InDesign Goes to Prison

Of all the things people in prison might be doing, chances are learning InDesign doesn’t immediately come to mind. But it did for Michael Santos and, through Prison Professors the organization he founded, incarcerated individuals now have an additional, if unlikely, pathway to success.

Santos is passionate about creating a supportive and rehabilitative environment within correctional facilities. By focusing on the acquisition of practical skills, he and his organization provide a sense of purpose and direction for incarcerated individuals. Engaging in creative pursuits like graphic design serve as a positive outlet for self-expression, fostering a sense of accomplishment and boosting self-esteem.

Equipping incarcerated individuals with InDesign skills enhances their prospects for successful reintegration into society. By developing a portfolio of their work, they can showcase their talent and skills to potential employers. But since former prisoners might not immediately find willing employers, InDesign also opens an income opportunity while working from home.

Through graphic design, incarcerated individuals can not only learn how to use visuals to communicate ideas but also to write more effectively. With these marketable skills, individuals who have paid their debt to society are better positioned to secure employment, reduce recidivism rates, and become contributing members of their communities.

You will learn:

• What InDesign skills are taught to people in prison.

• Steps we can take with InDesign to lower intergenerational cycles of recidivism.

• Real-life examples of formerly incarcerated people who have made good through InDesign.

• How the graphic design community can make a bigger impact on the lives of people in prison.

• Why mass incarceration represents one of the greatest social injustices of our time.

• Pathways to bringing courses into jails and prisons across America.