theories of Composition

Students who aren’t familiar with theories of composition and graphic design may wish to consider looking for training seminars, such as those offered by Noble, which include lessons on the basic philosophies of graphic design. Graphic design is about communicating ideas with text and visual imagery, and effective graphic design will make use of theories of color, composition, and typography. Students may find that learning these skills will help them better understand the functions of InDesign.

Learn InDesign with Hands-on Training at 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.