The most visible component of an e-learning solution is its visual appearance – it is so obvious that the user does not always take note of it. When this happens, has the design been a dismal failure or has the designer triumphed in their creative work?
Let’s hear the views of Senior Designer, Esko Renkola, whose job it is to design the visual elements of a Prewise e-learning application.
The visual appearance creates the first impression
It is the visual impact that creates the first impression, positive or negative, whether we realize it or not. In e-learning applications, the visualization gives the user the initial nudge towards learning in a network. A positive first impression makes it a little bit easier for the user to absorb even contextually quite challenging material. A visually well-designed e-learning solution also supports the company’s brand and it plays an important role when planning the applicability of an e-learning solution.
- If I had to rate these issues by their degree of importance, first on the list would be usability. After that in equal place would be brand support and creating a positive impression. And it is very important that the visual solutions encourage and help the user to absorb the content, says Renkola.
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The visual designer is an expert in his or her field, but I think it is equally important to have the skills to hear what the customer and the team are saying, says Senior Designer, Esko Renkola. |
In what practical way does a good visual appearance play a part in e-learning solutions?
I think the visual design works when it is in balance with the content. It should not compete for attention, but rather support the content. The visual solutions should be well thought out, the animations justified and complementary to the content, not merely pretty animation for the sake of animation.
Good visual design guides the user to progress naturally within the e-learning application. There is a considered tempo that paces the overall package, through the use of various media and interactions. An effective and interesting rhythm maintains the user’s attention at the right level.
Conversely, bad visual execution in e-learning solutions achieves none of the above-mentioned goals. By bad visualization, I mean that it may be spectacular to look at, but it does not support the content or the company’s brand. The user comes away feeling empty. Visuality without a good concept and lacking in content design is only a pretty face. Everything should work and be mutually balanced.
The visual aspect is an important part of the learning experience
Fortunately, these days the customer knows to demand good visualization. Companies understand the importance of creating a harmonious communication strategy, and e-learning applications are part of this. Generally, brand guidance is without exception available at the start of a project. This makes it easier to use visual methods to support and promote brand communication.
I find that the attitude to visual design has changed. Today, the visual aspect is seen as an important component of the whole learning experience. Both the customer and our own team understand this. In any case, that is my experience at Prewise. We do not produce half-baked creations, and customers have noticed this.
Designing an e-learning solution
What do you take into account when planning the visual elements in a customer’s e-learning application?
1. The brief from the customer.
2. Team planning meetings.
3. The material provided by the customer, brand guidelines, etc.
4. Complete e-learning templates that the customer might have.
5. A quick benchmarking of the visual environments of the customer’s competitors.
The visual design work is launched by checking out the customer’s material: websites, graphic guidelines and brand guidelines and the company’s marketing material. The aim is to enter the customer’s world, so that the visual design reflects it.
If the customer does not have their own template or structure for the visual aspect of an e-learning programme, the design planning can be launched at the start of the project; in other words, the use of colour, the interactive elements, the relations between photos and typography and the general visual appearance and the interface. The nitty-gritty detail will be crunched out once a bit more content has emerged.
Which issues or situations, if any, generally require the most compromise?
Some degree of compromise has to be made in visual design when we have a tight schedule combined with scant material from the customer. We also have to be quite cautious with visual design in situations where the customer’s brand has not yet been finalized, in order to avoid overstepping the mark.
Does the technological environment influence the visual design? How does the designer take this into account in practice?
The customer’s technological environment is not really significant with regard to the visual design, if the solutions are Flash-based. If, however, the package is to be linked to the customer’s Intranet, for instance, we have to ensure and test that the visual solutions work in accordance with the specifications provided by the customer.
Do you think that currently the opportunities offered by visual design are sufficiently exploited in applications? If not, how would you like to change the situation?
The e-learning solutions designed by Prewise exploit visualization quite well. The outcome depends on many factors: the schedules, the number of hours available, the material provided by the customer and, in the last instance, naturally the products of the design team's imagination.
In some projects, using video and sound is a possibility. They give more opportunity to add a rhythm to the whole package and maintain the user’s attention more easily. On the other hand, video and sound demand more from the technical implementation.
Generally, the visual appearance is also a question of opinion, at least partly – some people will like it, some won’t. As a visual designer how does this aspect of the work affect you?
The visual designer is an expert in his field and can have a say in whether decisions are taken based on like or dislike. If you are able to justify your visual solutions, differences of opinion become less important.
In addition to being able to justify your decisions, I think it is equally important to have the skills to hear what the customer and the team are saying. We never work on these projects on our own. The planning and execution is always teamwork. You must have the ability to filter the different opinions and comments and use them in the visual design without letting them fragment the overall package.
Text: Jaana Raaska