The best layout software for architects
September 02, 2025

The best layout software for architects

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

Overall Satisfaction with Adobe InDesign

I use InDesign very often in my job as researcher in the field of architecture. I use it as the main layout software for tables, projects' documentation files, books and papers layout and slides for video presentations . It's the main alternative to Office Suite and it's much more intituitive and useful for one main reason: it allows to insert easily not only images (jpeg, png and similar format) but also pdfs. This is fondumental for architects, since the majority of us elaborates projects on design programs (such as CAD softwares) which print drawings on a vectorial pdf format. But there are also some criticalities, such as the not really user-friendly panel.

Pros

  • Insertion and management of images and pdf files.
  • Creation of interactive pdf files.
  • Creation of interactive indexes
  • Creation of grids for the layout of images beyond texts.
  • Print of vectorial pdf files and great managment of the images quality

Cons

  • User interface (where to find specific commands, options etc)
  • Make some specific option more easy to use and visible (such as the creation of footnotes)
  • Creation of a more efficient and interactive way to create images' captions
  • Improvement of the interface that allows you to insert a PDF file consisting of many pages (it would be nice to be able to choose which page to insert more quickly and interactively, selecting them individually without having to specify from the outset which and how many pages).
  • -20% time used to create interactive pdf
  • +10% graphic rendering of the final designs
  • maintenance of the original data quality
InDesign, and the other software of Adobe Suite in general, are not really "user-friendly". The interface could result mute for many users since the majority of the commands are hidden behind other ones. Also the zoom-in and zoom-out system is not intuitive at first glance. Even if the commands windows can be costumised, the use of the software requires a little initial effort to get used to how it works.
InDesign is better than Power Point and Libre Office because of the freedom to match and layout different types of file. In addition the management of the files on the layout and of the output quality has no comparison. Comparing to AutoCAD InDesign is more suited for layouting, while the Autodesk software is made fot drawing.

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?

I wasn't involved with the selection/purchase process

Did implementation of Adobe InDesign go as expected?

I wasn't involved with the implementation phase

Would you buy Adobe InDesign again?

Yes

If an architect would ask me if I reccommend this software I would for sure say yes. I believe that InDesign is fundamental for our job and the one which suited most the realization of complex project tables, expecially in the field of urban planning. In fact in this case drawn vectorial data are to be mixed with analysis data which are quite always raster based. In case of an architecture project, such as the design of a building, the use of a drawing Software also for the layout phase may be more easy and quick to use, since in that case you don't have to do the output and later input-output on another software. But if the goal is a competition or to have high graphic performance InDesign will for sure supply better results.

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