Pitch Book Layout

The Activity

This week you will focus on creating your InDesign document, designing the layout, and inserting the content for the following pages:

1. Front/Back Cover
2. Table of Contents
3. Redesign Plan
4. Fonts & Colors

Document Setup

This video explains how to setup a saddle stitch book in InDesign.

Master Pages

Master pages in InDesign allow you to use a template for the pages in your pitch book. This could be simply column guides that you use on each page to help you design, or it could be a textured background that you want to continue throughout the book. You will be required to use a master page for this weeks activity.

This video is a refresher from COMM 130 where we used master pages for the final portfolio.

Although not required, here are a few more resources from COMM 130 that might help you as you start designing your pitch book:

1. Paragraph Styles Activity
2. Text Wrapping Activity

Column Setup & Usage

Using columns will allow you to keep elements on the same page consistently spaced and aligned. It will also provide every page of your book with a consistent framework. Take some time to research layout designs and pay special attention to the use of columns. Try to replicate a few layouts before you venture off on creating your own. This will give you some experience seeing how other designers have tacked page layout.

This video demonstrates how to setup a column layout in InDesign. I would recommend setting this up on your master page, which would count as the master page requirement.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJcXutFDQZ4

Here are a few resources that will help you utilize the column layout:

1. Using Layout Grids Effectively
2. Layout and Page Design Fundamentals

Design

Once you have your document, master pages, and grid setup you are ready to start designing. I would recommend sketching out a draft of your layouts before bringing them into InDesign. Take a look at how books, magazines and other publications have a consistent feel throughout, but still vary up the individual spread layouts. Keep fonts, colors, the grid and other elements consistent throughout your whole book. You will be required to put in all the actual content for the pages that where outlined before. This content should be appealingly and strategically placed on the page.

Please review and understand the principles of typography as you start designing. Here is another COMM 130 document to help refresh your memory – Principles of Typography PDF.