• Use basic design essentials to produce outstanding designs — every time.
• Produce better designs in less time using our tips, tricks and shortcuts.
• Connect with your audience by choosing the right photos and illustrations.
• Select type fonts with ease, knowing which will create the tone and mood you want.
• Simple tricks for making your documents easily readable — even for “skim” readers.
• Grab your readers’ attention with headlines, subheads and other elements.
• Evoke certain emotions in your readers by using the psychology of color.
• Apply basic design formats to different types of documents for a professional look in no time.
• Use smart planning tips to take the headaches out of designing documents from now on!
• Add visual interest with graphics — and know how to avoid overdoing it.
• Choose backgrounds with caution using tips from the pros.
• Take the tons of examples of great design you’ll see in this workshop and put them to work in your projects.
• Size and position your graphics with ease for maximum impact in your documents.
• Wow ‘em with super-easy special effects.
• Get the most out of desktop publishing design packages with our quick tips.
• Find great sources for clip art, illustrations and photos.
• Mix type styles and sizes on a page effectively — without creating a mishmash.
• Improve scanner images with secrets the pros use.
• Run damage control — and save the day — when the finished project isn’t right.
• You’ll recharge your creativity by spending an inspiring, visually stimulating day away from the office — and get fresh ideas you can use immediately to improve your design projects.

This workshop is for you if you create ...

• Newsletters
• Brochures
• Reports or proposals
• Fliers
• Ads
• Presentation materials
• Catalogs
• Marketing materials
• Web pages
• Or any type of document that needs to look professional — and to get results!

Design 101: Simple Rules for Making Every Design Look Terrific

• From dynamic designs to design disasters: Examples of the good, the bad and the ugly
• How to use a dominant element, balance and proportion for visually appealing layouts
• Headlines, subheads and other key elements for grabbing your readers’ attention
• Boxes, sidebars and call-outs: Simple ways to add interest to text-heavy pages
• Your secret weapon for easy-to-read documents? White space!

Choosing the Right Type Styles to Add Professional Polish

• Using the personality of typefaces to create the tone and mood you want
• Sans serif and serif type: Knowing when to use which
• Properly using ALL CAPS, bold, italics and underlining to emphasize your
• points
• Tips on mixing point sizes and type styles on a page
• When you need to transfer printer fonts: Protect yourself by knowing the law

How to Use Graphics to Draw Your Readers In

• Photos or illustrations? How and when to use each to connect with your readers
• Simple guidelines for sizing and positioning graphic elements on the page
• Advantages and disadvantages of “clip art” — and where to find it for free
• Tips for using bars, rules and borders effectively

Adding Visual Pizzazz With Color and Special Effects

• A quick primer on the psychology of color and how certain hues affect your readers
• Do’s and don’ts for using color effectively and creatively
• Caution! Choose backgrounds and color screens with care — in print and on Web pages
• Yikes! How to avoid graphic overkill

Layout and Design How-To’s That Make Different Types of Documents Shine

• Quick basics for creating professional-looking newsletters
• How-to’s for designing eye-catching brochures — that get read!
• Tips for adding visual punch and readability to catalogs
• Easy ways to making your presentation materials pack a punch
• Design “makeovers” that add interest to gray, text-heavy proposals and reports
• Ad formats that grab attention
• Simple but effective Web page layouts for beginners

Using Cool Desktop Technologies to Create Better Design in Less Time

• Quick tips for getting the most from layout packages: InDesign, Quark, PageMaker and Publisher
• Which is better for layout, Mac or PC? The debate continues!
• How-to’s for making Web layout tools work for you — the first time
• Scanner secrets for achieving better-quality images
• Timesaving tips for getting digital camera images into your documents

Creating the Total Image: Polished Documents That Get Great Results

• How-to’s for coordinating color, type and graphics to express the overall tone you want
• Where to find great resources for tons of creative ideas
• Laser printer vs. a service bureau: Knowing why and when to do each
• Uh-oh! Your options for damage control when the finished project isn’t right

"I've attended many events through National Seminars Group and have not once been disappointed with the skills I've learned. Today may have even been the best seminar yet, I learned many new things and was refreshed on things I'd learned in the past. Thank you!"
O. Unell
VP of Sales
Brighton Express

"Very beneficial, this was great!"
A. Thorne
Schindler Elevator Corp.

"... excellent strategies to help me day today"
N. Clark
Catering Assistant

"Excellent, I'm refocused and re-energezied!"
P. Morales

"I feel that this information was informative and helpful. The speaker was great!"
S. Morris
Senior Office Assistant