Accessibility statement

Planning publications

What is your publication for?

Your publication may be needed to:

  • announce a lecture series or a special event
  • raise the profile of your research
  • prepare staff for change
  • promote a new product or service
  • provide important information for students
  • recruit students for a new course

Who is the target audience?

Think about who you are designing your publication for. Make sure your writing style, and the look and feel of your publication meets the requirements and expectations of your target audience:

  • staff
  • potential staff
  • current students
  • potential students
  • overseas students
  • industry
  • government
  • local residents

What is your budget?

Allow for

  • design
  • printing
  • proof-reading

Cost-saving tips

  • Give your designer a specific brief or show them something you like which they can draw ideas from. This saves time and money. Make sure that the designer is aware of the University's visual identity standards.
  • Employ a professional proof-reader at the final stage. It could save an expensive reprint if there's an error.
  • Printing costs vary hugely depending on size, quantity, paper quality and colour. Design and Print Solutions can advise on what you can get for your money and ring around for quotations.
  • Always order more copies than you think you will need to avoid expensive reprinting if you run out.

Deadlines

When do you need the publication?

  • Open Day
  • Graduation
  • an external lecture
  • launch of a course
  • international visit

If it has to arrive in time for a particular event, set a deadline and make sure everyone in the team – colleagues, designer and printer – is aware of it and keeps to it.

Put the delivery date in your diary and schedule your production timescale back from it.

Copyediting

You can save valuable time and money by carefully copyediting your manuscript before you give it to the designer. Textual errors corrected after the design has been put together are an avoidable expense.

Double-check names, dates, phone numbers, websites and addresses. They are often overlooked and it is vital to get them right.

Use the University content style guide (brand platform) to ensure consistency and clarity in your writing style.

Proofreading

You will receive proofs from your designer as electronic PDFs or in printed format.

When making corrections on proof, write clearly and neatly using a red pen. Keep a photocopy of your corrections and check them against the next proof you receive to ensure that the designer has made them properly and no new errors have been introduced.

Contact

Communications