It takes 12 hours of classroom time to learn InDesign foundational skills, and another 12 to 24 hours of time to gain advanced InDesign skills. The exact amount of time required to learn InDesign depends upon projects you wish to create. If you plan to use InDesign for creating flyers, brochures, and more simple documents, as well as edit documents created by others, will only need two days or 12 hours of classroom time to learn InDesign. This is best achieved by enrolling in an InDesign class from a reputable school like the American Graphics Institute. Those planning to create more complex documents, such as catalogs, magazines, and books using InDesign, or add interactivity to projects, will need an additional two to four days of time to complete more advanced training.
Enrolling in training courses taught by experienced professionals helps you learn the fundamentals of InDesign more quickly. The time it takes to become an expert, knowing more than the basics, depends on several factors, including the type of work you want to create, your level of experience with other Creative Cloud applications, your existing understanding of graphic design principles, and the amount of time available for you to practice working on projects and building a portfolio of completed work.
It can take less time to become skilled with InDesign if you are familiar with other Adobe Creative Cloud and graphic design principles. If you’re already confident working in Illustrator or Photoshop you will find it easier to learn InDesign's interface, tools, and features, as they share many commonalities, such as how to work with type and layers.
How long does it take to learn InDesign online
You can learn InDesign online in two days by enrolling in live online courses such as those offered at American Graphics Institute (AGI). AGI’s introductory InDesign course is a good starting point for beginners. Those that already know the basics of InDesign but need to create more complex layouts will benefit from the intermediate InDesign class which is also available as a live online course. Designers that use InDesign daily will find the advanced InDesign course useful. Each of these workshops is two days in length, and is led by a live instructor. Learning from instructors are graphic design professionals, who have written multiple books on InDesign, including the InDesign Digital Classroom and are experienced educators helps you to learn more quickly. The comprehensive InDesign bootcamp is another way to learn InDesign online, which provides an intensive week-long course to immerse you in digital publishing. Each of these live online courses provides the opportunity to engage directly with a live instructor, share your screen, learn in small groups, and use on-screen chats.
How long does it take to learn InDesign in a classroom
In-person courses help you become proficient with InDesign in as little as two days. There are in-person InDesign courses in multiple cities where you can learn from experienced instructors in small classroom settings, with the instructor in the same classroom. You can learn InDesign through hands-on exercises as you practice skills such as creating text frames, placing graphics, and applying color, all with the help of an instructor in the same classroom as you. In-person InDesign classes at AGI also include both the computer and software necessary for the course.
Learning InDesign and gaining a certificate
All individual InDesign courses provide a certificate upon completion. If you are interested in an in-depth training program that includes learning InDesign as a part of a comprehensive graphic design training program, the graphic design certificate includes InDesign classes as part of 112 hours of coursework that also teaches relates skills in Photoshop, Illustrator, and graphic design. This program is available either full-time or part-time. Full time participants can complete the coursework in approximately one month, while part-time attendees can take one or more classes per month and complete the program over three months to a full year. This program is a great option for those with non-traditional schedules, and many courses are available on weekends or nights in addition to the weekday courses. In addition to learning multiple Creative Cloud applications, participants in the graphic design certificate program are assigned a dedicated career counselor who helps with interview preparation and locating job opportunities.
Do you learn InDesign faster if you know Illustrator or Photoshop
If you have experience with other Creative Cloud applications like Illustrator and Photoshop, you already possess many skills required for using InDesign, making the process of learning InDesign easier. Graphic designers who are familiar with Illustrator and Photoshop can use their knowledge of layers, type controls, and design principles when learning InDesign. InDesign is different from Illustrator and Photoshop, as InDesign is primarily used for assembling layouts with assets created in these other tools. A layout within InDesign may contain artwork from Illustrator, images from Photoshop, and text from a word processor.
Can you learn InDesign on your own
InDesign is difficult to learn without guidance from trained professionals. Fortunately you can access many InDesign training options without leaving your home or office. There area range of no-cost options for those that want to try learning on their own, to courses with live instructors that can help you learn InDesign more quickly. If you’re thinking about pursuing a career in graphic design, you should consider enrolling in InDesign courses.
The fastest way to learn InDesign
There are multiple InDesign courses available that include hands-on exercises, projects, and live instructors that are available either online or in-person. Each of these InDesign courses takes less than a week to complete and are taught by a group of professionals who have written several books on InDesign and have extensive teaching experience. An example of the fastest way to learn InDesign is the introductory InDesign course which teaches extensive InDesign skills in only two-days. In this course you learn to import and format text, create styles, apply color, use images and illustrations, work with layers, and create both PDF and print versions of documents. For those with previous experience using InDesign, there are intermediate and advanced courses that offer similarly fast ways to gain new skills with InDesign. Live courses and rigorous training methodology helps you learn InDesign in only a day or two. Whether you prefer online or in-person learning, there are live InDesign courses to help you become skilled in this powerful and widely used publishing software.