Art Direction and Publishing: From Concept to Print by Akatre

This course is for anyone who wants to stop just thinking about making a publication and actually get it done. Akatre walks you through the entire process, from figuring out your artistic direction to making real choices about paper and printing. It’s about building a strong visual concept and seeing it through to a finished, printed object.

🎯 What you’ll learn

• Establish a clear artistic direction for a publication project.
• Make informed choices about layout, typography, and imagery.
• Understand the technical aspects of print production and paper selection.
• Create a complete mock-up of a publication ready for print or online publishing.

✅ Requirements

• Skills: Basic knowledge of graphic design, typography, and composition.
• Tools: InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop.
• Hardware: A computer with the required software installed.

📝 Description

This isn’t a theoretical lecture on design history. Akatre gets into the nitty-gritty of making a publication that works. They start by breaking down what art direction actually means in a publishing context—it’s not just about making things look good, it’s about making strategic decisions that serve the content.

The course focuses on the practical workflow: using a brief to guide your creative drive, building a composition grid and flatplan, and selecting images and typography that reinforce your concept. The final section is where it gets real, covering the physical reality of the printed object—paper stock, finishes, and how to communicate your work to a printer. You’ll finish with a complete mock-up, not just a digital file.

🧑‍🎓 Who this course is for

• Designers and creatives who want to create their own publications with a strong artistic line.
• Anyone interested in the process of bringing a print project from concept to reality.

🧑‍🏫 About the Author

Akatre is a creative studio founded in 2007 by Julien Dhivert and Sébastien Riveron. Their work blends graphic design, typography, 3D, and music. They’ve worked with major names in art, fashion, and luxury, including Cartier, YSL Beauty, and Hermès, bringing a high-level, professional perspective to the course.

🏁 Final Result

• A complete mock-up of a publication, ready to be printed and published online.