InDesign Mastery: Collaboration & Visual Design for A/E/C Professionals
October 15, 2025
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
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The Whiting-Turner Conference Center at The Village
3201 Tioga Parkway
Baltimore, MD 21215
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Are You Losing Proposals to Better Visuals? Drowning in Software Chaos?
A/E/C marketers face a unique challenge: creating compelling proposals under tight deadlines while juggling multiple contributors, software platforms, and design demands.
What if one day could transform your biggest frustrations into your greatest competitive advantages?
A Two-Part Training Series with Adobe Community Expert Julie Shaffer
Elevate your InDesign expertise with two comprehensive training sessions designed specifically for A/E/C marketers. From streamlining collaborative workflows to creating compelling visual communications, these hands-on sessions will transform how you approach proposals, presentations, and marketing materials.
Morning Session (9:00 AM - 12:00 PM)
Better Together: InDesign Workflows That End the Chaos
Is this your typical proposal day?
- Architects/Engineers send Word docs with formatting nightmares
- PMs update Excel sheets that you have to manually copy/paste
- Principals mark up PDFs with comments you spend hours incorporating
- You're the human bridge between everyone's preferred software
Stop playing software translator. Start leading seamless collaboration. Perfect for intermediate users ready to eliminate coordination headaches and reclaim hours in their week.
End Word Collaboration Chaos
- Efficient style mapping that preserves your InDesign formatting
- Seamless collaboration techniques that make Word users easy to work with
- Stop reformatting—start flowing content smoothly
Eliminate Excel Copy/Paste Challenges
- Direct table integration without manual data entry
- Dynamic updates that save hours of tedious work
- Finally: Excel data that looks professional in your layouts
Automate Review Nightmares
- InCopy workflows that let others edit without destroying your design
- Share for Review: Get feedback from anyone (no InDesign license needed)
- Import PDF comments directly into layouts—no more manual transcription
- Plus: Third-party plugins and time-saving automation techniques specifically for AEC teams
"I learned so many shortcuts that will make getting stuff out the door so much easier!" - Recent participant
Who should attend: Proposal coordinators, marketing managers, and anyone tired of being the proposal traffic cop
Afternoon Session (1:00 PM - 4:00 PM)
Infographics Ahoy! Turn Technical Complexity into Visual Clarity
The brutal truth: While you're perfecting prose, competitors are winning with compelling visuals that tell the story in seconds.
Tired of proposals that look like everyone else's?
- Clients' eyes glaze over at your text-heavy pages
- You know your projects deserve better visual storytelling
- You're stuck with basic graphics while flashier firms grab attention
- Creating professional infographics takes forever (if you even know how)
Transform from adequate to exceptional. Designed for intermediate users ready to create visuals that win work.
Leverage NEW AI Capabilities
- Built-in artificial intelligence for rapid graphic creation
- Cutting-edge tools that speed up design without sacrificing quality
- Stay ahead of firms still doing things the old way
Create Compelling Visual Stories
- Vector graphics creation and modification in InDesign and Illustrator
- Advanced effects that make technical projects visually memorable
- Professional chart and infographic techniques that clients remember
Master AEC-Specific Design
- Creative glyph usage as graphic foundations
- Essential tools for compelling infographic design
- Best practices proven in real A/E/C proposals and presentations
Who should attend: Marketing professionals, graphic designers, and anyone creating visual communications for AEC firms
Special Features
- Complimentary lunch provided (12:00 - 1:00 PM)
- Bundle discount: Save $100 (SMPS members) or $50 (non-members) when registering for both sessions
Immediate ROI
- Past participants report saving hours weekly with the shortcuts and automation techniques they learned. This training pays for itself quickly.
"I have had multiple colleagues who are advanced InDesign users mention that none of the trainings available end up teaching them anything new. I think this instructor has the capacity to change that." - Advanced InDesign user
Education
- 3 CEUs offered per session (6 total CEUs available)
About our Presenter
Julie Shaffer, FSMPS, CPSM, is an Adobe Community Expert passionate about helping AEC marketers maximize software tools to expedite content layout without sacrificing good design. After 11 years as an in-house marketer, Julie founded Shaffer Creative in 2012 to offer consulting, training, and creative design services, empowering firms to secure new work and thrive in the competitive landscape. She and her team support 100+ pursuits a year and have worked with over 250 owner agencies and AEC firms across the country on projects across the globe. Through these efforts, Shaffer Creative has helped firms shape their identities, craft impactful marketing campaigns, and empower teams to make the most of their marketing efforts.
"What an amazing session—taught by someone who was incredibly knowledgeable about InDesign and who has been in our proposal-writing shoes before." - Recent participant
Directions and Parking
Ample parking is available.
Accommodations
SMPS is dedicated to ensuring that every individual feels welcome at all of our events. Please contact us regarding any accommodations needed for this event. This venue is in compliance with ADA accessibility standards.
Cancellation/Refund Policy
In order to receive a refund, reservations must be canceled 72 business hours prior to the start of the event. If you do not cancel your reservation within the required time period, a refund will be forfeited.
Tickets
$399.00 Combo Member Rate
$549.00 Combo Non-Member Rate
$249.00 Session 1 Member Only
$299.00 Session 1 Non-Member Only
$249.00 Session 2 Member Only
$299.00 Session 2 Non-Member Only
$425.00 Combo Sponsor Rate
$275.00 Session 1 Sponsor Only
$275.00 Session 2 Sponsor Only
