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Enhance learners' interest and understanding with visual design for instructional and information products
No matter what medium you use to deliver content, if the visual design fails, the experience falls flat. Meaningful graphics and a compelling visual design supercharge instruction, training, and presentations, but this isn't easy to accomplish. Now you can conquer your design fears and knowledge gaps with Visual Design Solutions: a resource for learning professionals seeking to raise the bar on their graphics and visual design skills. This informal and friendly book guides you through the process and principles used by professional graphic designers. It also presents creative solutions and examples that you can start using right away. Anyone who envisions, designs, or creates instructional or informational graphics will benefit from the design strategies laid out in this comprehensive resource.
Written by Connie Malamed, an art educator and instructional designer, this book will help you tap into your creativity, design with intention, and produce polished work. Whereas most graphic design books focus on logos, packaging, and brochures, Visual Design Solutions focuses on eLearning, presentations, and performance support. Visual Design Solutions includes practical guidelines for making smart design choices, ways to create professional-looking products, and principles for successful graphics that facilitate learning. Ideal for instructional designers, trainers, presenters, and professors who want to advance from haphazard to intentional design, this book will help them realize their design potential.
* Gain the knowledge and confidence to design impressive, effective visuals for learning
* Increase learner comprehension and retention with visual strategies offered by an expert author
* Serves as a reference and a resource, with a wealth of examples for inspiration and ideas
* Addresses an intimidating topic in an informal, friendly style
In four parts, the book provides a thorough overview of the design process and design concepts; explores space, image, and typography; and presents workable solutions for your most persistent and puzzling design problems. Get started and begin creating captivating graphics for your learners.
List of contents
List of Figures and Tables vii
Preface xix
Introduction xxi
PART 1 The Big Ideas
CHAPTER 1: LIKE A HAND IN GLOVE 3
CHAPTER 2: THINK LIKE A DESIGNER; YOU ARE ONE 11
CHAPTER 3: WORK LIKE A DESIGNER 23
PART 2 Building Blocks of Design
CHAPTER 4: ORGANIZING GRAPHIC SPACE 45
CHAPTER 5: SELECTING AND CREATING IMAGES 66
CHAPTER 6: WORKING WITH TYPE 102
PART 3 Power Principles
CHAPTER 7: USE COLOR WITH PURPOSE 133
CHAPTER 8: ESTABLISH A VISUAL HIERARCHY 157
CHAPTER 9: UNIFY THE DESIGN 171
CHAPTER 10: CREATE CONTRAST 181
CHAPTER 11: GROUP FOR MEANING 194
PART 4 Practicing Design
CHAPTER 12: SHOW THEM WHERE TO LOOK 211
CHAPTER 13: ADD SOME EXCITEMENT 229
CHAPTER 14: ENHANCE MEANING 253
CHAPTER 15: TELL STORIES WITH VISUALS 282
CHAPTER 16: MAKE NUMBERS INTERESTING 310
References 339
About the Author 343
Index 345
About the author
CONNIE MALAMED consults, writes, and speaks in the fields of online learning, visual communication, and information design, through her company, Connie Malamed Consulting. She has more than 20 years of experience designing learning and visual solutions for nonprofit organizations, higher education, government, and businesses. She is the author of
Visual Language for Designers, the publisher of heelearningcoach.com, and the creator of Instructional Design Guru, a mobile reference app for instructional design. With degrees in art education and instructional design, Malamed energetically pursues ways to improve instructional and information graphics. You can connect with her on Twitter at @elearningcoach.
Summary
Enhance learners' interest and understanding with visual design for instructional and information products No matter what medium you use to deliver content, if the visual design fails, the experience falls flat.
