Proposals

Addison Lalier

This article appeared in Issue 120 of InDesign Magazine.

From Word To InDesign: How Publishing Proposals Have Changed Over Time

In a sea of sameness, designers and marketers are finding it more important than ever to stand out from the crowd. And in the world of business proposals—especially in architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industries—that means creating client-winning work.

Gone are the days of using Microsoft Word, which we all know is a rudimentary platform when compared to the design chops of Adobe InDesign. With its flexible formatting and wide range of technical tools, InDesign offers great usability and scalability to any business professional looking to visually represent their work in a unique and effective format.

When building proposals for audiences varying in technical knowledge, designers must not only consider RFP (Request for Proposal) requirements, but also the tone, values, and offerings of those they’re communicating with. Whether you’re a freelancer building templates, an in-house designer, or the art director at a studio, proposals begin and end with the client.

To learn more about proposals and InDesign, I spoke with five designers and marketers, ranging from a large-scale general contractor and a multinational engineering-design firm to an independent consultant and publishing guru. Regardless of the size of their business, each professional uses InDesign to not only communicate a service but also as a tool to streamline workflow, increase efficiency, and create a consistent toolkit.

Before we jump into the technicalities, it’s worth taking a moment to recognize the evolution of proposals and see how far we’ve come with design, innovation, and engagement.

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