Scientific publications & layout (online)

In this course, you will master  Adobe InDesign to create professional and functional layouts for all your design needs. Through a deep dive into the program's tools and custom exercises, you will learn to create everything from a complex thesis book to a striking poster or professional CV. You will also discover how to seamlessly integrate photos, illustrations, tables, and text.

Note: Adobe InDesign is primarily for creating publications and layout files. If your goal is to create vectors and build infographics, consider our other course: Scientific artwork & Infographics.

Learning Objectives

This course is your guide to creating professional layouts that combine text, vectors, images, equations, and tables. By the end, you will be able to:

• Layout different documents, including single-page designs like figures, posters, and CVs.
• Create templates using parent pages and styles, which are essential for building complex documents like a dissertation.
• Prepare documents for print, including understanding the differences between print (CMYK) and screen (RGB) colors.
• Export various file types like JPEG, PNG, TIFF, and PDF.
• Master the printing process to make the best choices for your projects.

You'll discover why InDesign is a more prominent and straightforward alternative to Adobe Illustrator for creating scientific publications, and learn to use it to bring all your elements together into a final, professional layout.

Instructional Method

This course is broken down into two parts to help you master InDesign's tools for different projects:

• Sessions 1-2: You will master the essential InDesign tools and techniques required to design a professional PhD dissertation.
• Sessions 3-4: We'll switch gears to single-page designs like figures, posters, CVs, and brochures, and explore the additional tools that help with these types of designs.
• Bring your own project: You are strongly encouraged to bring your own work (like your thesis, a figure, or your CV) to apply the skills you learn directly to your personal projects.
• After the Course: You’ll be able to produce professional-quality publications, thesis books, CVs, and posters. As a bonus, you can reach out to Iliana for further feedback on your work after the course ends!
• You will receive a comprehensive manual and additional material. Homework will be assigned after each session with personalized feedback.

Your instructor, Iliana, brings over 13 years of experience designing thesis books and will share her top tricks, including how to troubleshoot common issues when transitioning a project from Word to InDesign. You'll also receive a comprehensive printed manual and personalized feedback on homework assignments.

Additional Information

• Software: You need a computer with Adobe InDesign installed in English. You must uninstall the program to adjust the language setting in Creative Cloud, and then reinstall it. For installation issues, please contact your faculty's ICT department.
• Equipment: A second screen and a mouse are highly recommended. A microphone and camera are mandatory for interactive sessions.
• Study Load: In addition to the scheduled sessions, anticipate an extra study load of approximately 16 hours, consisting primarily of homework assignments.
• Contact: If you plan to miss parts of the course, please contact Iliana directly to discuss options.

General Information

Target Group:	This course is primarily intended for PhDs and Post-docs from Wageningen University & Research. Should spots remain available, PhDs and Post-docs from other universities are also welcome to apply. It's a beginner-friendly course that will take you to an advanced level in just four weeks.
Group size:	12-20 participants
Course duration:	4 days from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm
Language:	English
Credit points:	1.1 ECTS
Self-study hours:	We recommend at least 16 hours of self-study and practice after the course
Name lecturer:	Iliana Boshoven-Gkini
Venue:	Online

Trainer

Iliana Boshoven-Gkini, is a visual communicator who merges her passion for design with her love of nature. Her unique background is a perfect blend of science and art: she holds a BSc in Plant Sciences and two MSc degrees in Landscape Architecture & Floriculture. She is also an accomplished artist and has been an Adobe Certified Instructor since 2021. Iliana founded AgileColor design studio (www.AgileColor.com) in 2012, specializing in scientific visual communication and publications such as thesis books. For nearly a decade, she's been teaching design courses at various universities and research institutes, empowering students to turn their complex research into clear, visually engaging content.

Fee

Reduced fee: • PhD candidates of Wageningen University with an approved Training and Supervision Plan (TSP) who are registered at one of the WU graduate schools (EPS, PE&RC, VLAG, WASS, WIAS, WIMEK) • Postdocs of Wageningen University who are registered at one of the WU graduate schools	€ 150
University fee: All other PhD candidates / Wageningen University postdocs and staff	€ 300
External fee: All other participants	€ 600

Fee includes study and training material

Cancellation condition

You may cancel free of charge up to four weeks before the start of the course. After this date you will be charged the University fee. Unless:

• You can find someone to replace you in the course and supply the course coordinator with the name and contact information of your replacement.
  In this case you will only be charged a € 50,- cancellation fee.
• You (PhDs and postdocs of Wageningen University) have a valid reason to cancel (illness or death in the family 1st or 2nd degree).
  In this case you will be charged the reduced fee and your supervisor/PI must send a mail indicating the reason for cancellation.

Information

For more information please contact Juliane.Teapal@wur.nl