Written by If the eLearning course is visually unappealing or uninviting, learners may view it as a waste of time, and might even question the credibility of the information. Appeal to your learner’s visual senses and grab their attention by using an engaging design. Here are a few tips and tricks.
Color: It’s one of the first things we notice when we encounter something new. Using a color wheel can help you create a sense of balance in your palette. Colors next to each other on the color wheel will work well together. Opposite colors can be an appealing contrast. Use colors that convey the idea correctly. Do not go overboard with colors. Use two or three colors or color code sections for better retention. Also pay attention to your audience. For example, red is considered a positive color in certain countries so your positive feedback may need to be in red rather than green.
Contrast: Contrast helps to direct the learner’s eye to a particular point. You can do this by using shapes and color. Use a dark colored shape with white text to present a key point, and use black text for the other text. Color contrast is an important component when developing content for individuals with visual impairments such as color blindness. Use high color contrast to improve readability.
Repetition: Repetition creates a uniformity that can help learners focus on the content. Too many new elements can make the slides look disorganized and can cause confusion. For example, use the same styling for all of the slide titles and the images so they look consistent. Icons can be repeated on similar slides to increase retention.
Alignment: A sign of poor design is when objects or text boxes are misaligned. For example, a slide with a five tab interaction can look messy if all of the tabs are not lined up and have equal spacing. Not every shape needs to be lined up perfectly, but you don’t want elements randomly spaced on a page. Use the alignment tool in your program to line up objects on the slide. You can also use the distribution option for equal spacing between objects.
Balance: Equal distribution of visual weight plays an important role when laying out a slide. Larger objects, darker colors, and complex textures all have a heavy appearance. One way to balance your slide is symmetrically, by dividing the slide. Try using a large image on one side and bullets on the other side.
These are just a few basic design principles to follow when creating your eLearning course. Happy creating!