233 TIPS ON GRAPHICS AND VISUAL DESIGN Know what communicates to your audience visually. I am a learning architect and not a graphic designer, but I apply a technique that I routinely use in learning development to validate visual design choices for my projects. This is basically an extension of the all-important “know your audience” dictum that is so critical to get right if you want to provide a meaningful learning experience. The technique is simple and can be done quickly. After I share an item for review, I ask two questions: (1) What did you like? (2) What would you change? I ask these questions to target audience members in person or, when this is not possible, remotely via phone, email, and sometimes surveys (when the visual is particularly important, e.g., a program banner). So that this is not off-putting to the busy people whose opinion I value, I let them know that I would like a quick response that will require just a couple of minutes. I also try to get responses from people who represent different geographic locations, levels of experience, age groups, etc. The feedback is always interesting, sometimes surprising, and, more times than not, I will update or even replace a visual because of what I’ve learned. Applying this approach has certainly improved the overall quality and, especially, the storytelling value of the visuals I use in my learning solutions—all with minimal effort. It’s a simple technique but one that, in many situations, can add a lot of value. James Goldsmith, Accenture Join The eLearning Guild Today for FREE! We know that learning professionals are constantly seeking best practices and cutting-edge techniques to help create better learning experiences for everyone. We want the Guild to be your first stop for eLearning information, networking, and community, and that’s why membership in The eLearning Guild is FREE. DemoFest Archive Webinars Select eBooks and Conference handouts Learning Solutions white papers and session videos Magazine Supplier and product Newsletters TWIST Blog Search for jobs and And more... directories resumes on the Job Board www.eLearningGuild.com +1.707.566.8990 57 www.eLearningGuild.com
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