Clear, compelling document design is essential in academic, administrative, and research settings. This workshop introduces participants to the core principles of effective document design while providing practical training in Adobe InDesign, the industry-standard software for creating professional layouts. Participants will learn how to set up documents, manage text and images, apply consistent styles, and export polished, print- or web-ready materials. In parallel, the workshop emphasizes conceptual strategies such as visual hierarchy, accessibility, brand consistency, and audience-centered communication — key skills for producing reports, academic journal articles, grant proposals, conference materials, and outreach publications. Whether you're preparing a research poster, departmental newsletter, or curriculum guide, this workshop will help you design documents that are both visually striking and rigorously organized.

What the Participants Need: Access to Adobe InDesign is not essential for the workshop as we will make use of demos and examples.  Participants can also get access to InDesign by booking the High Performance Computers in the Digital Scholarship Centre or in other labs on campus after the workshop.

Completion of this workshop can contribute to a partial requirement of the University of Alberta Professional Development program by the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (GPS). Information on how attendance will be recorded will be discussed in the workshop.

About the Instructor: Hanne Pearce has worked at the University of Alberta Library for twenty years in several campus libraries where her work has focused on public service, communications, and now digital scholarship. She holds both an MLIS and an MA in Communications and Technology. In the Digital Scholarship Centre, her work focuses on providing expertise and support in media production (audio, video, photography), 2D and 3D design, and specialized software programs. In addition to her work at the University of Alberta, she is a freelance photographer, graphic designer and writer. Any questions about the workshop can be directed to hspearce@ualberta.ca.