Design is too often overlooked by course developers, or otherwise misunderstood – some eLearning designers think that as long as their course "looks good," the visuals are sufficient. But graphical composition and design affect the way a learner takes in information.

1. Understand these 10
Principles of Good
Design
Before You Start Your Next eLearning Project

2. Guide the viewer's eye
The placement of the elements on each page should flow
naturally from one to the next in a progression that lends itself to
the content you're teaching.

3. Control the clutter
Going overboard
with text density in
an eLearning
course can be a
very big deterrent
to students,
especially when
they're reading on
a screen.

4. Shorten your columns
It's easier to read a shorter line of text
than a longer one; many readers feel
daunted by strings of words that
stretch all the way across their screen.

5. WHITE SPACE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.
Don't fill every spot on the screen
with content or graphics. The
negative space on the page can
be useful to guide the reader's
attention and eliminate
distractions.

6. Make smart font choices
Avoid fancy fonts that are harder to read. Use size and color to emphasize or
highlight certain elements, but don't go overboard; less is more, especially in
dramatic color usage.

7. Keep things consistent
The visual theme of your eLearning course should carry through from
page to page. Getting too creative can end up distracting the reader
from the content.

8. Watch your alignment
It should always be clear what text is associated with which
images, and any tables and charts should be easy to read at a
glance.
Alignment makes your course more organized and digestible, as
well as making it seem more professional.

9. Let prominence inform position
The content should be placed in a screen in the order of importance
and relevance.
The most relevant pieces should be placed in the upper left of the
page, and anything important should be visible at the top of the
page without scrolling.
Look at this exercise:

10. Offer easy access
Don't turn your eLearning course into a scavenger hunt. Just as in
effective websites, any information that users want should be
accessible in three clicks or fewer.

11. Employ
contrasting
colors
When it comes to
eLearning, contrast is one of
the most critical elements. It’s
highly effective for keeping a
learner's attention as people
are drawn to the contrast
naturally.

12. Learn more about SHIFT here.