InDesign: a real-time time saving tool for layout, that needs mastering
Updated October 23, 2021

InDesign: a real-time time saving tool for layout, that needs mastering

Anonymous | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User

Overall Satisfaction with Adobe InDesign

I use in-Design as : 1) A user (an architect and educator) 2) An educator 3) A project manager for junior architects My experience is different in the 3 ways. As a user, I use it for layouts of design projects, design portfolios and research submissions. It helps me achieve a clean look for the project I am working on. I also use it as a thinking tool. However, with students and junior architects I guide, I find it more useful as the last stop before printing out a project.
  • Creating a layout for projects, reports, research publications, portfolios..
  • Numbering pages and creating a streamlined/consistent look for pages (intermediate to advanced)
  • Filling out a template prepared by an expert, even as a beginner
  • Ordering the pages with dragging is a bit counter-intuitive
  • The "Links" section needs improvement - it might be very beneficial to have the links displayed (and saved) in the "links" sections for dragging and reusing without having to re-insert
  • I think the relinking option works well - Would it be possible to the automatic relink to work even if file was renamed? A prompt will be [shown] to the user to help them approve or disapprove of this action.
  • Exporting as a clean printable PDF, with many possible sized
  • Preparing final presentation, high resolution, for clients meetings and reviews
  • Creating a template that could be used by individuals/departments many times simply by filling fields. This helps saving time.
  • A great ROI for time in my small architectural practice, [especially] when a design has been updated and a report needs to be submitted. We can be submitting many reports that all look similar, clean and beautiful. We just save as the file and replace the images with more updated images. This way the client finds it easy to navigate updated reports, as many as they can be.
The other software I listed are not specifically made for layout. Maybe the closest option is Photoshop. I personally find Photoshop more intended for image editing than layout creating. In the architectural field, it is not unheard of for students or practitioners to use Photoshop for Layout. I now find this counter-intuitive, the file size Photoshop increases tremendously and handling many pages can be challenging. For these reasons, I would choose InDesign as my go-to software for reports and portfolios, as well as presentations.

Do you think Adobe InDesign delivers good value for the price?

Yes

Are you happy with Adobe InDesign's feature set?

Yes

Did Adobe InDesign live up to sales and marketing promises?

Yes

Did implementation of Adobe InDesign go as expected?

Yes

Would you buy Adobe InDesign again?

Yes

I think InDesign is very suitable for creating reports while the design work is still being done. This means that everytime a design or picture is updated, you can see it updated real-time in InDesign. This allows multiple teams to work in parallel towards the deadline. The graphic design team/person will work to create a comprehensive layout. The design/report data team create the content. However, I think that depending on the situation, InDesign is not suitable for presentations that will be projected. There are other software out there that do this job faster (offline software such as Powerpoint, or online tools such as canva)