Adobe InDesign

Level(s) of Study: Short course
Course Fee:
£350
Start Date(s): 9 July 2026, 19 January 2027
Duration: 10 am - 4 pm, two days
Study Mode(s): Part-time
Campus: City Campus
Entry Requirements: More information

Introduction:

Course dates:

9 - 10 July 2026, Thursday and Friday 10 am - 4 pm, two days

19 - 20 January 2027, Tuesday and Wednesday 10 am - 4 pm, two days

Adobe InDesign is the industry standard software for creating layouts and page designs. It’s used to design a huge range of high quality documents across both digital and print media including book and magazine layouts, brochures, catalogues, flyers, interactive presentations, invitations, photo albums and many, many more.

This course will introduce you to the key functions of Adobe InDesign as well as teach you industry level tips, tricks and shortcuts from our expert tutors, so that you can really level up your design skills.

It's ideal for:

Marketers creating social media graphics, web banners, blog posts, brochures, flyers, posters, reports, email newsletters, presentations and digital portfolios.
Authors who want to design eye catching book layouts including covers and interior pages as well as interactive eBooks.
Wedding planners who want to offer beautiful invitations and wedding stationery, menus, custom photo books and albums.
Small business owners who want to design professional looking proposals and presentations, case studies, interactive sales brochures and infographics.

You’ll be part of a design community in our creative studio culture; one that promotes discussion and collaboration, and encourages experimentation and the constant swapping of ideas.
With a limited class size you'll have the one-to-one attention you need to ensure you leave with the skills to continue developing your portfolio.
Benefit from learning with an experienced tutor who has established links to the profession and significant experience working in varied practices.
On successful completion of the course, you will receive a digital certificate of attendance and a digital badge.

'I wanted to do this course to upskill in Adobe InDesign for my role in marketing, so we rely less on external agencies for small amends. I’ve learnt a lot and have a better understanding of Adobe InDesign. I can see how you can create a range of different marketing materials. I enjoyed learning about the real-life examples - it felt like I could apply it to my role.'

'I’ve learnt lots of skills, the teaching was excellent!'

What you’ll study

Through practical projects and demonstrations, you’ll develop your skills in the software to create visually interesting documents ready for print or to use online.

You’ll have dedicated, uninterrupted study time in our industry standard Mac suites, using the latest version of Adobe InDesign software.

understand the key role of Adobe InDesign among the other Adobe applications
understand key typography points and use of hierarchy
create files for digital and print outputs
learn about pages and create master pages and grids
understand the importance of the placement of artwork and text
get tips on key compositions
create typographic style sheets
practice populating a file with artwork and type using key features of Adobe InDesign
learn how to save and export files in various formats.

Tutor profile:

Emilie Machado is a Technical Specialist in Arts and Design at Nottingham Trent University, where she teaches Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop.

With over a decade of experience in digital design, her creative journey began in the fashion industry, specialising in high-performance activewear and product development.

Emilie brings real world insight and a hands-on approach to the classroom, and genuinely enjoys helping students grow in confidence and creativity.

Her teaching encourages exploration, critical thinking, and technical skill; unlocking the full potential of digital arts across all disciplines.

Iain Smith Dwight is a versatile designer who is well-versed in all areas of graphic communication.

Having worked within design agencies, in-house marketing teams and as a freelancer for 20 years, he’s successfully supported clients in achieving their commercial and creative goals in various sectors, including hospitality, higher education, technology, construction, entertainment and leisure, healthcare, retail, and more.

Iain has worked with some of the UK’s large production agencies such as Hogarth and Checkland Kindleysides.

His previous clients have included the United Nations, Global Partnership for Education, Apple, Premier League, Ofsted, NHS, Leftlion, Soul Buggin’, Co-op Heart of England, Experian, Nurture Fertility and several UK universities.

He is fully versed in Adobe Creative Suite which he’s been using across print and digital for 2 decades.

Iain holds a BA (Hons) in Graphic Communication from the University of Northampton and has been teaching graphic design skills on the NTU Fashion, Communication and Promotion degree course.

You can find his portfolio here: www.isddesign.co.uk

Careers and employability

Certificate of attendance and digital badge

Upon successful completion of the course, you will receive a digital certificate of attendance and a digital badge powered by Accredible.

Your digital credential is more than just a certificate – it’s secure, verifiable, and protected against fraud through encryption and blockchain technology.

They also come with detailed metadata, including an overview of the skills you have achieved on the course, evidence of completion, and assessment criteria if appropriate.

Share your achievements seamlessly with friends, customers, and potential employers online, and proudly add your badge or certificate to social media platforms such as LinkedIn, so all the right people can see it.

Campus and facilities

You will be based in the Nottingham School of Art and Design on the City Campus.

You’ll find collaborative working spaces where you develop your sketches and concepts, and Mac suites equipped with industry standard software and hardware including the latest version of Adobe Creative Cloud.

You will receive an email one week before the course starts with joining instructions on where to go for the first day.

You’ll also have access to our library to use outside of your short course; whilst you can’t reserve or take away books, you are welcome to use them as a resource for research and referencing.

Entry requirements

Level: Beginner

Entry requirement: Whilst no software experience is required, you should be confident in saving files and basic computer functions.

You must be over the age of 18 to attend this course.

The course is also suitable for anyone who has completed Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator courses at NTU or elsewhere, as you’ll be able to include vector graphics and place photos into your page designs.

Fees and funding

The fee for this course is £350.

Payment is due at the time of booking - ask us if you'd prefer an invoice sent to your company.

Your course fees cover the cost of studies and include great benefits such as the use of our modern library and free use of the IT equipment and software on the campus during your course.

Please bring with you to the first session:

a notepad and pen
a memory stick with images you'd like to edit
you can bring your own laptop with Adobe Creative Suite loaded (if preferred), although Macs with software will be available to learn on in the classroom.

You can read the terms and conditions of booking here.