When a company hears
its website is hard to read…
or needs a brochure
for a new product…
they call on the skills
of a desktop publisher
to make their content appear
easy to read, attractive, and engaging.
Desktop publishers use design software
to create page layouts for print
or electronic publications,
including newspapers, books,
and reports or studies.
They combine text and images
to create a coherent design
that conveys the intended message
and grabs the reader’s attention.
Desktop publishers may also edit text…
correcting spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
They tend to work on teams
with other creative workers
—such as writers, editors,
and graphic designers—
collaborating to prepare a cohesive design,
often under strict deadlines.
Desktop publishers work
in a variety of industries,
including many related to publishing
and printing.
Many work full time
and may need to work additional hours
when publication deadlines require it.
For most positions,
desktop publishers need an associate’s degree
in graphic design or graphic communications,
including courses on
desktop publishing software
that feature electronic page layouts
and text and graphics formatting.
A brief period of on-the-job training
to learn the employer’s
desktop publishing software is typical.