Newsletter Design
Design a newsletter that looks like the same publication every single issue
About this course
A newsletter is not a one-off email; it is a publication that arrives on a schedule and has to feel like the same thing every time. This course teaches the editorial design behind that consistency: a single-column grid with a clear measure and a modular spacing scale, a masthead and nameplate that earn instant recognition, a kit of reusable section templates (lead story, link roundup, the personal note, the sponsor slot) that turns a blank issue into a fill-in-the-blanks job, and a type and colour system that carries your voice in the layout itself. You then apply all of it inside the three platforms beginners actually use, Substack, Mailchimp, and Beehiiv, working with what each editor allows. You finish with a documented template system and a real issue built in your platform of choice.
Curriculum
Module 1: The Editorial Grid for Newsletters
- A newsletter is a publication, not an emailPreview
- The single-column grid and a readable measure🔒
- Spacing, rhythm, and a modular scale🔒
Module 2: Masthead, Nameplate, and Recognition
- The masthead and the nameplate🔒
- Inbox identity: sender name, subject, preheader🔒
- Header layout, logo, and the navigation strip🔒
Module 3: Section Templating and Modular Layout
- Standing sections and a fixed running order🔒
- Reusable content blocks: stories, links, the personal note🔒
- Sponsor slots, ads, and calls to action🔒
Module 4: Brand Voice in Layout and Platform Builds
- Type, colour, and voice expressed through layout🔒
- Building it in Substack, Mailchimp, and Beehiiv🔒
- The pre-send layout and rendering check🔒