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Now that you know the workflow — initialise a template, customise with AI, compile, review — let’s explore what else you can create. Each template below comes from Typst Universe, Typst’s free community template library. Pick any template below. Run the typst init command to download it, then use the Gemini CLI prompts to customise it for your needs.
Use case: Take your cover letter further with multi-page or styled variants.You already customised the fireside template — here’s how to level it up.
Initialise the template
typst init @preview/fireside:1.0.0
Start Gemini CLI in the template folder, then:
Copy this prompt — Advanced cover letter
I have a fireside cover letter template in this folder.
Please customise it into a visually distinctive cover letter:
- Add a professional header with my name, email, phone, and LinkedIn URL
- Add a sidebar or accent column with a personal brand colour
- Today's date in NZ format (e.g. 19 March 2026)
- A well-structured body with clear paragraphs
- A professional sign-off
Use placeholder content. Use NZ English spelling.
Make it stand out from a standard letter.
Then compile it to PDF.
Follow-up customisations:
Add a matching header/footer
Add a matching header and footer with a thin coloured line. Put my name
in the header and page number in the footer. Then recompile.
Create a two-page version
Extend this into a two-page version with an additional section for
"Key Achievements" with 3-4 bullet points. Keep the same design style.
Then recompile.
NZ job market tip: Many NZ employers still appreciate a well-formatted cover letter. A visually distinctive design can help your application stand out — especially for roles in marketing, design, or communications.
Use case: Prepare for job interviews with a structured, printable checklist.
Initialise the template
typst init @preview/aero-check:0.3.0
Start Gemini CLI in the template folder, then:
Copy this prompt — Interview prep checklist
I have an aero-check checklist template in this folder.
Please customise it into an interview preparation checklist with three sections:
- "Before the Interview" (research company, prepare questions, plan outfit,
  print CV, plan route — 5-6 items with checkboxes)
- "During the Interview" (body language tips, STAR method reminder,
  questions to ask the interviewer — 5-6 items with checkboxes)
- "After the Interview" (send thank-you email, reflect on answers,
  follow up timeline — 5-6 items with checkboxes)
Use a clean, professional layout with clear section headings.
Use NZ English spelling. Make it one page that's easy to print.
Then compile it to PDF.
Follow-up customisations:
Add a notes section
Add a "Notes" section at the bottom with lined space for handwritten notes.
Then recompile.
Customise for a specific role
Customise this checklist for a [job title] interview at [company name].
Add role-specific preparation items. Then recompile.
Print it out! This checklist is designed to be printed and used by hand. Review it the night before your interview and tick off each item as you prepare.
Use case: Bill clients professionally with NZ-compliant invoices.
Initialise the template
typst init @preview/classy-german-invoice:0.3.0
Start Gemini CLI in the template folder, then:
Copy this prompt — NZ freelance invoice
I have a classy-german-invoice template in this folder.
Please customise it into a New Zealand freelance invoice:
- Change all text to English and use NZ English spelling
- My business name, address, and contact details at the top
- Invoice number, date (NZ format e.g. 19 March 2026), and due date
- Client's name and address
- A table of services with columns: Description, Hours, Rate, Amount
- 3 placeholder line items
- Subtotal, GST (15%), and Total in NZD
- Payment details section with NZ bank account format (XX-XXXX-XXXXXXX-XXX)
- Payment terms: "Due within 14 days"
Use placeholder content. Then compile it to PDF.
Follow-up customisations:
Add GST number
Add my GST number (placeholder: 123-456-789) below my business name.
Add a note: "GST inclusive" next to the total. Then recompile.
Add terms and conditions
Add a small "Terms & Conditions" section at the bottom with standard
freelance payment terms. Then recompile.
GST tip: If you earn over $60,000/year as a freelancer in NZ, you must register for GST. This invoice template includes 15% GST by default — adjust if you’re not GST-registered.
Use case: Create a personal update, client newsletter, or team report.
Initialise the template
typst init @preview/dashing-dept-news:0.2.0
Start Gemini CLI in the template folder, then:
Copy this prompt — Newsletter
I have a dashing-dept-news newsletter template in this folder.
Please customise it into a one-page professional newsletter:
- A bold header with the newsletter title and date (NZ format)
- A main article with a heading and 2-3 paragraphs
- A sidebar with "Quick Updates" — 3-4 short bullet points
- A "Coming Up" section with 2-3 upcoming dates/events
- A footer with contact information
Use placeholder content. Use NZ English spelling.
Make it visually engaging with colour accents and clear hierarchy.
Then compile it to PDF.
Follow-up customisations:
Add a photo placeholder
Add a placeholder image area in the main article section. Use a grey
rectangle with the text "Photo" centred inside it. Then recompile.
Change to personal branding
Update this newsletter with my personal brand. Use [your colour] as the
accent colour and add my name and tagline in the header. Then recompile.
Stand out in your job search: Send a monthly “personal newsletter” to your network summarising what you’ve been learning, projects you’ve worked on, and what roles you’re looking for. It keeps you top of mind.
Use case: Showcase freelance services or create an event programme.
Initialise the template
typst init @preview/caidan:0.1.0
Start Gemini CLI in the template folder, then:
Copy this prompt — Service catalogue
I have a caidan menu/catalogue template in this folder.
Please customise it into a freelance service catalogue:
- A professional header with a business name and tagline
- 4-5 service categories, each with:
  - Service name and brief description (1-2 lines)
  - Price or "From $X" pricing in NZD
- A "Get in Touch" section at the bottom with contact details
Use placeholder content for a freelance [web design / photography / consulting] business.
Use NZ English spelling and NZD currency.
Make it look polished — like a menu at a nice restaurant.
Then compile it to PDF.
Follow-up customisations:
Add package deals
Add a "Packages" section with 3 bundled offerings (Basic, Standard, Premium)
presented in a comparison format with what's included in each. Then recompile.
Make it an event programme
Convert this into an event programme for [event name]. Replace services
with a schedule of sessions, speakers, and times. Then recompile.
Freelancers: A polished service catalogue PDF attached to your emails looks far more professional than describing your services in plain text. It signals that you take your business seriously.
Use case: Create structured reports with a table of contents, figures, and references.
Initialise the template
typst init @preview/graceful-genetics:0.2.0
Start Gemini CLI in the template folder, then:
Copy this prompt — Professional report
I have a graceful-genetics report template in this folder.
Please customise it into a professional business report:
- A title page with report title, author, date (NZ format), and organisation
- An auto-generated table of contents
- 3 chapters with headings and subheadings:
  1. Introduction (background and objectives)
  2. Findings (with a placeholder table and a placeholder figure)
  3. Recommendations (numbered list of 4-5 recommendations)
- Page numbers in the footer
- A references section at the end with 3 placeholder references
Use placeholder content throughout. Use NZ English spelling.
Use a professional serif font and clean layout.
Then compile it to PDF.
Follow-up customisations:
Add an executive summary
Add an executive summary after the title page and before the table of
contents. It should be a half-page overview of the key findings and
recommendations. Then recompile.
Add charts or graphs
Add a simple bar chart or graph in the Findings chapter using Typst's
built-in drawing capabilities. Use placeholder data. Then recompile.
Useful for: Project proposals, research summaries, business cases, or any situation where you need to present structured information professionally.
Use case: Create a multi-chapter thesis or dissertation.
Initialise the template
typst init @preview/humble-dtu-thesis:0.1.0
Start Gemini CLI in the template folder, then:
Copy this prompt — Academic thesis
I have a humble-dtu-thesis template in this folder.
Please customise it into a thesis template:
- A title page with thesis title, author name, degree, university, and date
- An abstract page
- An auto-generated table of contents
- 4 chapters:
  1. Introduction
  2. Literature Review
  3. Methodology
  4. Results and Discussion
- Each chapter should have 2-3 subsections with placeholder text
- A bibliography/references section with 5 placeholder references
- Page numbers, chapter headers in the running head
- Use academic formatting conventions (numbered headings, 12pt font, 1.5 line spacing)
Use placeholder content. Use NZ English spelling.
Then compile it to PDF.
Follow-up customisations:
Add appendices
Add an appendix section after the references with 2 placeholder appendices
(Appendix A: Survey Questions, Appendix B: Raw Data Table). Then recompile.
Add list of figures and tables
Add a "List of Figures" and "List of Tables" after the table of contents.
Add 2 placeholder figures and 1 placeholder table in the Results chapter.
Then recompile.
This is a stretch goal — academic formatting can be complex. If it doesn’t look perfect on the first try, use follow-up prompts to refine the layout section by section.

Design from Scratch

Once you’re comfortable with templates, you can skip typst init entirely and ask Gemini CLI to create documents from a blank page:
Copy this prompt — Create from scratch
Create a [document type] as a Typst file called [filename].typ.
Don't use any template — design it from scratch with:
- [describe your layout and content requirements]
Use NZ English spelling. Then compile it to PDF.
This gives you complete creative freedom — but templates are usually a faster starting point.

Find More Templates

The Typst Universe has hundreds of free templates. Browse it for inspiration, then use typst init @preview/template-name:version to get started.
Mix and match! You can combine elements from different templates. For example: “Take the header style from my cover letter and use it on my invoice” — Gemini CLI can handle this because all your .typ files are in the same folder.
Ready to wrap up? Head to Keep going for next steps, reflection questions, and resources.