233 TIPS ON GRAPHICS AND VISUAL DESIGN Utilize visual effects that connect with the material you are creating. For example, don’t place an image of a tomato in your learning module if you are explaining how to make orange juice. You will be tempted to use clip art that was created between 1980 and 2000. Don’t do it. As cute as you may think it is, it will minimize the impact of your presentation. Choose contemporary imagery and design by selecting stock imagery or graphics. If money is tight, you can make your own using PowerPoint and your smartphone; subscribe to free stock sites like Dreamstime.com; or utilize sites like E-Learning Heroes at community.articulate.com. Jodi Hinkle, SandRidge Energy Typography is such an important aspect of graphic design. Design is about communicating a message— and the majority of that is through the written language. Oliver Reichenstein wrote, "Web design is 95 percent typography." Start with the basics of type classification, anatomy of letters, tracking and kerning, hierarchy, and contrast. It will help make your designs look Two different fonts, two very different moods. more professional and clean, and most importantly, you will be able to effectively communicate your content. Crystal Rose, The eLearning Guild Search for and use video tutorials! Check out Lynda.com. This website offers many tutorials on graphic design using various software platforms and is very affordable. Also, YouTube is an excellent resource, and it is free. Using YouTube, specify a search based on specific criteria of what technique or software you would like to learn. It is great to have these on-demand resources at your fingertips. Linda Caldwell, SCANA Corporation/SCE&G Listen to everyone’s ideas and feedback. Ideas can surprise you, and the seed of the next great idea may come from an unlikely source. Shane Donahue, SweetRush 8 www.eLearningGuild.com