visuals ⋆.˚
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Don't choose between effective or pretty. Have both.
Visual design is one of the tools I use to reduce cognitive load, direct attention, and keep learners engaged. Here's the research, and where I've put it into practice.
why corporate training snoozefests don't work anymore
Boredom & Cognitive Engagement • Zhao
Boredom pulls attention away from the material through mind-wandering, which directly interferes with learner comprehention that is consistently linked back to predictable, visually monotonous delivery.
Visual Distaste & Frustration • Norman
Unattractive design drives frustration and anxiety that reduces learner tolerance for friction. Learner resistance already comes from having to do a training - unattractive, copy pasted modules only make it more difficult.
The Aesthetic-Usability Effect • Ashby, Isen, and Turken
People rate visually appealing interfaces as easier to use, even if the underlying functionality is identical. This means that attractiveness buys tolerance and keeps learners willing to continue.
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I believe that aesthetics are not just for decoration. They actually amplify good instructional design. It acts as a lever on motivation, persistence, and perceived credibility, which are prerequisites for learning to occur. A learner who's engaged and willing to stay with the material has a better shot at deep processing than one who's disengaged by something ugly or boring, even if the underlying content is identical.
⋆.˚ Programs I Use Articulate 360 (Storyline/Rise) • Microsoft Suite • Figma • Canva • Adobe Suite • GenAI
take a look
This isn't to say that you can just make something look pretty and learning will magically occur. Being a designer means understanding that every decision made in a final product is thorough, detailed, and intentional. This presentation demonstrate how I design visually appealing products that still focus on the main goal: effective learning.
⋆.˚ This is just an example of my work - view the Projects tab to see my full project masterlist.
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