TABLE OF CONTENTS: An Art Book Design Studio – 5 Week Series at Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture – Charlotte, NC

An invitation to print.

TABLE OF CONTENTS is a five-session studio led by designer Ciara Bird El, exploring editorial layout and independent publishing through Adobe InDesign.

Amid the flow of digital content, this studio returns to the printed page—giving physical form to images, words, and concepts so they may pass from hand to hand, carrying a record of a moment in time.

Photography, collage, stories, essays, recorded conversations, video, and the spoken word can all become starting points.

Through demonstrations, guided studio time, group discussion, and individual feedback, you’ll take your creative material from idea to layout and into print.

SCHEDULE
Wednesday, November 18, 2026: Concept & Content
Wednesday, December 2, 2026: InDesign Foundations
Wednesday, December 9, 2026: Editorial Design
Wednesday, December 16, 2026: Critique & Revisions
Wednesday, January 6, 2027: Prepress & Production

WHAT YOU’LL CREATE
An 8- or 16-page publication of your own, produced as an edition of 50 copies, along with a print-ready PDF. The Gantt will retain a selection of copies for the course showcase; the rest are yours to keep and share.

WHAT YOU’LL EXPLORE
• Developing a concept and organizing your creative material

• Setting up a document in Adobe InDesign

• Exploring sequence, rhythm, and nonlinear storytelling

• Working with typography, images, and page layouts

• Designing a cover and building visual consistency

• Proofreading, prepress checks, and preparing files for print

WHO IT’S FOR
Artists, writers, poets, photographers, designers and makers interested in bringing their work onto the page. Basic familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite is recommended. Instruction will focus on Adobe InDesign.

WHAT TO BRING/CURATE
A selection of your existing creative material, preferably in digital form: artwork, photographs, illustrations, lyrics, poetry, prose, or transcripts. You’ll continue developing your publication between sessions.

REGISTRATION
$150 covers the complete five-session series and basic production fees. Optional production upgrades are available at an additional cost. Enrollment is limited. Please plan to attend all five sessions.