Is InDesign a Hard Class?

As with any skill, InDesign’s difficulty level is highly subjective, with some finding it more challenging than others. However, InDesign is generally easier for people who have prior design experience as well as those who choose to learn InDesign in a live class. Additionally, the difficulty of an InDesign class can also depend on what information it covers, whether it sticks to beginner skills only or offers more advanced training. With time and practice, however, learning InDesign is 100% doable for anyone who puts their mind to it. This article will review the most common challenges faced by InDesign learners and offer suggestions on how to simplify the learning process. 

What is Hard about Learning InDesign?

Even though InDesign is an incredibly user-friendly app from a technical perspective, this tool can be challenging on several other fronts. In particular, many students find it difficult to understand how to apply InDesign features effectively to their projects until they gain a solid background in other design skills. 

For many, knowledge of graphic design principles like typography, color theory, and composition is essential to creating elegant designs. Additionally, a foundation in information architecture is invaluable when it comes to creating layouts that are easy for users to navigate and comprehend. Some of these skills come as a side-effect of learning design tools like Photoshop and Illustrator, but others are best learned as part of a broader graphic design or UX/UI design curriculum. 

Some new users also find it particularly difficult to understand the major difference between InDesign and other major design tools such as Photoshop and Illustrator. Without knowing the strengths and weaknesses of each app, they more easily make the mistake of choosing the wrong tool for their projects. For instance, while Photoshop is fabulous for editing photos, it’s not the best choice for creating a magazine layout. Similarly, while it’s possible to create a greeting card with just Photoshop, it always turns out better when the graphic is drawn in Illustrator, adjusted in Photoshop, and then laid out for printing in InDesign. 

For those who want to make an impact with their work, it can also be challenging to get up to speed on the latest layout design trends. Because layout design is widespread across industries like publishing, advertising, and print production, catching up on today’s best practices can take time. However, doing so is especially important for InDesign users who want to design for a living. 

How Can I Make Learning InDesign Easier?

There are a variety of resources you can use to make InDesign easier to learn. However, each resource has different advantages, making it important to choose ones that align well with your learning goals. If you’re only going to use InDesign lightly, you can get a head start by attending a short class or finding the right free learning tools. If on the other hand, you plan to use InDesign for your career, you’ll benefit from choosing a certificate program with more instructor attention and professional resources. 

Free Resources (For Exploring InDesign Basics and Answering Questions)

While free InDesign resources are extremely limited in how far they can get you, they can make it easier to get started. Following a quick tutorial on how to navigate InDesign before your first day attending InDesign classes can make it far easier to keep up with your instructor. Similarly, free InDesign education resources are a good option when you’re just looking to learn a few basics to complete a beginner-level project. You can also use free resources to solve niche problems on the fly. When you’re stumped on an InDesign project and don’t have an instructor handy to help you figure your way through, free resources are a nifty (though limited) workaround. 

To use free resources to their full potential, however, you’ll need to know where to find them and how to identify the best ones. Rather than clicking on the first YouTube tutorial you see, take a moment to check whether there’s a resource available through a reputable design company like Adobe. You can also take advantage of free InDesign sample courses published by tech education platforms such as Noble Desktop. By sticking to more established sources, you’ll dodge the bad design habits of other beginners on the Internet. 

Short Live Classes (For Hobbyists Who Want to Learn InDesign)

Even if you only plan to learn InDesign as a hobby, you can make your life a lot easier by choosing to learn from an expert. By participating in a class, you’ll save yourself the trouble of having to wade through free resource after resource to eventually find what you need (or possibly not). Instead, you’ll receive hands-on guidance with plenty of opportunities to ask questions (no frantic Google search necessary). 

Doable in under a week, these classes slot easily into a busy schedule and are available both online and in-person. Many classes take just one day, while others allow you to spread your training out into several shorter sessions. However, because short courses have a limited time allowance, they tend to focus more on technical skills than soft skills that are just as relevant to design. 

The majority of live classes deal with beginner topics, making them ideal for hobbyists. However, there are also plenty of short classes treating advanced topics like styling an Instagram grid with InDesign. As a result, short classes are a great way to level up or learn niche skills for a specific project. In addition to making it easier to learn new skills, short courses also offer an affordable, low-stress environment where aspiring professionals can take InDesign for a test drive before committing to a more intensive training program. For the same reasons, taking a short introduction course can also help you prepare for success in a design certificate course. 

Certificates and Bootcamps (For Comprehensive Career Preparation)

There’s no easier way to prepare for an InDesign career than attending a certificate-granting InDesign course. When you plan to use InDesign for a career, you need to learn more skills at a much more advanced level than you would for personal use. In addition to learning InDesign, you’ll likely need to master other design skills (such as Photoshop or Figma) and design certificates can help you do so with ease and rapidity. The average certificate takes only a few months (part-time) or several weeks (full-time) to complete and offers expert-guided instruction both online and in-person. 

As vocational training programs, design certificates aim to provide practical training that can quickly earn you a job. Moreover, bootcamps emphasize experience-building activities and may even include internship opportunities. These accelerated training programs can even take the place of a college degree, allowing you to become a full-fledged Graphic Designer without attending college. In addition, most certificate-granting bootcamps cost between $2,000 and 4,000, rather than the tens of thousands that you’d expect from a university program.

On top of making it easier to develop a well-rounded professional skill set, certificate courses make it less challenging to get a job. Most programs include portfolio workshops, industry overviews, and interview training. To help you get your career on the road with as few hiccups as possible, many classes also provide one-on-one mentorship or career counseling. 

Short On-Demand Classes (For Affordable Supplementary Training)

When you approach it as a supplement to other forms of training, on-demand InDesign training can be a great asset. Available through digital platforms like Coursera, Masterclass, Udemy, and SkillShare, on-demand courses can provide you with self-study materials that you can explore during your free time. Many on-demand classes are offered as subscription services, with costs varying significantly from class to class. 

Through the pre-recorded video lectures, written tutorials, and practice prompts included in on-demand packages, you can study beginner and niche topics similar to those covered in free resources. However, the main difference between on-demand InDesign classes and free learning materials is that the materials included in these classes are typically curated by an expert. On-demand study tools can be incredibly valuable when you need to troubleshoot a niche InDesign project outside of your regular class time. 

Best Ways to Learn InDesign Without Difficulty

Participating in a live class (rather than trying to go it alone) will help you avoid many of the pitfalls common to new InDesign learners. With a live instructor at your side through the many challenges you’ll encounter, you’ll learn more quickly and spend less time accidentally building bad habits. Live classes also provide hands-on practice to help you develop skills as you learn. Feedback and encouragement from your instructor can also make it easier to identify weaknesses and overcome discouragement. 

Another way that live classes make learning InDesign less difficult is by offering complimentary resources. If you find it stressful to worry about paying for Adobe Creative Cloud and an education course, joining a live class will often kill both birds with one stone, as many classes provide free software to class participants. Many classes also provide free access to Adobe Stock images, fonts, and other design tools. If you’re looking for career resources, live bootcamps will give you the biggest bang for your buck, with perks like career counseling, interview training, and study materials for certification exams.

Learn InDesign Skills with Noble Desktop

When it comes to learning InDesign, there are few better options than the classes available through Noble Desktop, one of the top tech education companies today. You can attend InDesign classes suitable for all levels at their NYC campus or participate in live online training that offers an equally interactive experience. Get comprehensive InDesign training by signing up for their expert-led Adobe InDesign Bootcamp, which utilizes hands-on assignments to familiarize you with beginner to advanced InDesign skills. Working with a team of peers, you’ll learn how to use stylized text, tables, and other advanced skills. From there, you’ll create magazine spreads, posters, and advertisements with skills capable of even more. 

If you’re looking for something a bit more low-key, Noble Desktop’s InDesign in a Day class is the perfect place to explore beginner skills without stress. You don’t need prior InDesign experience to learn the basics covered in this course. After learning how to navigate the app interface, you’ll start learning how to create simple layouts using color, graphics, and text.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, vocational programs like the Graphic Design Certificate make preparing for your design career a walk in the park. In this all-inclusive training course, you’ll master InDesign in tandem with Illustrator, Photoshop, and principles from design theory. As you gain experience working in a studio-like environment, you’ll also have the opportunity to practice team communication. By the time you graduate, you’ll have an impressive portfolio full of graphics and plenty of experience to back you up. To help get your career off the ground even faster, you’ll also benefit from in-course mentorship and postgraduate career support services.