Develop strong layout and design foundations in this two-day Beginner InDesign course. Learn to create multi-page documents, manage text and images, and apply colour and typography with precision. Build confidence producing professional layouts. Book your place today.
The Adobe InDesign Beginner Course is a two-day training designed for individuals new to page layout and digital design. Delivered in small groups at our London training centre or online, the course equips you with the confidence to handle real design projects — from brochures and flyers to multi-page documents.
Throughout the course, you will explore essential areas including document setup, workspaces, panels, and tool usage. You’ll learn how to work with text frames, apply character and paragraph styles, insert images, and control layout with grids and guides. Practical exercises will teach you how to design visually compelling pages and optimise content for both print and digital formats.
Our approach combines step-by-step instruction with hands-on practice to ensure skill retention. By the end of the course, you will be able to produce professional-looking layouts independently and have a strong foundation to continue developing your InDesign skills.
Here is what you will learn on this InDesign course in more detail. Click the topics below to explore what is covered in each section.
Learning Adobe InDesign begins with correct document setup and an efficient working environment. This section covers page setup, preferences, and Creative Cloud access to ensure smooth workflows from the start. You will focus on:
Setting page size, orientation, and layout options when creating new InDesign documents
Adjusting InDesign preferences to streamline common design tasks
Accessing Creative Cloud features and keeping InDesign software up to date
Managing pages correctly is essential for creating professional multi-page documents in Adobe InDesign. This section focuses on parent pages, page numbering, and structured navigation. You will practise:
Using Parent Pages to apply repeating elements such as headers, footers, and page numbers
Managing automatic page numbering as pages are added, removed, or reordered
Creating and updating a Table of Contents within InDesign
Text layout is a core part of page design in Adobe InDesign. This section explains how text frames and threading control text flow and how text interacts with other page elements. You will focus on:
Creating and managing Text Frames within InDesign layouts
Threading text to flow across multiple frames and pages
Controlling text behaviour around images and objects using advanced Text Wrap
Using styles in Adobe InDesign ensures consistent formatting and efficient global updates. This section introduces paragraph, character, and object styles for maintaining design consistency. You will practise:
Applying Paragraph Styles to format large blocks of text consistently
Using Character Styles for individual words or phrases
Creating Object Styles to maintain consistent formatting and behaviour of frames
Creating Bullets and Numbering that update automatically
Visual design tools in Adobe InDesign allow precise control over images and shapes. This section covers image frames, custom shapes, and drawing tools used in layout design. You will focus on:
Placing, cropping, and resizing images using Image Frames
Creating custom shapes with Pathfinder and shape combining tools
Drawing precise shapes and converting text to outlines using the Pen Tool
Managing colour and typography correctly supports consistent branding in Adobe InDesign documents. This section covers colour swatches, fonts, and brand assets. You will practise:
Creating and managing Swatches and Colour Themes
Accessing professionally licensed fonts through Adobe Fonts
Setting company colours as default swatches in new documents
Correct file management ensures Adobe InDesign documents export and share reliably. This section covers links management, packaging, and preparing files for output. You will practise:
Monitoring placed files using the Links Panel
Packaging documents with fonts and images for sharing or archiving
Exporting and packaging files for print and digital distribution
Every Docklands Media course comes with a range of added benefits to support your learning at no extra cost.
Receive an official certificate of completion to validate your training. Ideal for portfolios, CVs, or proving your skills in Adobe Indesign.
Access our email and phone support for a lifetime. Contact us with any technical questions related to what you have learned on your Adobe Indesign course.
Need a refresher? Retake the same Adobe Indesign course for free within 24 months. A great way to solidify your learning or get up to speed with new software updates.
Receive training notes, project files, and 7-day access to instructor-led video tutorials. Perfect for reinforcing key lessons and practising at your own pace.
We're committed to providing the best training experience possible. That's why we offer a range of discounts and flexible payment options to make your Adobe Indesign course more accessible and affordable.
Get discounted rates when booking for two or more people, or if you're enrolling from a charity. Save 5–15% depending on your group size or institution type.
Book your Adobe Indesign course at least three months in advance and get 10% off. Secure your place early and save on top-quality creative training.
If you're not fully satisfied on the first day of your Adobe Indesign course, let us know. We'll do our best to make it right—or refund you in full. No hassle, no risk.
Spread the cost of your training over 3, 6, or 12 months. Our instalment plans help make creative learning more accessible, with interest rates as low as 5%.

Szabina is one of the most talented and loved instructors, specialising in Adobe's design applications. As well as being an Adobe Certified Pro, her love for sharing her knowledge with others is what makes her an exceptional teacher.
Hear directly from professionals and teams who’ve trained with us, sharing their experiences and the impact our training has had on their creative journeys.
As well as creative individuals, we are also the preferred training provider for some of the most successful global brands and organisations.
Just a few of the common questions asked by our students.
No prior experience is required. Our courses guide you step by step, whether you’re completely new to layout design or looking to improve your existing skills.
The training uses the latest version of Adobe InDesign to ensure you’re learning current features and workflows. Older versions are generally compatible with most exercises, but updating is recommended.
Yes. Exercises are based on real-world scenarios, allowing you to apply your skills immediately to professional or personal projects.
Absolutely. InDesign is essential for creating magazines, brochures, eBooks, newsletters, and marketing materials. The skills gained are directly applicable across creative industries.
Yes. You’ll learn how to design print-ready documents like brochures and posters, as well as interactive digital layouts for eBooks and online publications.
Yes. Projects completed during the course can form part of a professional portfolio to showcase your layout and design skills.
Yes. Guided, hands-on instruction ensures beginners quickly understand the interface and start producing professional layouts.
Contact us today to learn more about our courses and how we can help you achieve your creative goals.
Get started with professional layout design through our Adobe InDesign Beginner Training Course at Docklands Media. Ideal for those new to InDesign, this course provides a solid foundation in creating high-quality layouts for print and digital media using industry-standard design workflows.
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