📖 Two types of trainers: which one are you?
Trainers or educators often fall into two categories:
The aesthetes: They prioritise the visual appearance of their materials from the outset.
The pragmatists: They focus on aesthetics only if time permits.
💡 The best approach? Find a balance! No need to create a masterpiece, but a touch of aesthetics can enhance educational effectiveness. Here’s why:
🎯 Reason 1: highlighting what matters most
By leveraging certain visual elements, you can guide learners' attention to the most critical points:
Contrast: A colour that stands out against the background draws the eye.
Placement: An element in the foreground naturally captures more attention.
Movement: A moving object amidst static elements attracts focus.
📌 Practical examples:
Highlight the names of steps in a process.
Emphasise a key concept with a bright colour or a clear icon.
⚠️ Caution! Too much contrast can be counterproductive. If everything moves or your slides look like rainbows, nothing truly stands out.
🌈 Reason 2: creating an enjoyable experience
A visually appealing design enhances the learning experience:
Learners enjoy it, making them more likely to return.
They associate it with positive memories, boosting retention and motivation.
📌 Simple tips to improve your materials:
Colour palette: Choose harmonious tones (👀 try colorhunt.co).
High-quality images: Opt for royalty-free visuals in high resolution (📷 visit unsplash.com).
Typography: Stick to one or two coherent fonts across all slides.
🧠 Simplicity: the golden rule
Too many decorative illustrations can overwhelm learners. 🤯 The rule: only add visuals if you’re certain they’ll enhance the learning experience.
🔎 When in doubt, leave it out. Remember, simplicity is elegance. Overloading with decorative elements imposes a cognitive cost on learners (Clark & Mayer, 2005).
✨ In summary: a winning balance
Highlight key concepts through strategic visual choices.
Make your materials pleasant to ensure learners have a positive impression.
Prioritise simplicity to avoid cognitive overload.
Keywords: design, aesthetics, colours, learning experience, memory, positive impressions
Got more questions? Feel free to contact us at [email protected]. Our team is here to help and support your projects! 💬