Well-designed learning products are more than just visually appealing—they can significantly enhance the learning experience, improve comprehension, and boost engagement. This blog explores why investing in well-designed educational materials is crucial and how organizations can develop them in-house.
Impact on Learning Experience: Studies have shown visually rich and well-structured content leads to better comprehension and retention. For example, incorporating infographics, high-quality visuals, and clear, concise layouts can help learners process information more efficiently. Companies like Airbnb use design thinking principles to create learning experiences that are both intuitive and enjoyable, which allows learners to focus better and retain information longer.
Accessibility and Inclusivity: Well-designed learning materials must also be accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. Organizations like Microsoft have prioritized accessibility in their learning content, ensuring that every employee can benefit equally.
Value Add: Organizations should use tools like contrast checkers, alt text for images, and accessible fonts to ensure their learning products are inclusive.
DIY Learning Design: Creating well-designed learning products doesn’t require a professional designer. With the right tools, L&D teams can create high-quality materials in-house. Tools like Canva, Figma, and Adobe Spark allow even those without a design background to create visually appealing content. Value Add: Encourage L&D teams to undergo basic design training to understand principles like visual hierarchy, colour psychology, and typography better, which can significantly enhance the quality of learning materials.
Designing for Engagement: Engaging design isn’t just about making content look good—it’s about making it functional and practical. Interactive elements like clickable diagrams, drag-and-drop exercises, and interactive quizzes can transform passive content into an active learning experience. Companies like IBM have integrated interactive design elements into their e-learning modules, increasing engagement and course completion rates.
Value Add: Organizations should leverage authoring tools like Articulate Storyline or Captivate to create interactive e-learning modules that keep learners engaged throughout the course.