“To master the art of digital layout and design by utilizing professional software (such as Adobe InDesign, Affinity Publisher, or Canva) to create visually balanced, brand-consistent, and print-ready documents for both digital and physical distribution.”
COMPUTER CONCEPTS AND FUNDAMENTALS
OPERATING SYSTEM (DOS, OS)
INTRODUCTION TO INTERNET AND MAIL
MS OFFICE (MS WORD, MS EXCEL, MS POWERPOINT, MS ACCESS)
Growth at this stage focuses on the fundamental mechanics of a page. You begin by learning the “Big Three” tasks: Text flow, Image placement, and Basic Formatting. At this level, students use tools like Microsoft Publisher or Canva to work with pre-made templates, or learn the interface of industry standards like Adobe InDesign. Key milestones include understanding the difference between RGB vs. CMYK color modes and mastering basic typography concepts like font sizing, leading, and alignment. The goal is to produce accurate, clean single-page documents like flyers or business cards under supervision.
As you progress, the focus shifts to consistency and efficiency across longer documents. This level is defined by the use of Styles (Character, Paragraph, and Object styles) and Master Pages, which allow you to apply global changes to a 100-page book in seconds. You move beyond simple layouts to handle Grids and Baseline Grids, ensuring that elements align perfectly across different pages. At this stage, a professional can independently manage brochures, reports, and newsletters, while beginning to troubleshoot common production issues like broken image links or missing fonts.
At the advanced level, growth is marked by a deep understanding of the “Output” phase. This involves mastering Pre-flighting—the process of checking a file for errors before it goes to a professional printer. You learn to manage Bleeds, Slugs, and Transparency Flattener settings. Advanced users also leverage Automation Tools, such as Data Merge (for creating thousands of personalized mailers) and basic GREP/Scripting to automate repetitive formatting tasks. This stage is about high-stakes accuracy where mistakes are costly to print.
The final stage of growth involves managing the entire publishing ecosystem. Expert-level DTP professionals move into Digital Publishing, creating interactive PDFs, ePubs, and responsive digital magazines with embedded media. They often specialize in Accessibility (WCAG), ensuring documents are readable by screen readers. At this level, roles transition into Art Direction or Production Management, where the focus is on optimizing team workflows, managing brand libraries (CC Libraries), and overseeing the technical standards for an entire organization’s published output