CSI: InDesign

Alan Gilbertson

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This article appeared in Issue 12 of CreativePro Magazine.

Few things are more likely to dishearten even the cheeriest InDesign user than being asked to revise or redesign a big legacy project that was badly put together.

“We need this brought up to date,” the email says, or maybe “Can you redesign this?” with a subtext: Should be pretty simple, you just have to modify what’s already there.

If you don’t feel nervous, I bet it’s your first project like this. Seasoned designers will experience a frisson of cold dread.

If it’s a document or book you haven’t seen before, you have no idea who created it or how many people may have worked on it over the years. You don’t know how it was put together, and at first glance there’s no pattern you can get your mind around. As you work through these steps you will uncover its secrets.

Whatever your design skill level, avoid pain by following these guidelines.

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