Design Impressive College Brochures with This 8-Step Guide

Sure, websites dominate, and Gen Z lives on Instagram. But print isn’t dead, especially in Indian education. College brochures still serve as a trusted, tactile touchpoint for prospective students and parents, especially during campus visits, fairs, or school outreach programs.

But here’s the catch: most brochures are forgettable. Too much jargon. Too many stock photos. Too little heart.

So, how do you design a college brochure that not only informs but inspires? Let’s break it down.

1. Define the College Brochures True Purpose

Before diving into design, ask:

• Who is this for? (Students, parents, recruiters?)
• What decision is this brochure supposed to influence?
• Will it be handed out at a stall, sent via courier, or downloaded as a PDF?

Clarity on purpose = clarity in design. A course-specific brochure should look very different from a campus overview or alumni engagement booklet.

2. Lead With Story, Not Stats

Instead of opening with rankings or infrastructure, tell a student story. Showcase real journeys, from uncertainty to transformation. Remember, emotions drive decisions more than numbers do.

Example: Use a full-page quote or photo of a student/alumnus with a short captioned success story.

3. Design for Skimming and Saving

Gen Z skims before they dive. So structure your content to support quick scanning:

• Use bold section headers (think: “Life at Campus”, “What You’ll Learn”, “Beyond the Classroom”)
• Bullet points for key features
• Pull quotes, stat highlights, and icons for better readability
• Generous white space, clutter is a credibility killer

Pro Tip: Treat every page like a poster – what’s the one thing you want the reader to take away?

4. Visual Identity Should Feel Cohesive

Fonts, colors, illustration style, even paper texture, everything must align with your brand personality. Consistency builds trust. Creativity builds memory.

Need inspiration? Explore how MIT WPU carries its institutional legacy into a modern, minimal design language. It’s proof that academic doesn’t have to mean boring.

5. Add Smart, Interactive Touches

Want your brochure to do more? Consider:

• QR codes linking to video testimonials or virtual tours
• Augmented reality (AR) elements for tech-focused programs
• Downloadable checklists or course guides
• Scannable links to application portals

These elevate your brochure from print collateral to conversion tool.

6. Include Social Proof That’s Actually Credible

Don’t rely on vague claims like “100% placement assistance.” Instead, feature:

• Recent placement stories
• Real student testimonials with names and faces
• Recruiter logos (only the real ones!)
• Campus stats that matter – student-teacher ratio, scholarships awarded, etc.

7. Co-Create With Your Students

Some of the best brochure lines and visuals come from your own students. Involve them in the process – interviews, photography, quotes. This creates a genuine, student-first tone.

EvolvEd Insight: We often invite students to annotate drafts and identify what excites or confuses them. It’s free feedback gold.

8. Print Quality Speaks Volumes

For physical brochures:

• Choose paper that feels premium but not wasteful
• Use sustainable printing practices if possible (Gen Z notices)
• Opt for high-resolution, original imagery over stock photos

Tip: Brochures often end up with parents and principals, make it feel worth holding onto.

Conclusion: Your Brochure = Your Brand’s Handshake

In today’s attention-deficient landscape, where a Gen Z student can scroll through 10 college ads before breakfast, your brochure needs to do more than check boxes. It needs to captivate, connect, and convert.

A great college brochure isn’t a catalog. It’s a story, one that reflects your institution’s values, amplifies student voices, and visually expresses your identity. It invites students to see themselves in your classrooms, walking your corridors, and becoming part of something bigger than a degree.

But that story has to be told with intention. From bold covers to compelling narratives, authentic photography, and seamless alignment with your digital channels – every touchpoint matters.

Want to go deeper? Explore our Useful Guide to Edu Marketing for more proven strategies, or dive into Create Admissions Campaigns Gen Z Will Love to understand what really clicks with today’s students.

At EvolvEd, we believe that great brochures are built at the intersection of design thinking, educational insight, and emotional storytelling. We work with institutions that want to go beyond templates and create communication that students remember, parents trust, and alumni feel proud of.

Whether you’re launching a new program, revamping your admissions collateral, or looking to unify your print identity, we’re here to co-create brochures that do more than look good. We build brochures that build belief.

Let’s turn your brochure into your most powerful storytelling tool.
Get in touch with EvolvEd today and discover how design can move minds.