i don't know about you but i've found kicad very intuitive (even though at that time it didn't support panning for example). when i goit it, i read help files and about an hour later i was working on my first project, that day i completed two PCBs.
standard workflow is:
1. create project (preferably in it's own folder)
2. use EESchema to create schematic
3. annotate schematic (use built in feature, don't do it by hand)
4. check schematic, if there is no errors, export Netlist
5. use CvPcb to complete Netlist (assign matching footprints to all parts) and save it
6. open PcbNew and import netlist (if you didn't mess around with file names, default netlist will be the correct one)
7. arrange components any way you like (flip, rotate, whatever)
8. optional: select number of layers (default is 2)
9. optional: create netclasses for types of signals and assign them (for example you may leave default as is, but use wider traces for power nets)
10. select board outline layer and draw it
11. route board
12. check board, if no errors are found, generate gerber files and drill file.
13. send the gerbers and drill file to PCB manufacturer