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    Creating a Visual Style Guide for eLearning: What Should You Include?

    visual style guideWhen beginning a new eLearning project, there are a number of important things an eLearning team needs to have: quality learning content, an understanding of the ways learners assimilate information, and the ability to deliver a simple and engaging multimedia learning experience. Another important component of the process is a visual style guide. If a team of designers is working on the eLearning project, a visual style guide is critical in order to insure that the final product has a cohesive, unified, and professional look in keeping with the company's visual style. Because of the strong visual elements in eLearning, switching between layouts and formats is disruptive to the learning experience. This can be prevented by crafting and introducing a style guide for the visual elements in eLearning programs.

    Follow this guide to know exactly what information to include in a visual style guide for eLearning so you can go create one for your team. 

    eLearning visual guideSection 1: Colors

    For most people, the use of color is one of the easiest ways to capture attention. At the same time, that means that too many colors can overwhelm the learner, making it hard to focus on the course material. Consistent use of a single color palette throughout an eLearning program helps the user avoid distraction, while guiding their attention to the most important points. Here are a few points to bear in mind:

    Main Colors: Choose a color palette of 3-5 colors for using throughout the course. The company's colors can offer a good starting point. 

    Contrast: Find colors that contrast well. Use contrasting colors in conjunction with typography choices to make titles and other important text stand out. 

    Hyperlinks: Consider the choice of colors for links to yield the best effect. 

    eLearning fontsSection 2: Typography and Formatting

    Font and formatting choices are another excellent way to make important text more noticeable; bold, italic, and underscored text can be used to highlight titles or emphasize key concepts. Different fonts can also give a distinct "feel" to a given text.

    1. Choose the default font, size, and color for both normal text and titles.
    2. Determine how menu items should appear.
    3. Explain whether and how bulleted lists should be punctuated – should they be complete sentences, with starting capitals and end punctuation?
    4. Describe which words in a title should be capitalized.
    5. Review any other punctuation preferences, such as the use of the Oxford comma, the number of spaces following a period, and whether to use spaces before and after a dash.
    6. Discuss the preferred tone and voice of the writing – whether it should tend toward casual or professional, what the target education level and vocabulary should be, if and how the passive voice should be used.

    eLearning photoSection 3: Graphic Elements 

    If a picture is worth a thousand words, it's important to make sure that the visual elements in eLearning courses are conveying the right message. Consider:

    1. Format and size: Describe the preferred file format and file and image size restrictions for graphics used. 

    2. Type of images: From where should images be drawn? Clip art, stock photos, or other materials? Clearly identify the types of images to use throughout the course, such as illustrations, color photos or black and white.  

    3. Use of white space: Discuss the use of white space. Some blank areas are necessary around text and images to keep the screens from appearing cluttered and jammed-together.

    4. Additional effects: Identify permitted or required image effects, such as shadows, feathering, borders, reflections, etc.  

    eLearning layoutSection 4: Layout 

    Describe how the pages and the information they contain should be organized. In Western audiences, people read left-to-right and top-to-bottom, and content should flow accordingly to avoid distractions. Including sample screen shots may be useful for clarity. 

    Design some different layouts and let your team use them. Or consider using pre-built eLearning templates. This saves time because each page doesn’t have to be custom designed each time. 

    Handy Lists!

    Keep in mind that you want your visual style guide to be something your eLearning team can easily reference when creating a course.

    1. Before Publish Checklist: This could be a quick and simplified version of your style guide, writers can double check before publishing a course.

    2. Writing Style Guide: An in depth look into grammar, tone and writing syles. 

    Have you started your visual style guide yet? What are some challenges you have experienced so far?

     Checklist

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    Karla Gutierrez
    Karla Gutierrez
    Karla is an Inbound Marketer @Aura Interactiva, the developers of SHIFT. ES:Karla is an Inbound Marketer @Aura Interactiva, the developers of SHIFT.

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    Before Using AI to Create eLearning, Ask These Questions

    What’s the first thing you do when you’re about to create a new eLearning course? Do you jump right into the eLearning tool, or maybe think that with AI, most of the work is already handled? If you’re leaning toward the latter, here’s a little secret: while AI is powerful and technology makes things faster, they’re no substitute for the clear strategy you and your team need at the start. It’s easy to think that, with today’s tech, all it takes is pressing a button to get a course ready to go. But here’s the truth: before you let creativity flow and let technology take the wheel, you need a solid, well-thought-out plan. And that starts with answering four key questions. These questions are your safety net, keeping your course from becoming a waste of time and money and turning it into something that actually makes an impact. Making an impact means connecting with the right people, delivering the right message, using relatable examples, and making sure participants can put their new knowledge to work. So, before jumping into your favorite eLearning tool or letting AI work its magic, take a moment to ask yourself these crucial questions: 1) WHO ARE THEY? Identifying the Audience Taking the Course Knowing your audience isn’t just a step in the process—it’s the secret sauce that makes your course actually useful. Picture this: you launch a course without a clear picture of who’s taking it. It’s like serving a fancy five-course meal without checking for allergies or dietary preferences. Not exactly a winning move, right? If your eLearning course doesn’t speak to what your team actually needs, it’s likely to flop. No one wants a course that feels like busywork. Here’s why taking the time to know your course audience is a must: Skip the Obvious and the Overly Complex: Covering things they already know or, on the flip side, stuff that’s way over their heads can either bore them or leave them scratching theirs. Hit on Real, Practical Needs: If the course doesn’t tackle what they actually face on the job, it’s just not going to feel relevant—or worth their time. Keep Their Interest: When team members can clearly see how the course helps them, they’re way more likely to stick with it (and maybe even enjoy it!). Here are a few questions to make sure your course is actually hitting home: Audience Basics: Who are they? What skills do they already have, and what are they hoping to build? Daily Life: What does a typical day look like? Are they on Zoom calls all day or juggling a hundred things at once? Work Environment: What’s the vibe? Is it all about collaboration, competition, or somewhere in between? Why They’re Taking the Course: Are they here by choice or because it’s required? This will change how you approach the course content. Current Knowledge: How much do they already know? If they’re already pros, you don’t need to start at square one. By answering these questions, you’re setting the course up to be more than just “one more thing to do.” It’ll be a practical tool that boosts their skills, addresses their real needs, and helps them make a difference in their work. Also read: These 27 Questions Will Help You (Really) Know Your Learners 2) WHY DOES THIS MATTER? Why It’s Crucial for Your Team to Take This Training Here’s the deal: whether you’re building this course yourself or letting AI work its magic, you need a rock-solid understanding of why this training matters before you dive in. Why? Because people only get engaged if they know what’s in it for them. And that’s not just a nice-to-have—it’s the foundation for building a course that actually delivers results. 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A little interaction goes a long way to hold their attention (and yes, maybe a few laughs too). Experts and Success Stories: Add in short videos from experts or quick success stories from people who’ve already used these skills. Seeing real people share how it helped them can be super motivating. Give Immediate Takeaways: Design each module so they can try out what they’ve learned right away. If they can see the value immediately, they’re way more likely to stick with it (and appreciate it). So, before you let AI start building your course or jump into designing it yourself, make sure you’re clear on why this training matters to your team. This is the foundation that turns training from just another task into a true asset for their growth and success. Focus on these areas, and you’ll turn training into something they value—not just one more thing on their to-do list. Also read: Why You Should Be Designing eLearning Courses Backwards 3) WHAT? What Should Your Team Be Able to Do After Finishing the Course? This question is a biggie—and it should guide every decision you make when creating the course, whether you’re building it yourself or using AI to help out. Here’s the thing: if you’re just loading up a course with endless data and theories that read like a blender manual, people are going to tune out fast. What really matters is making sure the content connects to your team’s real needs and work-life realities. If you don’t have a clear idea of what your team should be able to do by the end of the course, you’re likely setting up a training that’ll be forgotten as soon as they click “Complete.” Instead, think about the situations where they’ll actually apply this knowledge. Knowing this upfront keeps you (and any AI you’re using) focused on creating something useful, relevant, and engaging. Here’s how to make it crystal clear what skills and knowledge your team will walk away with: Clear Kick-Off: Start each module with simple, straightforward goals. A quick bullet-point list like, “By the end, you’ll be able to…” sets expectations and gets people interested. Visual Reminders: Use infographics or simple diagrams at the beginning and end of each section to highlight goals. It keeps things easy to follow and remember. Engage Throughout: Add in reflection questions or quick check-ins, like “How would you use this on your next project?” It keeps the content grounded in real-world application, not just theory. Hands-On Practice: Design activities that actually get them using what they’ve learned. If you’re teaching presentation skills, have them record a quick pitch or share a mini-presentation—something practical they can see value in right away. Meaningful Feedback: Provide specific feedback that connects their activities directly to the course goals. This not only reinforces what they’ve learned but makes it clear why each task matters. Wrap-Up with Impact: At the end, do a quick review of all the goals covered. Whether it’s a Q&A, a visual summary, or a downloadable sheet, give them something they can refer back to. As Malcolm Knowles, the guru of adult learning, said, “Adult learning is life-centered.” People want to learn things they can actually use to make their lives easier or their work more effective. By getting clear on these “What” goals upfront, you’re creating a course that’s memorable, practical, and, best of all, truly worth their time. Also read: 6 Essential Content Creation Tips For eLearning Success 5 Rules for Creating Relevant and Fluff-free Courses Before Diving Into Your Favorite eLearning Tool, Ask Yourself: Do I Really Get What My Team Needs? Will This Course Actually Help Them Do Their Jobs Better? Let’s be real—this isn’t just about throwing information at people. 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