InDesign is a productivity software used to design layouts for print and digital designs such as websites, digital interfaces, print media, and advertisements. Learning InDesign improves skills in graphic, digital, and layout design. Once you’ve decided to learn InDesign, the next important question is deciding how it is you plan to learn these skills. Most students find that they learn better when they receive guided training and there is no shortage of available options for students to receive guidance in their InDesign training. To learn more about the different InDesign training options, and what advantages and disadvantages they carry with them, read on.

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.

Why Training Format Matters

There is no singular method for learning InDesign. In fact, there are different training formats for learning any new topic or skill. No one training format is inherently better than the other, and prospective students need to consider each one. Your individual schedule, learning style, and training goals will greatly influence the format that’s right for you. 

Types of Training Formats

The three types of training formats include live online, in-person, and on-demand. Each training format comes with its own perks and drawbacks. Overall, live online and on-demand classes are the most accessible training options. However, in-person classes are generally considered to be the most personable and interactive.

Live In-Person Classes

There are a number of perks to in-person training. Physical classrooms can eliminate the distractions a student might find when learning online from home. A physical classroom also offers more direct engagement with the instructor. Some students may feel more inclined to ask for help, or it may be easier for a teacher to identify when a student is struggling. This type of environment also allows students to engage with and learn from each other more directly.

There are a number of in-person InDesign training options. These classes are short, often lasting only a day, and teach both beginner and advanced techniques. Noble Desktop’s InDesign in a Day covers all of the techniques a beginner to the program needs to know to use it confidently. This course can be taken in person in NYC or live online.

Live Online Classes

The main perk of live online training is its availability. Students can learn from anywhere they find convenient, provided they have a reliable internet connection. This removes the commute time from a student's schedule and allows them to learn in an environment they find comfortable. Online courses also often offer more flexible programs than in-person classrooms, which work well for parents and workers with busy schedules. In terms of engagement, live online classes replicate physical classrooms with hands-on projects and live instructors and students interacting together in real time.

There are a number of live online InDesign training options. Available classes teach both beginner and advanced techniques. Noble Desktop’s InDesign courses can be taken in person in NYC or live online from anywhere. The InDesign in a Day course covers all the essentials of the program for beginners.

On-Demand Classes

On-demand classes are best for students who prefer to learn at their own pace or have work or family obligations that prevent them from attending the regularly scheduled classes featured in live online or in-person training. Students have more freedom to learn as they wish but lack an instructor for guidance or peers to interact with. Self-motivation is required to progress through the material. However, when compared to self-learning, on-demand classes present students with training materials to work through so they don’t have to hunt for the proper training tools on their own. 

Free Courses

It’s possible to learn InDesign through free courses online. Free classes are ideal for beginner learners to gain an overview of a topic and gauge their interest. Free courses are found through skill-sharing websites such as Youtube, Coursera, or Udemy. In these courses, you’ll find overviews of InDesign as well as task-specific videos, such as how to add interactive elements, format layouts for particular platforms, and optimize for different devices.

However, free courses often teach older versions of InDesign programs. While most of InDesign’s features are consistent through subsequent iterations, newer versions may possess previously unseen features or place features in different menu locations. It can also be impossible to verify whether the information presented in these courses is correct. While free online classes can be valuable starting points and cost-effective for beginners, they aren’t ideal for professionals looking to learn comprehensive InDesign skills to advance their careers. 

Noble Desktop offers an InDesign Learn hub, which provides free resources for individuals wanting to learn InDesign both for skill and career development.

Depth of Training Formats

Which type of training you decide to pursue depends largely on your interests and training goals. Should you pursue instructor-led training, there are a few different types of classes to be found. These include certificate programs, bootcamps, and introductory courses. In general, certificate programs are designed to prepare you for a career, bootcamps feature comprehensive training in one specific skill, and introductory courses are meant to teach beginners the basics.

Certificate Programs

Certificate programs generally last a few weeks to a month or two. Courses are open to pure beginners and are designed to give students the skills and knowledge needed to pursue an entry-level position in their chosen field. Courses feature instruction on industry concepts and tools. They also offer career preparation through one-on-one mentorship and portfolio workshops. The cost of certificate programs varies between institutions and the depth of curriculum provided. However one can generally expect courses to cost a few thousand dollars.

Noble Desktop offers a number of certificate programs related to careers that necessitate training in InDesign. Courses such as the Graphic Design Certificate and the Digital Design Certificate both teach InDesign along with Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. Students learn foundational design concepts to set them toward a new career. Students interested in applying these concepts to a career as a User Interface Designer can learn Adobe programs and industry concepts in the UI Design Certificate.

Students interested in pursuing marketing should consider the Social Marketing Certificate that teaches marketing strategies for social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok. They may also be interested in the Digital Marketing Certificate that combines social media marketing strategies along with other digital marketing techniques such as email marketing, paid advertisements, and SEO. Although these two certificates don’t teach InDesign, skills gained through InDesign and other Adobe software can be applied to the marketing strategies learned. 

Training Bootcamps

Training bootcamps are shorter than certificate programs and generally last a few days to a few weeks, depending on the topic’s complexity. Courses are open to beginners and designed to guide students from beginner concepts to advanced skills. The cost of bootcamps varies between institutions and the depth of curriculum provided. In general, bootcamps are cheaper than certificate programs, and training in singular topics usually costs hundreds of dollars or around $1,000.

Noble Desktop’s Adobe InDesign Bootcamp guides students from beginner to advanced techniques. Students learn how to style text, import photos and graphics, add multiple pages for large projects such as books and magazines, prepare files for printing or PDF conversion, and much more.

Introductory Courses

Introductory courses are the shortest of the training class types. Depending on a topic's complexity, they generally last only a day or a few more. Courses are open to pure beginners and are intended to teach students the basic concepts of a topic or application. These courses are ideal for students who want to introduce themselves to a topic before pursuing additional training or otherwise only need to learn the essentials. The cost of introductory courses varies between institutions and the depth of curriculum provided, but in general, it can be expected to cost around a few hundred dollars.

Noble Desktop offers InDesign in a Day where students learn the fundamentals of how to layout pages with text, graphics, and colors.

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 Insights

• There are various training methods and types for learning InDesign.
• In-person training is interactive but also includes costly commutes and fixed schedules.
• Live online training offers similar interactivity as in-person training without the commute. Scheduling is also usually more flexible.
• On-demand training is best for busy students who can commit to fixed schedules. Students learn on their own time but lack instructors or peers for guidance. 
• Free courses can be outdated but are still great resources for beginner learners. 
• Certificate programs are designed for students looking to start new careers. They are the longest and most costly training types and often include career assistance.
• Bootcamps are designed to comprehensively teach one topic from basic to advanced skills.
• Introductory courses are the shortest and least expensive training type. They are ideal for students only looking to learn fundamental concepts.
• You can receive comprehensive InDesign training through Noble Desktop in person or online.