Overview
This unit of study imparts skills and knowledge for print design and publishing. Using industry-standard Adobe InDesign software, you will learn how to create engaging, professional-quality page layouts and publish them for print or digital delivery. Through a series of practical projects, you will learn how to apply visual design principles to produce documents that communicate effectively. Your newly acquired skills will enable you to create, preflight and publish a broad range of documents including books, brochures, newsletters, magazines, advertisements and stationery.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisite: Minimum of 24 credit points
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2026
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from CQUniversity
Change assessment tools for 2026 offering
Portfolium Pathways, although successfully used and valued by students, will no longer be available from 2026 onwards. Therefore, alternatives that offer the same benefits for students will need to be identified and put into place.
- Apply visual design principles to produce documents that communicate effectively
- Create engaging page layouts using industry-standard software tools
- Preflight and publish page layouts for print or digital delivery.
Not applicable
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Practical Assessment - 50% | |||
| 2 - Practical Assessment - 50% | |||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||
| 5 - Team Work | |||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||
| 10 - First Nations Knowledges | |||
| 11 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||
Textbooks
Adobe InDesign Classroom in a Book (2024 release)
- Edition: 1st (2025)
- Authors: Tina DeJarld, Kelly Kordes Anton
- Adobe Press
- San Jose San Jose , California , United States of America
- ISBN: 978-0-13-537745-1
Note: If purchasing, you may wish to choose the 2026 edition if available.
- Binding: eBook
Note: If purchasing, you may wish to choose the 2026 edition if available.
Graphic Design for Everyone: Understand the Building Blocks So You Can Do It Yourself
- Edition: 1st edn (2019)
- Authors: Caldwell, C
- DK Publishing
- London London , England
- ISBN: 9780241343814
- Binding: Hardcover
THE NON-DESIGNER’S DESIGN BOOK: DESIGN AND TYPOGRAPHIC PRINCIPLES FOR THE VISUAL NOVICE
- Edition: 4th (2015)
- Authors: Williams, R
- Peachpit Press
- San Francisco San Francisco , CA , United States of America
- ISBN: 978-0133966152
- Binding: eBook
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Adobe Acrobat Pro (Adobe Creative Cloud student subscription recommended)
- Adobe Acrobat Reader (free browser plug-in)
- Adobe InDesign CC (Adobe Creative Cloud student subscription recommended)
- Adobe Photoshop CC (Adobe Creative Cloud student subscription recommended)
- Adobe Creative Cloud subscription (student price) is recommended as it provides access to all required Adobe products, including Typekit (Adobe Fonts).
- Microsoft Teams
- Adobe Behance
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
m.roberts@cqu.edu.au
Week 1
Begin Date: 09 Mar 2026Module/Topic
1. Introduction to Print Design
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 2
Begin Date: 16 Mar 2026Module/Topic
2. Design Principles
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 3
Begin Date: 23 Mar 2026Module/Topic
3. Working with Type
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 4
Begin Date: 30 Mar 2026Module/Topic
4. Pages and Layout
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 5
Begin Date: 06 Apr 2026Module/Topic
5. Working with Graphics and Tables
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 6
Begin Date: 13 Apr 2026Module/Topic
6. Working with Colour
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation Week
Begin Date: 20 Apr 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 7
Begin Date: 27 Apr 2026Module/Topic
7. Corporate Identity
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 8
Begin Date: 04 May 2026Module/Topic
8. Working with Printers
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 9
Begin Date: 11 May 2026Module/Topic
9. Design Briefs and Pitches
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 10
Begin Date: 18 May 2026Module/Topic
10. Finding Inspiration
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 11
Begin Date: 25 May 2026Module/Topic
11. Preflight and Packaging
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 12
Begin Date: 01 Jun 2026Module/Topic
12. The End and the Beginning
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Exam Week
Begin Date: 08 Jun 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation/Exam Week
Begin Date: 15 Jun 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
REQUIRED RESOURCES
You must have access to the following resources for this unit.
UNIT WEBSITE
The unit website provides essential resources for the unit such as a Study Guide and an online discussion forum. It can be accessed at moodle.cqu.edu.au
TEXTBOOK
You will need to obtain a copy of the prescribed textbooks. Details are provided in this unit profile. A free, digital edition of the textbook is available.
STUDY GUIDE
The weekly Study Guide will direct you to all the essential readings and exercises for each unit module. The Study Guide is available from the unit website in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF).
eREADING LIST
An eReading List will be available for this unit from the unit website. This list will provide easy access to readings, book chapters, videos and other resources.
DISCUSSION FORUM via TEAMS
An online discussion forum will be provided through the unit website for discussing matters that relate to the unit. The discussion forum is the primary means of support for online students who want assistance with tutorial exercises and assignments. This discussion forum will be hosted in Microsoft Teams - all students will be automatically enrolled/added to the team created for the unit. Microsoft Teams can be easily accessed online - however, students may prefer to download the app for convenient access.
ADOBE BEHANCE
You will need Adobe Behance, a portfolio platform for sharing creative work. Students can access Behance for free using their CQUniversity email address at www.behance.net.
ADOBE INDESIGN CC
You will need Adobe InDesign CC, a popular software application for page design, layout and publishing. InDesign CC is available in the on-campus digital media labs. It can also be purchased at a discounted education price as part of an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription from the Adobe website at www.adobe.com.au. A free 7-day trial version of InDesign can be downloaded from www.adobe.com/downloads. The version of Adobe InDesign CC will not be updated in the computer labs during the term - so applications on personal accounts may be newer.
ADOBE PHOTOSHOP CC
You will need Adobe Photoshop CC, a popular software application for image editing. Photoshop CC is available in the on-campus digital media labs. It can also be purchased at a discounted education price as part of an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription from the Adobe website at www.adobe.com.au. A free 7-day trial version of Photoshop can be downloaded from www.adobe.com/downloads. The version of Adobe Photoshop CC will not be updated in the computer labs during the term - so applications on personal accounts may be newer.
ADOBE ACROBAT READER
You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader, a free program that lets you view, navigate and print PDF documents like the Study Guide. Adobe Acrobat Reader can be downloaded from the Adobe website at www.adobe.com.
1 Practical Assessment
This assignment requires you to submit
- Part A: Responses to weekly Loves and Loathes exercises.
- Part B: A collection of Print Designs that have been created in response to weekly design briefs.
- Part C: Responses to weekly Critical Thinking exercises.
Part A: Loves and Loathes (10 marks)
Developing a critical design eye is essential. Each week students will be asked to find and share a print design item that they love or loathe. Where practical, these should be physical items that you can touch as well as see. Internal students may bring these to class to share, while online students may share these on the unit website.
Study Guides for Weeks 1 to 6 provide specific items for you to include.
Part B: Print Designs (30 marks)
During weeks one to six you will complete a new design as explained by the design brief in the Study Guide for that week. The designs will directly relate to that week’s learnings, and students will be able to test their skills as well as receive constructive feedback during class (or online).
Study Guides for Weeks 1 to 6 provide specific items for you to include.
Part C: Critical Thinking Exercises (10 marks)
These exercises are designed to help you develop your understanding of design theory and reinforce your learning.
The responses to these should be approximately 200 words and must contain references and a reference list (including referencing the Study Guide) that complies with the prescribed APA style.
Study Guides for Weeks 1 to 6 provide specific items for you to include.
Please refer to the unit website for the assignment details.
Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence agents (Gen AI)
AI Assessment Scale: Multiple levels apply to different components (Levels 2-3). See detailed guidance in Moodle for specific requirements for each section.
Week 7 Monday (27 Apr 2026) 11:55 pm AEST
2 weeks after submission
| Criteria | Marks |
Loves and Loathes
|
10 |
Critical Thinking Exercises
|
10 |
|
Print Designs Each print design will be assessed individually against the following criteria to create a combined overall score.
Note: failure to provide a properly packaged InDesign file for each item will result in no marks being allocated for that week – it is the student’s responsibility to ensure they understand fully how to package files in InDesign. |
30 |
Penalties
|
|
| Total | 50 |
- Apply visual design principles to produce documents that communicate effectively
- Create engaging page layouts using industry-standard software tools
- Preflight and publish page layouts for print or digital delivery.
2 Practical Assessment
This assignment requires you to submit
- Part A: an identity package consisting of print-ready designs for a client created with Adobe InDesign; and
- Part B: a client report that explains your design choices.
Part A: Identity Package
Students are required to use Adobe InDesign CC to produce an Identity Package for a real client as per the client brief supplied. Each of these items should work together and relate to each other visually. These designs are for a real client, and submissions that attain a High Distinction standard will be presented to the client for consideration. If selected, the successful designs may be printed for use by the client.
The final Identity Package designs are required to be print ready and students should ensure that they have a good understanding of what this will require for each item.
Part B: Client Report
Students are required to prepare a short report for the client to present and explain the final designs.
The report should have headings, and concise descriptions (not essay style). Students should illustrate their discussion points as appropriate (i.e. include images to support your statements).
The following headings are provided as a guide; however, you may include additional content, or change the order/grouping of this content:
- Overview of designs(provide images and brief description of each design)
- Design considerations
- Visual corporate identity
- Print Options and budget
Please note that the design of the Client Report will also contribute to students' overall marks, and should showcase the skills they have developed in InDesign to date.
Note: These designs are for a real client, and submissions that attain a High Distinction standard may be presented to the client for consideration. If selected, this report will form part of the pitch to the client so you need to consider this when completing the report.
Please refer to the unit website for the assignment details, including the design briefs for the identity package and associated resources.
Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence agents (Gen AI)
AI Assessment Scale: Multiple levels apply to different components (Levels 2-3). See detailed guidance in Moodle for specific requirements for each section.
Exam Week Monday (8 June 2026) 11:55 pm AEST
2 weeks after submission
| Criteria | Marks | ||
Draft and Peer Feedback
|
5 | ||
|
Part A: Identity Package Level of application and skill demonstrated for each design in the following areas
|
30 | ||
Part B: Client Report Level or degree report meets the following:
|
15 | ||
Penalties
|
|||
| Total | 50 |
- Apply visual design principles to produce documents that communicate effectively
- Create engaging page layouts using industry-standard software tools
- Preflight and publish page layouts for print or digital delivery.
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
