Editorial Lab

Adobe® InDesign Course

Develop new skills

Everything you need to know about Adobe® InDesign software in a short and comprehensive course: develop new skills and strengthen your professional profile.
The Editorial Lab short course offered by RUFA is designed for those who want to improve their skills and specialise in digital graphic communication.

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From layout to editorial project

The primary objective is to provide participants with a basic knowledge of the software in a short period of time. The course covers the complete learning of fundamental tools, functions and processes, professional layout techniques, and the creation of brochures, catalogues, books and magazines through the use of advanced graphic layouts.

At the end of the course, participants who have attended at least 12 of the 15 scheduled lessons will receive a certificate of attendance, which may be used for the possible recognition of 2 CFU academic credits.

Course type: group – in person Number of participants: Max. 15 Attendance: weekly, Saturdays from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm Duration: 9 lessons – 27 hours total Cost: €490.00 in a single payment or two instalments of €250.00 Materials: USB flash drive Requirements/materials: None Language: Italian Lecturer: Matilde Francia Campus: RUFA – Via Benaco, 2 – Rome

Lesson 1 – Introduction to editorial layout
• Differences between InDesign and other layout software
• Document setup: formats, margins, columns
• Using grids and layout systems

Lesson 2 – Managing basic content
• Inserting and managing text and images
• Principles of visual composition
• Practical exercises on simple documents

Lesson 3 – Layout and master pages
• Managing pages and master pages
• Linking text frames
• Organising repetitive layouts and maintaining graphic consistency

Lesson 4 – Typographic styles and integration with other software
• Paragraph and character styles
• Importing content from Photoshop and Illustrator
• Font management and visual consistency

Lesson 5 – Multi-page projects
• Creating brochures, magazines and book layouts
• Automatic page numbering
• Creating indexes and tables of contents

Lesson 6 – Professional export and final exercise
• Export formats for print and digital use
• Preparing files for professional printing
• Practical exercise and group review

Lesson 7 – Automation and advanced workflows
• Shared libraries and snippets
• Nested styles and GREP for typographic automation
• Advanced tables and data import
• Book panel for managing complex publications
• Naming conventions, folder structures, versioning and link management

Lesson 8 – Interactivity and multimedia output
• Creating interactive PDFs and digital publications
• Links, buttons, navigable tables of contents
• Adding multimedia content (video, audio, animations)
• Designing for tablets and e-books (reflowable and fixed layout)
• Exporting for web and mobile devices

Lesson 9 – Final project and professional presentation
• Analysis of a simulated real-world brief and definition of the graphic concept
• Creation of a complete project (magazine, catalogue, e-book, corporate report)
• Preparation of mock-ups and portfolio
• Presentation and critical discussion of projects
Skills acquired

At the end of the course, participants will be able to:
• Create complex editorial projects for print and digital media
• Automate workflows and optimise layout processes
• Design interactive and multimedia layouts
• Manage professional commissions and present projects to real clients
• Integrate InDesign with other tools in the Adobe creative workflow

Contact [corsibrevi@unirufa.it](mailto:corsibrevi@unirufa.it) for further information on purchase orders and discounts.

JANUARY
23/01/2027
30/01/2027

FEBRUARY
06/02/2027
13/02/2027
20/02/2027
27/02/2027

A curious and tireless visual designer, she graduated from RUFA in Graphic Design and specialised in Visual and Innovation Design in 2022. An AIAP member and teaching assistant in Visual Design 2 at RUFA, she has a genuine passion for publishing and branding. In 2021, she began collaborating with the startup MICONIC, overseeing its visual identity. She then deepened her knowledge of printing techniques and materials at Marchesi Grafiche Editoriali before joining Cappelli Identity Design. Since February 2025, she has been part of the graphic design team at la Repubblica, where she works on the newspaper’s layout and graphics. She looks forward to sharing her energy, curiosity and talent with you.

Studenti e Alumni RUFA: agevolazione del 50%
Ex studenti Corsi Brevi e Summer Academy RUFA: agevolazione del 10%
Studenti universitari: agevolazione del 5% (previa esibizione del libretto universitario)
Pacchetto corsi/gruppi/famiglia: contatta corsibrevi@unirufa.it per soluzioni personalizzate e un orientamento gratuito sulla combinazione di corsi per semestre

Per tutti gli iscritti, senza necessità di requisiti particolari, sono disponibili agevolazioni in base alla data di iscrizione:

SUBJECT	ECTS
The links between form, structure and function of objects. Study of the principles underlying a sustainable design methodology and the different strategies. Realization of a complete project: prototype, model or layout.	6
Knowledge of common graphic elements and tools for technical drawing: construction graphics, metric scales, basic elements of orthogonal projections, axonometric projections and techniques for architectural metric survey. Representation of an architecture, or parts of it, with furnishing elements and details, using the most appropriate scales.	6
AutoCad: basic commands and principles. Hatches, backgrounds and masking, texts, dimensions. Creation and application of dimensioning blocks on scale 1:3 of the drawing, modification of existing objects, raster graphics, insertion of squares and scale ratios. Development of an assigned project: representation of plans, sections, prospects and details.	6
Realization of concrete objects starting from intuitions, graphic sketches, design forms not yet finalized. All the way to three-dimensional models that conclude the design process. Final report related to the work carried out during the course, as well as time and costs estimates for the production of the final object.	6
Focus on the peculiarities of sustainable design materials and their rational use in industrial production. Assessment of the physico-chemical and mechanical properties of the materials analyzed; in relation to the technologies, advantages and risk levels related to their processing. Deepening of the characteristics of natural and artificial materials such as wood, stone, stoneware, resin, composites, etc., in relation to their practical applications, with the aim of identifying their requirements and evaluate the appropriate and sustainable choice according to the type of project.	8
Learning the correct method of analyzing objects, ideas and contemporary design forms. Encouraging the development of a critical sense in the acquisition and review of historical data. International design context and movements from the late nineteenth century to the second world war.	6
First approach to developing and drafting interior spaces. Study of shapes and space. Understanding measurements based on functional and ergonomic standards connected with humans.	12
Interior design	8
Applied technology	4
Introduction to parametric modeling with an overview of the software Rhinoceros, used in the job market. Two-dimensional parametric design and three-dimensional modeling. Photography in a virtual environment: lights and materials for rendering. Control parameters for 3D printing.	6
Design knowledge necessary for the realization of models and prototypes using innovative digital technologies. Development of theoretical and practical activities to become aware of digital production systems such as: 3D printing, laser cutting, CNC milling.	4

Tutti gli studenti in possesso di certificazione ai sensi della Legge 104/92 hanno diritto a un’agevolazione del 20% sulla quota di iscrizione, indipendentemente dalla fascia temporale scelta. Per richiederla, è necessario inviare la documentazione alla segreteria all’indirizzo corsibrevi@unirufa.it.

L’iscrizione a un corso breve dà diritto, per il mese in cui si svolge il corso, ad accedere ad alcune convenzioni attive con esercizi commerciali.
Le agevolazioni riguardano sia l’acquisto di materiali creativi che le pause pranzo presso locali situati nei pressi dei campus. Se interessati si prega di fare richiesta del file aggiornato.