Desktop Publishing Meets Rock and Roll

If you teach desktop publishing and design, or just a little Publisher as part of an applications class, and need a fun and challenging project for your students, I have a fun book for you. Try Concert Tour Desktop Publisher. As Business Education Publishing's Website says, "In this new and exciting simulation, your students get to take their desktop publishing skills on stage as they create and design a series of documents for their own concert tour band."


I have used this simulation with my DTP classes for the last four years with positive reviews. As stated above, students need to create documents for their fictional band as they journey from the garage to a big-time record deal. Students will create such things as a business card, letterhead, concert poster, CD cover, and much more. Along the way, students are helped out by the book's example band Stonehenge.


Let your students show you the fantastic skills they have developed in your class by completing this simulation and showcase their work.


Give it a try and see what you think! 


Thanks.

The Non-Designer's Design Book

Are there any Desktop Publishing or Web Design teachers out there? If so, are you like me? I can code html or use DTP software with the best of them, but does my final product look good design wise? Not always. Sometimes I manage to stumble upon a good design or layout, but not often. Lets face it, I struggle drawing stick figures and my clothes don't always match. This is where my new favorite book comes to the rescue. The Non-Designer's Design Book by Robin William (no, not that Robin Williams) is the cure for all of us with the affliction of being poor at matters concerning design.

This book is a must for your students to read or simply as a classroom resource. It breaks down your designs into four easy to remember parts:

Contrast

Repetition

Alignment

Proximity

Along with explaining these concepts in terms the everyday person can understand, with provides a ton of fantastic examples to drive the point home.

But that's not all. There are also sections in the book on the different types of type, designing with type, ways to use contrast effectively, and tips on how to apply everything you learn to a variety of documents from business cards to newsletters to brochures. Again, there are great examples to show how the design concepts actually make documents more appealing to our readers.

So, if you teach Web Design, DTP, or simply want to improve your design skills check this book out. You will be glad you did!

Thanks.