Page Design and Layout Basics

Whether you're absolutely new to page design or have some experience, it's always helpful to spend some time thinking about how to approach putting together a publication. In this training, we'll explore how to build an engaging publication for print and digital media. We'll also explore page design principles and layout techniques, while learning more about the art and science of page design.

This course won Best in Category: Instructional Materials in the 2017 ACM SIGUCCS Communication Awards.

Learning Objectives

Explore a workflow that will help you get started with the design process
Gain a basic understanding of publishing terminology
Explore page layout principles that will help you design an effective publication
Learn best practices of working with color, images and typography in a publication

Prerequisite Skills

Basic computing skills, such as using a mouse and a keyboard
Basic file management and organization skills

For a more in-depth look at the content of Page Design and Layout Basics, view the title contents below.

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Important note for participants not affiliated with IU

This course contains training material only.
Participants who are not affiliated with Indiana University will need your own access to installed and licensed software, according to the training topic. This will allow you to follow along and participate in the hands-on exercises.
If you do not have access to the needed software, you can still enroll in the online course and read the course content.

More information about this course

This online course is free to everyone and available for enrollment through IU Expand.

This course consists of a series of short lessons, examples, demonstrations, practice quizzes, and hands-on exercises.

To complete the course content, you will need:

a web browser and internet access to use the course material on IU Expand.
a copy of the software relevant to the training installed on your computer.

Page Design and Layout Basics Contents

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Explore the contents of Page Design and Layout Basics:

Learn more about the design process, and how to best get started.

See the full content for Getting Started with the Design Process.

Knowing the audience and message for your publication will help clarify the goal of a design.

See the full content for Clarify the Goal of the Publication.

Collect resources to assist in the design process.

See the full content for Gather Resources.

Incorporating design principles will help when creating a publication.

See the full content for Incorporate Essential Design Principles.

Contrast focuses on making page elements stand out from each other in some way.

See the full content for Contrast.

Proportion refers to using size to emphasize importance of page elements.

See the full content for Proportion.

Direction refers to leading readers through the page by using strategically placed page elements to lead their eye through the content.

See the full content for Direction.

Proximity refers to keeping related items together on a page, to help make it easier for readers to process information.

See the full content for Proximity.

Repeating design elements throughout a publication helps keep things looking consistent and ties the publication together.

See the full content for Repetition.

Exercising restraint when designing is important, in order to avoid overwhelming readers.

See the full content for Restraint.

Paying attention to detail is crucial when designing a layout.

See the full content for Attention to Detail.

Learn how to make images more attention-getting, and how to use them to enhance a publication.

See the full content for Working with Images.

Color plays an important role in designing a layout, and can help set the tone for a publication.

See the full content for Working with Color.

Check for additional layout details that might have been missed in the design process.

See the full content for Other Layout Details to Pay Attention To.

Additional guidelines to help in the design process.

See the full content for Finally, Before You Design....

Find resources for designing publications in this section, including font resources, color palette designers, books, and additional information that may help in the design process.

See the full content for Resources for Designing Publications.

Glossary of design terms used in Page Design and Layout Basics.

See the full content for Design Terms.

Developer credits and references for Page Design and Layout Basics.

See the full content for Credits and References.

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